Ralph Taylor Richards papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 0258
Scope and Contents
The Ralph Taylor Richards papers (1848-1953) are divided into four sections. The bulk of the papers are concerned with Richards' book Of Medicine, Hospitals, and Doctors. Drafts of the manuscript, both typed and handwritten, comprise the first section. The two boxes which comprise the second section contain research materials used for the book, and some notes used to complete articles and lectures on various topics. The research materials have been arranged in alphabetical order by subject with notes on diseases in box three, and notes on Utah hospitals and doctors in box four. The last four folders of box four contain alphabetically arranged notes for other articles written by Richards.
Articles, speeches, and lectures by Richards, and articles by other doctors are contained in box five, as the third section. These are arranged alphabetically by title as most are undated. Included here is a long manuscript, possibly intended for publication as a book, on the "Art of Medicine." It is meant as a practical guide for new doctors on how to establish and conduct a medical practice as a business.
The final section is directly related to Richards' medical practice. The files contain information about the partnership controversy at the Salt Lake Clinic, a clinic appointment book for 1945 and an account book for doctors Joseph S. Richards and Ralph T. Richards, from 1912-1914, with information on the Salt Lake Clinic partnership arrangements. Also filed here are records of operations for Richards, his father Joseph S. Richards, and Richards' patient deaths with vital information.
Articles, speeches, and lectures by Richards, and articles by other doctors are contained in box five, as the third section. These are arranged alphabetically by title as most are undated. Included here is a long manuscript, possibly intended for publication as a book, on the "Art of Medicine." It is meant as a practical guide for new doctors on how to establish and conduct a medical practice as a business.
The final section is directly related to Richards' medical practice. The files contain information about the partnership controversy at the Salt Lake Clinic, a clinic appointment book for 1945 and an account book for doctors Joseph S. Richards and Ralph T. Richards, from 1912-1914, with information on the Salt Lake Clinic partnership arrangements. Also filed here are records of operations for Richards, his father Joseph S. Richards, and Richards' patient deaths with vital information.
Dates
- 1848-1953
Creator
- Richards, Ralph Taylor, 1880-1954 (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical / Historical
Ralph Taylor Richards (1880-1954) was the grandson of Willard Richards, a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Ralph was born to Dr. Joseph S. and Louise Taylor Richards, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 25 September 1880. He was brought up in a medical family, as his grandfather had completed the Thompson medical course and his father studied at Bellevue Hospital Medical College. Richards was exposed to medical practice and problems early as he often accompanied his father on calls and his mother acted as his father's surgical nurse. By the age of twelve he was assisting his father with the bookkeeping. Before completing high school he had made the decision to follow his father in the profession.
In 1889, at the age of nineteen, Richards began his training at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in New York City. During summer breaks from school, Richards returned to Salt Lake City to assist his father, including duties such as washing down the operating theatres. Richards completed his program in 1903, and stayed on to begin his practice there. On 14 November 1904, while still at Bellevue, Richards was selected for membership on the staff of the new Latter-day Saints hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. That year Joseph S. Richards joined his son in New York so that two men could select the scientific equipment for the laboratories and operating theatres and arrange shipment to the hospital. Latter-day Saints Hospital opened in 1905, and Richards began his practice there.
During the years between the beginning of his practice and the death of his father in 1914, Richards spent at least five years doing graduate study. He spent some time studying at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He also kept up with growing knowledge in the medical field by reading current journals and attending conferences. In July 1909 he participated at the meetings of the British Medical Association in Belfast, Ireland.
A partnership among doctors Joseph E. Tyree, A. Ray Irvine, A. J. Ridges, G. Gill Richards, and Ralph Taylor Richards, established the Salt Lake Clinic in 1915. Richards continued to operate at LDS Hospital but conducted his private practice from the clinic. With his practice well established, Richards married Rhada Gibbs on 3 July 1916, in Salt Lake City. They had three children, Rhada Jane, Ralph G., and Barbara.
