Philip L. Graitcer collection on the 1976 Legionnaires' disease outbreak
Collection
Identifier: MSS 448
Scope and Contents note
The Philip L. Graitcer collection on the 1976 Legionnaires' disease outbreak contains materials related to the investigation of the 1976 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that occurred among attendees of an American Legion convention held at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. This small collection includes letters from the general public in response to the CDC's investigation; an investigation journal that provides a timeline of the investigation; and copies of surveys used to track symptoms among guests and employees of the Bellevue-Stratford hotel, as well as survey data and reports. Articles and reprints on Legionnaires' disease are also included in the collection. Researchers should note that access to folder 3 is restricted to protect patient privacy.
Dates
- 1976-1977
Creator
- Graitcer, Philip L. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research. Access to folder 3 is restricted to protect patient privacy.
Biographical/Historical note
Philip Graitcer is an Adjunct Professor of Global Health at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, and the Facilitator of the World Health Organization's Helmet Initiative. He was a member of the team sent by the CDC to investigate the 1976 Legionnaires' disease outbreak. In 1976 there was an outbreak of pneumonia among attendees of the American Legion convention in Philadelphia. The previously unknown bacterium, Legionella, was identified as the causative agent and given its name on January 18, 1977.
Extent
0.2 linear feet (1 half document box)
Language of Materials
English
Overview
This small collection contains materials related to the investigation of the 1976 Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Philadelphia. It includes letters from the public; an investigation journal that acts as a timeline of the outbreak investigation; survey data and reports; and articles and reprints on Legionnaires’ disease. Researchers should note that access to folder 3 is restricted to protect patient privacy.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The collection was donated to the Historical Medical Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Philip L. Graitcer in 2005.
Processing Information
A collection-level finding aid was created for this collection in 2012 as part of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL) Consortial Survey Initiative, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The collection was minimally processed, and a finding aid created in 2023.
Creator
- Graitcer, Philip L. (Person)
- Title
- Philip L. Graitcer collection on the 1976 Legionnaires' disease outbreak 1976-1977
- Date
- 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- An earlier version of this collection-level EAD record was a product of the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries (PACSCL) Consortial Survey Initiative, which was funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
