Alvah Strong Miller papers

Collection

Identifier: D.53

Staff Only

Biographical / Historical note

Dr. Alvah Strong Miller, M.D was born in Rochester, N.Y., in 1885, attended East High School and Rochester Free Academy, and graduated from the Classical Course in the class of 1907 at the University of Rochester with a B.A. He studied medicine at Harvard, graduating in the class of 1912, and served his internship at New York Hospital during 1913-14. He began private practice in Rochester in the summer of 1914, also serving as physician to the Children's Aid Society of Rochester, N.Y.

While at Harvard Medical School Dr. Miller had been a resident during 1907-09 of Hale House in Boston; his interest in social work continued during his private practice in Rochester through his service on the local board of the Boy Scouts of America, and he was elected to the Board of Managers of the Practical Housekeeping Center of Rochester in September 1916. During 1916 Dr. Miller also received a commission as Captain in the Medical Corps Reserve of the U.S. Army, and he entered active service as a 1st Lt. in the Army Medical Corps in December 1917. Promoted to the rank of Captain in 1918, Dr. Miller served at Base Hospital #19 in France from May 1918 through July 1919. After his discharge from the Army, Dr. Miller resumed private practice in Rochester and was appointed Instructor in Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in 1929.

In 1932 he was appointed Attending Physician at Rochester General Hospital and in 1934 promoted to Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester. During World War II Dr. Miller served in England and France from August 1942 through October 1945 with the Army Medical Corps. He was discharged with the rank of Lt.-Col. and then joined the medical staff of the UNRRA. Sent to China, Dr. Miller worked during 1946-47 to aid medical education through teaching and counsel. Among other activities he set up a hospital/medical school while serving as Director of Student Health at National Wuhan University in Wuchang, Hupeh Province. After returning from China Dr. Miller chose not to resume private practice but spent much of his time traveling abroad and lecturing in Rochester on his observations about China, and the physician's career. Dr. Miller died on January 18, 1974.

Scope and Contents

The Alvah Strong Miller Papers are comprised of one box containing 18 typescript essays by Dr. Alvah Strong Miller, M.D. They deal primarily with his observations, thoughts, and judgements about the people and places he encountered during his service on the medical staff of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in China during 1946-47. Dr. Miller traveled abroad many times during the latter part of his lifetime, and the collection also includes his observations stemming from trips to Ceylon (during his work in China), Egypt, and Morocco. Also included is an account of some impressions he received of the English nobility while serving abroad in the U.S. Army during World War II, and his observations on medicine as a profession.

Creator

Miller, Alvah Strong, 1885-1974 (Person)

Dates

Creation: 1943-circa 1950

Language of Materials

English

Extent

1 box(es)

Access

The Alvah Strong Miller Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was a gift of of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Miller of 10 Arnold Park, Rochester, April 1975.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Alvah Strong Miller Papers, D.53, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester