Charles Edwards Papers

Mandeville Special Collections Library

The UCSD Libraries

9500 Gilman Drive

University of California, San Diego

La Jolla, California 92093-0175

Phone: (858) 534-2533

Fax: (858) 534-5950

URL: http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/

Descriptive Summary

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

Access

Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Information

Not Available

Preferred Citation

Charles Edwards Papers, MSS 0447. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Biography

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).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

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

Contributors

Ford, Gerald R., 1913- -- correspondent

Collection Contents

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL

box 1, folder 1

Biographical sketch

box 1, folder 2, oversize FB21801

Certificates and awards 1956 - 1984

box 1, folder 3

Competitive Status of the U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry 1983

Note

Report prepared by the Pharmaceutical Panel, Committee on Technology and International Economic and Trade Issues (Charles Edwards, Chairman).

box 1, folder 4

Memorabilia 1971 - 1975

box 1, folder 5

Orientation packet for Food and Drug Administration 1970

CORRESPONDENCE

box 1, folder 6

Letter from President Ford 1974

box 1, folder 7