Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
18.00 Linear Feet
Creator:
DeVita, Vincent T., Hammer, Armand, 1897-, Lasker, Mary, and Schmidt, Benno C., 1913-
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Papers of Doctor Vincent T. DeVita, former director of the National Cancer Institute and chief of surgical oncology at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Medical Center concerning aspects of National Cancer Institute's activities, programs, and agenda. Includes congressional testimony, minutes of meetings, correspondence relating to committees and associations, articles by Dr. DeVita, memoranda, and speeches. Also included are histories of various programs at NCI, correspondence about cancer treatments, cancer newsletters, AIDS newsletter, Physicians Data Query, and videotapes of news programs and correspondence relating to Dr. C. G. Zubrod's tenure at NCI. There is some material on NCI participation in AIDS research. DeVita did research on lymphoma (Hodgkin's Disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma), pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, aspergillosis, ovarian carcinoma, and breast carcinoma.

The George Washington University Winter Convocation, February 21, 1983, recipient of Alumni Achievement Award. (See p. 57).

2 copies.

Scope and Contents The Senate Appropriations Hearings were on February 23, 1982. The House Appropriations Hearings were on March 2, 1982.

Scope and Contents The Senate Appropriations Hearings were on February 23, 1982. The House Appropriations Hearings were on March 2, 1982.

Scope and Contents This lecture took place at the American Association for Cancer Research, 77th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, [California]. Includes report by AP science writer Lee Siegel on the lecture.

Includes 3 other speeches of which DeVita is not the author.

Scope and Contents 8 copies.

9 pages.

2 copies.

The book consists of DeVita's exact quotes on topics about cancer and cancer research.

Scope and Contents 4 copies.

Scope and Contents 2 copies.

4 copies.

2 copies.

Scope and Contents 2 copies.

Scope and Contents 2 copies.

Scope and Contents Enclosures include 51 pages.

2 pages. Article is 23 pages.

Scope and Contents Includes letter to Saunders from Dr. DeVita, February 4, 1980.

(2 pages typed copy of hand written letter).

51 pages. (46 pages enclosures - articles).

6 pages. (4 pages are an article).

Scope and Contents 1(13 pages are enclosed copies of memos from 1957).

13 pages. (7 pages are a typed version of the letter. 6 pages Curriculum vitae).

Includes commentary on pending legislation. 39 items. (See also files of correspondence.)

(See also files of individual correspondents.)

Memoranda and curriculum vitae pertaining to appointment of members of senior service (SES).

Miscellaneous matters including curriculum vitae and endorsements of applicants for National Cancer Institute positions, forms authorizing hiring of personnel, Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity studies and guidelines, and uniform policy studies of pay levels and conflict resolution.

Scope and Contents Documents relating to July 1980 release of report to Federal Register; list of topics of possible interest to readers of the Journal of American Medical Association; and March 1981 "Briefing Materials" on National Cancer Institute activities.

Items relating to dedication of National Cancer Information Center (1983) and President Reagan's attendance.

Items relating to chemotherapy of advanced ovarian carcinoma; case of patient administered excess of medication; non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma; and Laetrile clinical studies. Arranged by subject and date. 35 items. (See also files of individual correspondents.)

Studies and memoranda regarding radiation and cancer. Includes discussions on Three Mile Island incident, nuclear war, and work of (Federal) Interagency Radiation Research Committee.

Items relating to the establishment of clinical oncology research unit at Frederick Memorial Hospital; relations of National Cancer Institute with Food and Drug Administration; and discussions of definitions for use in National Institute of Health Disease Prevention Research Program.

Scope and Contents Items relating to: organ sites program; "orphan drug act"; studies on diet, nutrition, and cancer; chemoprevention intervention grant applications; funding for study of AIDS; invitation for applications for cooperative agreements to support risk reduction clinical trials; request to fund clinical trials of low fat diet in women with Stage II breast cancer.

Scope and Contents Includes one page 1982 memo on guidlines for site reports; report, memos and follow-up report on visit to Medicine Branch, Division of Cancer Treatment, January 1977; extensive background information relating to visit to M.D. Anderson Hospital, University of Texas, and charges against a doctor there for unauthorized administration of experimental drug to human subjects; and site report (leading to suspension of funding for a specific grant) of visit to New York Medical College (1981).

Scope and Contents Includes guidelines for the Cancer Center Support Group of the National Cancer Institute (January 1982), report of the Committee on pay and personnel systems in intramural research, February 1983 (with accompanying correspondence and evaluations), material related to February 1983 report of the Cancer Control Subcommittee of the National Cancer Advisory Board, and an undated final report of a confidential survey of contractors.

2 copies.