The increasing technicality and expanding knowledge in medicine led to the establishment of various medical boards to grant approval to doctors in specialized fields. Richards was one of the first diplomats of the American Board of Surgery. In 1935 he was named to the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons. During his fifty-one year of medical practice, Richard held important positions in his field. For a number of years, he was chief of surgical services at LDS Hospital. He was also a clinical professor emeritis at the University of Utah College of Medicine where he helped organize and develop their four year program. He was also involved in committee work for the Utah State and Salt Lake County Medical Associations.
During the 1940s Richards established his household in California where his children were attending school. While in Utah he lived at the University Club where he was a member. It was in 1941 that he began research for his book on medicine in Utah. He surveyed admission records from Saint Mark's, Holy Cross, and LDS Hospitals, as well as the records of Salt Lake City Cemetery, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, and the Salt Lake City Board of Health. The result of his efforts was published in 1953 as Of Medicine, Hospitals, and Doctors. Richards died at the age of seventy-three, in his Salt Lake City office on 13 June 1954.
In 1889, at the age of nineteen, Richards began his training at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in New York City. During summer breaks from school, Richards returned to Salt Lake City to assist his father, including duties such as washing down the operating theatres. Richards completed his program in 1903, and stayed on to begin his practice there. On 14 November 1904, while still at Bellevue, Richards was selected for membership on the staff of the new Latter-day Saints hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. That year Joseph S. Richards joined his son in New York so that two men could select the scientific equipment for the laboratories and operating theatres and arrange shipment to the hospital. Latter-day Saints Hospital opened in 1905, and Richards began his practice there.
During the years between the beginning of his practice and the death of his father in 1914, Richards spent at least five years doing graduate study. He spent some time studying at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He also kept up with growing knowledge in the medical field by reading current journals and attending conferences. In July 1909 he participated at the meetings of the British Medical Association in Belfast, Ireland.
A partnership among doctors Joseph E. Tyree, A. Ray Irvine, A. J. Ridges, G. Gill Richards, and Ralph Taylor Richards, established the Salt Lake Clinic in 1915. Richards continued to operate at LDS Hospital but conducted his private practice from the clinic. With his practice well established, Richards married Rhada Gibbs on 3 July 1916, in Salt Lake City. They had three children, Rhada Jane, Ralph G., and Barbara.
The increasing technicality and expanding knowledge in medicine led to the establishment of various medical boards to grant approval to doctors in specialized fields. Richards was one of the first diplomats of the American Board of Surgery. In 1935 he was named to the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons. During his fifty-one year of medical practice, Richard held important positions in his field. For a number of years, he was chief of surgical services at LDS Hospital. He was also a clinical professor emeritis at the University of Utah College of Medicine where he helped organize and develop their four year program. He was also involved in committee work for the Utah State and Salt Lake County Medical Associations.
During the 1940s Richards established his household in California where his children were attending school. While in Utah he lived at the University Club where he was a member. It was in 1941 that he began research for his book on medicine in Utah. He surveyed admission records from Saint Mark's, Holy Cross, and LDS Hospitals, as well as the records of Salt Lake City Cemetery, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, and the Salt Lake City Board of Health. The result of his efforts was published in 1953 as Of Medicine, Hospitals, and Doctors. Richards died at the age of seventy-three, in his Salt Lake City office on 13 June 1954.
Extent
2 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Ralph Taylor Richards papers (1848-1953) contain materials relating to his work as a physician in Utah, as well as Utah's medical history. The collection contains manuscript drafts for Richards' Of Medicine, Hospitals, and Doctors, his research materials, Richard's and other's articles, lectures, and speeches, and materials concerning Richards' medical practice.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Eccles Medical Library in 1981.
Processing Information
Processed by Marlene Lewis in 1981.
Creator
- Richards, Ralph Taylor, 1880-1954 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Ralph Taylor Richards papers, 1848-1953
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Marlene Lewis
- Date
- © 1981 (last modified: 2019)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu