Willard E. Goodwin papers, bulk 1842-1998 (bulk 1915-1998)

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Summary

Creators:
Goodwin, Willard E.
Abstract:
Willard Elmer Goodwin, M.D. (1915-1998) was the founding chair of the Division of Urology in the Department of Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine, best known for his innovative techniques in urology and his work in organ and graft transplantation. Collection consists of Goodwin's personal and professional correspondence, photographs, publications, early manuscript drafts, scrapbooks, slides, miscellaneous papers and a cystoscope set.
Extent:
33 boxes (16.5 linear feet) 8 oversize boxes
Language:
Finding aid is written in English.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of Goodwin's personal and professional correspondence, photographs, publications, early manuscript drafts, scrapbooks, slides, miscellaneous papers and a cystoscope set. Materials reflect Goodwin's professional career as an academic urologist; academic life at the University of California, Berkeley and a medical student during WWII; personal and family interests in travel and mountaineering.

Biographical / historical:

Willard Elmer Goodwin, M.D. (1915-1998) was the founding chair of the Division of Urology in the Department of Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine.

His parents, Willard Elmer, Sr. and Olive (Belt) Goodwin raised both Willard and his younger brother, Donald in La Cañada, near Pasadena. Goodwin was educated in a two-room school house in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, where he was active in boy scouts and developed a passion for the outdoors. Dr. Elmer Belt, a founder of the UCLA Medical School, was Goodwin's uncle and influenced his decision to pursue medicine.

In 1933, after graduating at the top of his class at John Muir Tech, Goodwin attended the University of California at Berkeley. He majored in chemistry and established a lifelong friendship with Robert S. McNamara, former secretary of defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. In 1937, after a brief stint with McNamara in the Sailor's Union of the Pacific, Goodwin entered Johns Hopkins Medical School.

Goodwin began his surgical internship at the Brady Urological Institute in 1941 under the supervision of Hugh Hampton Young. In October of the same year Goodwin met his future wife, Mary Pearsons Josephs (Mary Joe), who was a medical illustrator at Johns Hopkins. They were married five months later and shortly afterwards Goodwin was called to serve in World War II where he was stationed in both the Pacific and European theaters. After his military leave, Goodwin resumed his surgical residency in Baltimore in 1946. In 1951, Goodwin was approached during his chief residency year by William P. Longmire, Jr., M.D. regarding the establishment a Division of Urology within the Department of Surgery at UCLA.

Organ transplantation was one of Goodwin's early surgical interests. As the founding chair of the Division of Urology, Goodwin would establish the first west coast kidney transplant service at UCLA. In the late 1950's he researched the use of steroids to effectively combat post-renal transplant rejection, and in 1962 reported the first case of using steroids for allograft rejection. During his career, Goodwin developed several surgical approaches and techniques for a variety of problems related to the urinary apparatus.

Dr. Goodwin was very active in many professional organizations and was the president of seven academic societies during his lifetime. His contributions to the field of urology are evidenced by the numerous awards and honors he received from many professional medical associations. Dr. Goodwin died on July 22, 1998, shortly before his 83rd birthday.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mary D. Goodwin Cabot and Willard Goodwin, 1998.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. 1. Personal Material, 1915-1998. 7.5 cubic ft.
    • 1.1 Correspondence, 1 box
    • 1.2 Educational, 2 boxes
    • 1.3 Ephemera/Miscellaneous, 7 boxes
    • 1.4 Family/Personal History, 5 boxes
  2. 2. Professional Material, 1842-1990.7.75 cubic ft.
    • 2.1 Publications/Writings, 5 boxes
    • 2.2 Correspondence, 1 box
    • 2.3 Miscellaneous, 4 boxes
    • 2.4 Professional groups, lectures and events, 4 boxes
    • 2.5 Teaching and Research, 1.5 boxes

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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