141 pages (missing pages 54-105). 1 item.

93 pages (missing pages 1-1-3). 1 item.

99 pages (missing pages 1-3 and it is incomplete). 1 item.

52 pages (missing pages 1-6 and it is incomplete). 1 item.

74 pages (missing pages 1-11 and incomplete). 1 item.

44 pages (missing pages 1-17 and incomplete). 1 item.

66 pages (missing pages 1-13 and incomplete). 1 item.

Scope and Contents Report of the Director of the National Cancer Institute (Dr. DeVita); original copy of Dr. DeVita's handwritten outline for the report of N.C.A.B., January 30, 1984. 3 items.

1 item. (See also cassette tape [AV3a], folder 27).

1 item. (See also transcript in folder 26).

Mostly inquiries by Mrs. Lasker to Dr. Frank J. Rauscher, Director of the National Cancer Institute, and voluminous material on budget, personnel, and research which Dr. Rauscher sent in return.

Includes memoranda, articles, and other items sent to and by Mrs. Lasker relating to cancer programs.

Scope and Contents Includes program, texts from addresses, etc. from 1982 "Tribute" to Mrs. Lasker, which describes her work in cancer programs and include brief chronology and biographies of major figures in cancer programs.

Includes summary and copies of comment s from members of the national Cancer Advisory Board on content and conduct of Board meetings, sent to Rhoads by National Cancer Institute Director Fred Rauscher. 32 items.

Includes N.C.A.B., National Cancer Institute contract review process and on cancer research and researchers. 50 items.

Memoranda on budget, legislation and personnel forwarded to Mr. Schmidt by National Cancer Institute Director Carl Baker.

Memoranda on budget, legislation, personnel, and research forwarded to Mr. Schmidt by Directors of National Cancer Institute. Includes confidential comments by members of Institute of Medicine Committee on National Cancer Program Operational Plan.

Includes letters, memoranda and background papers sent to Mr. Schmidt by National Cancer Institute Director on research, grants, controversies within cancer program and bureacracy.

Consisting mostly of memoranda, reports, statistics, and background papers on cancer program sent to Dr. Schmidt by National Cancer Institute Directors.

Includes addresses by and interview with Mr. Schmidt sent to Dr. DeVita, correspondence and documentation relating to grant application of Dr. Linus Pauling, and memoranda relating to policies of National Cancer Institute.

Includes text of addresses by Mr. Schmidt and copy of article by Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, "Lymphorine Activated Killer Cells: A New Approach to the Imunotherapy of Cancer."

Regarding National Cancer Institute budget and programs, long-range planning of American Society of Clinical Oncology, and University of Chicago Cancer Research. 43 items.

Includes letters to Dr. DeVita from Dr. Ludwig Gross, from Dr. DeVita to Dr. Edward N. Brandt, Jr. and to Dr. James Wyngaarden (regarding Dr. DeVita's selection as recipient of Distinguished Service Medal), and other correspondence. 5 items.

(Acc. no. 87-37). Many important researchers are among the correspondants in Box 5, including Dr. Bernard Fisher.

Scope and Contents Issues cover these dates: 21 December 1973, 8 February 1974, 22 February 1974-31 May 1974. Two copies of 19 April 1974 and 10 May 1974 issues.

22 items.

Scope and Contents Two copies of 24 November 1978 issue.

Two copies of numbers 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35.

Missing numbers 43 and 44. Two copies of numbers 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42 and 50.

Scope and Contents Supplement of 22 January 1982.

Missing number 27. 15 items.

Two supplements to the October, November, and December 1986 issues. 20 items.

Pages 1-112, part 1.

Pages 113-190, part 2.

Scope and Contents Includes paper, 27 December 1972, for symposium of the American Association for Advancement of Science by Stephen Carter. 1 item. Includes correspondence, 4 August 1972-15 August 1972, on funding and resolutions of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacology. 10 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 27 April 1967-10 May 1974, on meetings, reports and programs of the American College of Physicians. 51 items. Includes correspondence, 18 February 1969, of C. O. Zubrod and J. A. del Regato on paper presentation for the American College of Radiology. 2 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 18 February 1974, between C. O. Zubrod and Jean K. Boek on participation in session of the American Osteopathic Association. 2 items. Includes correspondence, 10 October 1973, on C. L. Fortner's appointment to committee of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 3 items. Includes letters, 13 March 1969, of C. G. Zubrod and O. W. Uhton on presentation at the American Radium Society. 2 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 26 August 1970-21 May 1974, on meetings and membership in the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; information on awards available; information on association office candidates; Task Force survey. 24 items.

Includes correspondence, 11 June 1970, on award nomination for the Association of Military Surgeons; xerox of Association News on awards. 3 items.

