Call Number: Mss 17

Title: Henry Bruce Chown fonds.

Dates: 1936-1945.

Extent: 1.8 m of textual records. -- 18 photographs. -- 1 audio reel.

Biographical sketch: Dr. Henry Bruce Chown was a prominent Winnipeg physician who is best known for his work on the prevention of sensitization of Rh-negative women. He was born and raised in Winnipeg. He received his B.A. from McGill University in 1914. After four years of military service he enrolled in medicine at the University of Manitoba, receiving his M.D. in 1922. Upon graduating from the Manitoba Medical School, Dr. Chown embarked on a three-year, post-graduate training course in pediatrics and pediatric pathology. On completion, he joined the Children's Hospital as a pathologist and assumed a number of teaching and administrative posts which included Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Manitoba. He became known for his work in the areas of prevention of kernicterus by replacement, transfusion, and the prevention of stillbirth by early delivery. The Winnipeg Rh-Institute was established in 1944 with Dr.Chown as Director. His first wife Gladys Webb died in 1948. He married Allison Grant a year later.

Custodial history: The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by the Rh Institute in 1979 and 1980. A third instalment was donated by Dr. Marion Lewis, an associate of Dr. Chown's, in 1980.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of personal and professional papers, photographs, tapes, and clinical records and studies dating from 1936 to 1979. The papers deal with diseases affecting newborns and children, and genetic and anthropological blood group studies. An almost complete reprint collection of Dr. Chown's publications form an important part of the collection. The collection will be of interest to a variety of specialists, immunologists, pediatricians, hematologists, pathologists, and medical historians.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.

Accruals: No further accruals to this fonds are expected.

Finding aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an on-line finding aid is available at the link below:

MSS 17.