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Charles Edwards Papers
MSS 0447
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Creator:
Edwards, Charles C.
Title: Charles Edwards Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1970 - 1979
Extent:
3.40 linear feet
(6 archives boxes and 3 oversize folders)
Abstract: Papers of Charles Edwards, physician, surgeon, administrator, and former Assistant Secretary for Health (1973-1975) of the
United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Edwards also served as Commissioner (1969-1973) of the United
States Food and Drug Administration, senior vice president (1975-1977) of Becton, Dickinson and Co., chief executive officer
(1977-1991) of The Scripps Research Institute and CEO (1991-1995) of Scripps Institute of Medicine. The collection contains
speeches, articles, newspaper clippings, awards and certificates, and correspondence. The collection is arranged in five
series: 1) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) WRITINGS, 4) PHOTOGRAPHS, and 5) NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.
Repository:
University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
La Jolla, California 92093-0175
Collection number: MSS 0447
Language of Material:
Collection materials in English
Collection is open for research.
Not Available
Charles Edwards Papers, MSS 0447. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Dr. Charles C. Edwards was born on September 16, 1923, in Overton, Ohio. He attended Princeton University (1941-43) and then
transferred to the University of Colorado, where he completed his A.B. in 1945 and his M.D. in 1948. He received an M.S. in
surgery from the University of Minnesota in 1956. After teaching surgery (1957-62), maintaining a private practice (1956-61)
and serving in several capacities at the American Medical Association (1962-67), Edwards was appointed Commissioner of the
United States Food and Drug Administration in December of 1969. His work in the FDA (1969-73) included the discovery and
recall of tuna fish poisoned with mercury, the standardization of food nutrition labels, a ban on the cattle fattening chemical
D.E.S., and the removal of dangerous dyes and other substances from cosmetics. In April of 1973, Edwards was appointed to
the position of Assistant Secretary for Health of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare under Caspar
Weinberger. In this position he continued to focus on consumer safety while expanding his responsibilities to encompass investigations
concerning the regulation and equitable provision of health care in the United States and world-wide.
In 1975 he resigned as assistant secretary to accept a position as senior vice president of Becton, Dickinson and Co., a world-leading
manufacturer of medical supplies and equipment. In 1977 Edwards was appointed president and chief executive officer of The
Scripps Research Institute (Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation). He also served as president of the National Health Council
in 1977.
Dr. Edwards currently resides in La Jolla, California.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Charles Edwards Papers document the achievements of a government official, medical officer and administrator in the medical
supply industry. The collection is arranged in five series: 1) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) WRITINGS, 4)
PHOTOGRAPHS, and 5) NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.
SERIES 1: MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL
The MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL series (1970-1983) contains a biographical sketch, a report compiled during Edwards' presidency
of TSRI, memorabilia, and certificates and awards. Included are certificates of appointment to the post of Commissioner
of the FDA, signed by Caspar Weinberger, and to the post of Assistant Secretary of H.E.W., signed by President Richard Nixon.
For newspaper articles about and published interviews with Charles Edwards, see the NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS series.
SERIES 2: CORRESPONDENCE
The CORRESPONDENCE series contains primarily letters of congratulations sent to Edwards upon his appointment to the post of
Assistant Secretary for Health in 1973; included is a letter from President Ford accepting Edwards' resignation from H.E.W.
SERIES 3: WRITINGS
The WRITINGS series (1970-1979) is arranged in two subseries: A) Articles and B) Speeches.
A) The Articles subseries is arranged alphabetically and contains magazine and newspaper articles by Charles Edwards, principally
on the subject of public health.
B) The Speeches subseries (1970-1979) is arranged chronologically and contains presentations delivered during Edwards' relationship
with the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Becton, Dickinson and Co., and The
Scripps Research Institute. This collection of speeches delivered by Edwards is nearly comprehensive, lacking only the speeches
from 1976. Included are dedications, addresses, press conference statements, symposia remarks, acceptance speeches, and professional
presentations to committees and subcommittees of both the U.S. Government and private industry. Topics include food and drug
safety, the role of the FDA, public health concerns, the regulation of public health costs and health insurance, and points
of progress in the health care field.
SERIES 4: PHOTOGRAPHS
The PHOTOGRAPHS series includes images from various trips, conferences and ceremonies; a portrait of Edwards; an autographed
portrait of Caspar Weinberger; and, two of Edwards' personal photograph albums containing pictures from trips to Cairo and
Moscow.
SERIES 5: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
Newspaper clippings (1970-1979) are arranged topically by folder and then chronologically within each folder. Topics include
general biographical information, drugs and drug safety, food labels and food safety, health care, the National Institutes
of Health, and interviews with Edwards.
RELATED COLLECTIONS
The Scripps Research Institute. Office of Public Affairs Records (MSS 72).
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Edwards, Charles C. -- Archives
United States. -- Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare. -- Office of the Assistant Secretary
United States. -- Food and Drug Administration
Scripps Research Institute -- History
Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation -- History
Clinics -- California -- San Diego County
Hospitals -- California -- San Diego County
Medicine research -- California
Medical laboratories -- California
Medicine -- California -- San Diego County -- History
Ford, Gerald R., 1913- -- correspondent