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Alice C. Towne Deweese Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-040

Scope and Content

The Alice C. Towne Deweese Papers comprise material created by Alice Deweese about her father Dr. Solon Towne, an early Omaha doctor. The collection contains family biographies and manuscripts of early Omaha medicine.

Box 1

Folder 1 Family History

This folder contains several biographies of Alice’s family members.

Biography of Solon Rodney Towne (Father).

Biography of Agnes Trumble Somers (Aunt).

Biography of Jessie Margaret Towne (Sister).

Biography of Harriet Christina Towne (Mother).



Folder 2 Miscellaneous papers

This folder contains various other writings about the early period of Nebraska that do not fit into her manuscripts.

“Lincoln Medical Society.”

“Individual doctors outside activities.”

“Early history.”



Folder 3 Manuscript: Early Bird Study in Omaha and Nebraska

This folder contains a copy of Alice Deweese’s manuscript, which focuses on her father’s life and his life of bird watching. In this manuscript, she details how to bird watch, then discusses the types of birds that were easy to spot in Nebraska.

“Notes on Dr. Solon Rodney Towne and Early Bird Study in Omaha and Nebraska.”



Folder 4 (A-B) Manuscript: Two Doctors Came to Omaha

This is a manuscript that discusses Alice’s family history. She tells the story of life in New England and why the family decided to move West.

“Two Doctors Came to Omaha.” With Alice Horsfall.



Folder 5 (A-B) Manuscript: Omaha in the ’90s

This folder contains a manuscript Alice wrote for the Nebraska State Historical Society to discuss the makeup of Omaha in the 1890s. Alice also details how her father and uncle were able to start their own medical professions over again in the West.

- “Omaha in the ’90s.”



Folder 6 Sepia photograph – headshot of Solon Towne

Dates

  • Creation: undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection contains copyrighted published material. Securing permission to publish or use material is the responsibility of the researcher. Note that unless specifically transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, any applicable copyrights may be held by another individual or entity.

Biographical / Historical

Alice T. Deweese was the youngest of four children to Dr. Solon Rodney Towne and Harriet C. Somers. Alice was born on April 3, 1884. Her family lived in Enfield, Massachusetts, until 1888, when they relocated to Omaha with Dr. Andrew Somers, her uncle.

During her years in Omaha, her father became very involved in state health care. He was the State Health Inspector in the early 1900s during an epidemic of smallpox and worked to create a Bureau of Vital Statistics, which came to pass in 1905. Her father retired from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 1919 with emeritus status as a Hygiene and State Health professor.

Extent

.48 Linear Feet (Legal-Sized Hollinger Box 10360HG [15.75d, 10.25h, 5.75 w inches] extent measured by width, 0.48 linear feet   )

Language of Materials

English

Title
Guide to the Papers of Alice C. Towne Deweese
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 02-2023: Reviewed and Revised by DH for entry into ArchivesSpace

Repository Details

Part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Robert S. Wigton Department of Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
Robert S. Wigton Department of Special Collections and Archives
986705 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha NE 68198-6705 USA
402-836-9538