Scope and Contents Includes letter, 19 December 1972, to A. Goldin and F. M. Schabel, Jr. from E. Frel IV concerning the Children's Cancer Research Foundation, Inc.; proposal to the AKRS Leukemia Committee. 1 item. Includes copies of announcement, 31 March 1970, for annual joint meeting of the Commissioned Officers' Association with the Clinical Society of the United States Public Health Service. 4 items.

Scope and Contents Includes House Committee Report, 18 March 1968-12 April 1971, and summation of address given by David H. Huffman and Nicholas R. Bachur at the annual meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 2 items. Includes correspondence, 20 March 1970-30 July 1973, on nominations for Gairdner Award (C.G. Zubrod) given by the Gairdner Foundation. 13 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 4 June 1974, on proceedings of the Inta[Intra?]-Science Research Foundation. 2 items. Includes correspondence, 15 August 1972, on meeting of the International Association of Cancer Victims and Friends. 2 items. Includes correspondence, 27 August 1973, on estabishing the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. 4 items. Includes correspondence, 24 July 1974, on proposal and brochure of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. 11 items. Includes correspondence, 8 August 1967, of C. G. Zubrod and A. Gellhorn and J. H. Burchenal on the annual meeting of the International Society of Hematology. 2 items. Includes correspondence, 12 March 1973, of C. G. Zubrod and L. Caldarola on the formation of the Italian Society for Locoregional Treatment of Tumours. 2 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 23 September 1973-15 July 1974, on meeting notes of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; agreement with UCI; research groups. 21 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 27 April 1971-28 February 1972, to set up the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Fund, design a medallion, membership and lectures; reprint of A. Haddow lecture (C. G. Zubrod). 16 items.

Scope and Contents Includes letter, 26 October 1971, to C. G. Zubrod on proposed seminars of Microbiolgocial Associates, Inc. 1 item. Includes correspondence, 14 July 1969, on the Drug Efficacy Study of the National Academy of Sciences. 10 items. Includes invitation, 4 November 1971, and program to symposium of the National Pharmaceutical Council. 1 item. Includes letters, 6 February 1973, from C. G. Zubrod refusing nomination to the National Register of Prominent Americans. 4 items. Includes correspondence, 30 September 1966, on research proposal and the research proposal for the National Science Foundation. 3 items. Includes bulletin, April 1974, vol. 25, no. 4 of the National Society for Medical Research. 1 item. Includes xeroxes of abstracts (first page of each), January-February 1974, for annual meeting of the Nuclear Medicine Society. 3 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 4 June 1976, of V. T. DeVita and E. F. Scanlon on having a Society for Surgical Oncology representative at National Cancer Institute. 2 items. Includes correspondence, 30 June 1971, on National Cancer Institute review of SNSF work; report (in German) on Swiss Chemotherapy Group. 9 items. Includes correspondence, 15 January-5 June 1974, on consultants and conference of the World Health Organization. 8 items.

Scope and Contents Includes meeting report, 11 July 1972-19 September 1972, and correspondence on meeting of the Ad-Hoc Bone Marrow Replication. 5 items. Includes letter, 17 September 1973, on meeting of the Ad-Hoc Breast Cancer Treatment Subcommittee. 1 item.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 19 April 1971, on meeting of the Ad-Hoc Chemotherapy Committee. 2 items. Includes correspondence, 15 February 1972-25 June 1973, on meetings of the Ad-Hoc Committee. 19 items. Includes correspondence, 13 September 1973, on membership in the Ad-Hoc Group of Toxicity. 3 items. Includes correspondence, 14 May 1973-13 September 1973, on meetings of the Ad-Hoc NCI-VA Collaborative Program Review; meeting notes; article reprint. 28 items.

Scope and Contents Includes letters, November 1972-January 1974, on meetings past and present of the Advisory Committee to Cancer Control. Also letter, 21 March 1973, includes copy of presentation by Dr. Peters. 21 items.

Scope and Contents Includes general communication, 3 October 1972, of the Appropriation Committee. 2 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 21 August 1972, on meetings and reports of the Biohazard Commitee. 9 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 25 June 1973-27 August 1973, on members and meetings of the Cancer Committee. 5 items. Includes correspondence, 3 October 1972-12 October 1972, on membership in the Cancer Research Center Review Committee. 2 items.

Includes meeting minutes, 22 June 1973-10 July 1973, of the Chemotherapy Subcommittee. 2 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 8 December 1964-8 January 1965, in reference to meeting of the Clinical Stuides Panel Meeting (December 21-22, 1964); meeting agenda and notes; follow-up meeting notes; proposal.

Scope and Contents Includes letter, 22 March 1974, on meeting of Combination Chemotherapy Subcommittee. 1 item. Includes correspondence, 10 September 1963-23 July 1973, on membership in the Committee Review Committee.

Scope and Contents Includes letter, 4 May 1972-2 October 1972, on meeting of the Core Committee; reports; article xeroxes. 7 items. Includes meeting minutes, 29 April 1974-3 June 1974, and reports of the Drug Evaluation Committee. 2 items.

Scope and Contents Includes research grant applications, 21 January 1964-5 May 1964, and reviews of the Epidemiology and Statistics Committee. 11 items. Includes correspondence, 28 August 1969, on candidate nominations for the Equal Employment Opportunity. 5 items.

Scope and Contents Includes letters, 12 June 1968-10 February 1972, on meeting of the Experimental Design Committee; committee meeting notes and papers. 5 items.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 9 April 1973-15 October 1973, of committee formation and meeting of the Head and Neck Committee. 8 items. Includes correspondence, 12 May 1970-11 July 1975, on "Hepatoma Newsletter" of the Hematoma Task Force.

Scope and Contents Includes correspondence, 1 April 1974, on committee members of the North American Particle Therapy Committee. 1 item. Includes xerox of notice, 6 November 1973, on committee establishment of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee. 1 item. Includes letter, 23 August 1973, on meeting agenda of the Operating Committee. 1 item. Includes letter, 25 June 1973, on meeting of the Out Therapy Advisory Committee. 3 items. Includes correspondence, 28 June 1972-15 December 1972, on money matters of the Patient Aid Committee. 3 items.

Scope and Contents Includes committee agenda, 21 May 1974, of the Study Committee on Drugs Having Little Economic Significance. 1 item. Includes correspondence, 5 October 1972, on review of committee program of the Synthetic Chemistry Contract Program. 3 items. Includes meeting minutes, 19 June 1973-29 October 1973, of the Therapeutics Research Conference. 3 items. Includes correspondence, 2 December 1968, on review of training programs of the Training Grants Study Group. 6 items. Includes correspondence, 20 October 1972-29 November 1973, on Organization of Working Cadres. 10 items.

8 items, one item undated.

12 items, one undated and missing two pages.

Scope and Contents Also includes papers and articles, 18 February 1986-15 September 1986.

18 items, last item partial, no date.

20 items, first item has no date.

16 items.

7 items, three items undated.

2 copies.

Scope and Contents 2 copies of report. Also including Report, 9 October 1967, to National Advisory Cancer Council, Chemotherapy Program. 2 copies of report.

1 item - second copy of report.

Scope and Contents Also includes DeVita's biography and bibliography, January 1988.

Scope and Contents Also includes awards, 12 August 1987-27 October 1987, and correspondence on award nominations.

20 items, first three undated.

Scope and Contents Also The Cancer Letter, 18 March 1988.

Scope and Contents Also including two copies of Cancer Economics, January 1987.

Scope and Contents Also including paper, 25 August 1988, by DeVita for Japanese Cancer Association. 1 item. Also including DeVita's resignation, September 1988, notice on Congressional Record; letter from President Reagan; National Cancer Advisory Board Resolution.

24 items, first item undated.

81 items, 11 items undated.

15 items, one item undated.

35 items, 10 items undated.

44 items, 7 items undated.

18 items, first item undated.

44 items, 5 items undated.

19 items, 1 undated item.

6 items, 3 items undated.

17 items, first 2 items undated.

One article in Dutch. 14 items.

Biographical / historical:

Vincent T. DeVita, Jr., graduated from William & Mary in 1957. He graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine. DeVita held various positions at the National Institutes of Health, becoming its director in 1980. In 1988, he resigned to become Chief of Surgical Oncology at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center.

Acquisition information:
Acc. 1984.32 received on 6/25/1984; Acc. 1984.41 received on 8/31/1984; Acc. 1985.32 received on 6/24/1985; Acc. 1986.19 received on 5/20/1986; Acc. 1987.03 received on 1/27/1987; Acc. 1987.37 received on 6/26/1987; Acc. 1988.34 received on 9/17/1988; Acc. 1988.47 received on 12/21/1987; Acc. 1989.04 received on 1/30/1989; Acc. 1989.16 received on 3/30/1989; Acc. 1989.21 received on 5/5/1989; Acc. 2002.11 received on 3/4/2002; Acc. 2017.127 accessioned on 11/27/2017.
Processing information:

Processed by John Coski and Maia Conrad in 1990.

Arrangement:

Box 13 originally housed VHS tapes. As tapes were moved out of boxes to another location, there is no longer a box 13.

Physical / technical requirements:

Digital files require at least 72 hours advanced notice for access.