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Frank R. Bradley Papers

Historical Note

Frank R. Bradley (1900-1973) was born in LaClede, Illinois. He received his medical degree from Washington University in 1928 and served as head of Barnes Hospital for 22 years, from 1939 to 1962. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of hospital administration. During his tenure as director of Barnes, the institution grew from 400 beds to 959 beds. The David P. Wohl Jr. Memorial Clinics building, Wohl Hospital building, and the Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital building were all erected during this time and came under his administration. McMillan Hospital and St. Louis Maternity Hospital also became a part of the Bares complex during Dr. Bradley’s years as director.

Dr. Bradley brought about many “firsts” at Barnes Hospital:

1. Barnes was one of the first general hospitals to accept patients with communicable diseases. During a poliomyelitis epidemic in 1943, Dr. Bradley observed that with proper infection control, persons suffering with the disease could be cared for in a general hospital. This principal later was accepted by other St. Louis hospitals and allowed the city to close an institution which previously served only this type of patient.
2. Barnes was one of the first general hospitals to accept psychiatric patients.
3. Dr. Bradley guided Barnes when it became one of the first university-affiliated hospitals to organize and operate diagnostic laboratories along centralized lines of control.
4. In conjunction with key physicians at the Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Bradley established one of the first hospital blood banks gathering and typing blood routinely, rather than on a “crisis” basis.
5. Dr. Bradley recognized the potential for the use of computers in data processing and Barnes was one of the first hospitals in the country to use computers in its business operations.

After retiring from his position at Barnes Hospital in 1962, Dr. Bradley continued to develop Washington University’s graduate program in Hospital Administration. He served as Professor of Hospital Administration at Washington University School of Medicine from 1946 to 1968. A former president of the American College of Hospital Administrators (1946-1947), Dr. Bradley was president of the American Hospital Association from 1954-1955. He served as vice chairman of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals in 1960, and that same year was president of the American Protestant Hospital Association and the National Society of Medical Administrators.

A former president of the St. Louis Hospital Council, Dr. Bradley was active in the St. Louis Medical Society and the St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was chairman of the Blue Cross Hospital Advisory Committee from 1957 to 1960. National activities included his appointment as the first chairman of the Citizen’s Consultant committee of the National Joint Commission for Improvement of Patient Care, a consultant for the Atomic Energy Commission at Los Alamos, a member of the Hoover Committee Task Force in 1948-1949 (Medical Services Committee of Commission on Organization of Executive Branch of the Government), and Consultant to both the offices of Surgeon General of the Army and Surgeon General of the Navy.

Dr. Bradley was chairman of both the Missouri Conference for Improvement of Patient Care and the Missouri State Health and Hospital Survey Committee. He was chairman of a subcommittee of the Health and Hospital Advisory Committee to the Mayor and Director of Public Welfare of St. Louis in 1950. Other community activities included the Community Health League of St. Louis, the Community Chest of Greater St. Louis, the Tuberculosis and Health Society of St. Louis, the Commission on Religion and Health of the Metropolitan Church Federation, the Rotary Club of St. Louis, and the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce.

The author of many papers and publications, Dr. Bradley also was a historian with a particular interest in the history of Barnes Hospital. His unfinished manuscript titled “History of Barnes Hospital” is included in his collection of papers.

Provenance

Dr. Bradley’s son, Dr. Richard V. Bradley, gave his father’s papers to Washington University Medical Library in 1973.

Access and Use

The collection is open and accessible for research. Certain categories of documentation, however, may carry restrictions on access. For detailed information, contact the Archives and Rare Book department of the Becker Medical Library (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).

Scope and Content

The Frank R. Bradley Papers cover the years from 1914 to shortly before his death and consist of nine series. A history of Barnes Hospital by Dr. Bradley is an important series in this collection. He died before completing his final revision of the manuscript. Also of interest is the series on the development and use of the airline-style food services for patients at Barnes Hospital. Dr. Bradley and Henrietta Becker, administrative dietician at Barnes, adapted the hot and cold food cases used to serve airline passengers for use in the hospital. This creative way to keep hot food hot and cold food cold and to control food handling and portion size through greater use of a central food preparation area aroused the interest of hospital administrators and dietitians nationwide. Bradley needed a form letter to reply to all those eager for information about the new-style food service.

Preferred Citation

Frank R. Bradley Papers, Washington University School of Medicine.

Organization of the Collection (Series List)

Total Boxes: 10

Series 1: Administrative Diaries

Series 2: History of Barnes Hospital

Series 3: Speeches and Papers

Series 4: University Clinics

Series 5: Laboratories

Series 6: Minutes of Trustees of American Hospital Association

Series 7: Clippings

Series 8: Airline Food Service

Series 9: Miscellaneous Material

Container List

Series 1: Administrative Diaries

The diaries in this series were removed from the binders in which they were originally kept. They consist of entries by day and night administrative staff detailing minutiae of Barnes Hospital daily operation. Administrators whose entries are included in the diaries are listed on each folder. Diaries cover the period from June 1948 through December 1954, but skip the last six months of 1951 and all of 1952. The material is arranged chronologically.

Box 1

1.	October 1914.
	Note: Opening of Barnes Hospital.
2.	June 1948.
	Harry Panhorst.
3.	July 1948.
	Harry Panhorst, Howard Lehwald.
4.	August 1948.
	Harry Panhorst, Howard Lehwald.
5.	September 1948.
	Harry Panhorst, Howard Lehwald.
6.	October 1948.
	Harry Panhorst, Howard Lehwald, Dr. Robert Ruby.
7.	November 1948.
	Harry Panhorst, Howard Lehwald, Dr. Robert Ruby.
8.	December 1948.
	Harry Panhorst, Howard Lehwald, Dr. Robert Ruby.
9.	January 1949.
	Harry Panhorst, Howard Lehwald, Dr. Robert Ruby.
10.	February-March 1949.
	Howard Lehwald, Harry Panhorst, Dr. Robert Ruby, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.
11.	April 1949.
	Howard Lehwald, Harry Panhorst, Dr. Robert Ruby.
12.	May-June 1949.
	Lucille Bradley, Howard Lehwald, Harry Panhorst, Dr. Robert Ruby.
13.	January-February 1950.
	Dr. Frank Bradley, Arthur Coltrin, Grace Huey, Cornelia Knowles, Harry Panhorst, Dr. Robert Ruby, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.
14.	March-April 1950.
	Dr. Frank Bradley, Arthur Coltrin, Grace Huey, Cornelia Knowles, Harry Panhorst, Dr. Robert Ruby, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.
15.	May-June 1950.
	Dr. Frank Bradley, Grace Huey, Cornelia Knowles, Harry Panhorst, Dr. Robert Ruby, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.
16.	July-September 1950.
	Mildred Bradbury, Dr. Frank Bradley, Arthur Coltrin, Grace Huey, Cornelia Knowles, Harry Panhorst, Dr. Robert Ruby, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.
17.	October-December 1950.
	Dr. Frank Bradley, Arthur Coltrin, Grace Huey, Cornelia Knowles, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.
18.	January-June 1951.
	Dr. Frank Bradley, Arthur Coltrin, Grace Huey, Harry Panhorst, Earl Rapp, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.

Box 2

1.	January-June 1953.
	Grace Huey, Cornelia Knowles, Harry E. Panhorst, Earl Rapp, Warren Simonds, Dr. Crofford Vermillion, Truman Yates.
2.	July-December 1953.
	Joseph Greco, Donald Horsh, Cornelia Knowles, Harry Panhorst, Mr. Rapp, Warren Simonds, Dr. Crofford Vermillion, Truman Yates.
3.	January-June 1954.
	H.L. Burgin, Donald Horsh, Cornelia Knowles, Harry Panhorst, Warren Simonds, Dr. Crofford Vermillion.
4.	July-December 1954.
	Dr. F.R. Bradley, Joseph Greco, Donald Horsh, Cornelia Knowles, Harry Panhorst, Warren Simonds Dr. Crofford Vermillion.

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Series 2: History of Barnes Hospital

Dr. Bradley’s history of Barnes Hospital is an extensive manuscript, however, it is not a completed work. The author’s death in 1973 cut short what were likely plans for a definitive history of the institution, and possibly its publication.

Box 2

5.	History of Barnes Hospital, manuscript, by Frank R. Bradley.
	Note: This item is microfilmed as Reel 1.

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Series 3: Speeches and Papers

Dr. Bradley had many papers published in professional journals. He was in demand as both a speaker and an author. His term as president of the American College of Hospital Administrators confirmed his stature as an authority and innovator in the field of hospital administration. This series is arranged in chronological order, from 1946-1950.

Box 3

1.	Correspondence relating to one of Dr. Bradley’s publications in the Missouri State Nurses’ Association Bulletin, 1946.
2.	“The times demand trained administrators,” Hospitals, vol. 20, Apr 1946.
3.	“College affiliation,” 1946.
4.	“Hospital organization – a critical analysis,” before Iowa State Hospital Association, April 15, 1946.
5.	Notes for radio speech in Philadelphia for American Hospital Association, Oct, 1946.
6.	“The challenge to the nurse anesthetist,” before American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, October 2, 1946.
7.	Notes from talk to hospital administration students, October 7, 1946.
8.	Notes from talk at the Methodist Church conference in St. Louis, October 9, 1946.
9.	“Training of the administrator for a rural hospital,” October 29, 1946.
10.	“Message from the President,” American College of Hospital Administrators, December 11, 1946.
11.	“Principles of hospital administration and organization,” May 27, 1947.
12.	“Hospital administration of tomorrow,” Third New England Institute for Hospital Administrators, June 27, 1947.
13.	“Better hospital care – now,” St. Louis Commerce, September 10, 1947.
14.	“Relationship of Washington University School of Medicine to the affiliated hospitals,” January 5, 1948.
15.	“Trends in administration,” Institute for Hospital Trustees, vol. 68, no. 5, May 1947.
16.	“The responsibility of American industry to health,” September 6, 1948.
17.	“Demand for hospital beds reveals trend of public thinking about medical care,” December 2, 1948.
18.	“Control of the quality of medical care,” Institute for Hospital Managers, February 2, 1949.
19.	“The medical director in the hospital,” American College of Surgeons, February 2, 1949.
20.	“Should the government subsidize nursing and medical education,” National Association of Methodist Hospitals and Homes, February 16, 1949.
21.	“An analysis of functions of hospitals & adjustment to present trends,” May 30, 1949.
22.	Address to American College of Hospital Administrators by Stuart Chase, September 25, 1949.
23.	“Voluntary vs. nationalized hospital care – which is wanted,” reprint in Hospital Management, October 1949.
24.	“St. Louis, center of medical research,” report for St. Louis Star-Times, December 1949.
25.	“Peering into the future – Who will control our hospitals,” speech before American Protestant Hospital Association, March 3, 1950.
26.	“Hospitals, doctors and government,” speech before New England Hospital Assembly, March 27, 1950.
27.	“General practitioner,” abstract for Hospital Administration Alumni Bulletin, September 1950.
28.	Revision of lecture on the history of hospitals, October 2, 1950.
29.	Notes taken at seminars, October 9 and 16, 1950.
30.	Article on medical research in St. Louis Star-Times, December 29, 1950.
31.	Talk before new staff at Barnes Hospital, n.d.
32.	Memo for talks on hospital services, n.d.
33.	Trends in hospital administration, n.d.
34.	Untitled paper, n.d.

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Series 4: University Clinics

Box 4

1.	WUSM Clinics, establishment of, 1945-1946.
	Folder includes detailed blueprint of the outpatient clinics (West Building).
2.	“Clinics,” binder, 1941-1947.
	Headings: historical summary & incorporation by-laws, Children’s Hospital out-patient department, adequate clinic admissions to hospital, clinical departments.

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Series 5: Laboratories

Box 4

3.	“Laboratory,” binder, 1941-1947.
	Headings: organization, charges, administration, reports, school, blood bank, medical ward laboratories, various dates.

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Series 6: Minutes of Trustees of American Hospital Association

This series consists of one bound volume of trustees minutes dated 1953-1956. In 1953, Dr. Bradley was president-elect of the association.

Box 5

1.	Minutes, 1953-1956.

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Series 7: Clippings

This series consists of well-organized newspaper clippings. The news stories are mostly about people or events connected with Barnes Hospital or with medicine. Most have been removed from the loose-leaf binders in which they were originally collected and stored. Material from each binder has been kept together and arranged chronologically within each box and covers the years 1932-1957.

Box 6

1.	Medico-economics, incl. Wagner-Murray health bill, 1935-1946.
2.	Medico-economics, 1946-1951.
3.	“Progress or Decay” campaign for city bond issue, 1950.
4.	Steel strike, 1952.
5.	Washington University, 1950.
6.	Presidential election, 1952.
7.	Washington University, publicity, 1952-1953.
8.	Winston Churchill, History of World War II, 1951-1953.
	Note: The following folders titled “Personalities” include primarily newspaper clippings about Washington University faculty and staff.
9.	Personalities, social and professional, 1955-1957.

Box 7

1.	Personalities, 1932-1944.
2.	Personalities, 1944-1945.
3.	Personalities, 1946-1948.
4.	Personalities, 1948-1949.
5.	Personalities, 1950.
6.	Personalities, 1951.
7.	Personalities, 1954-1956.
8.	Personalities, 1955-1957.
9.	Barnes Hospital patients, 1953-1956.
10.	Barnes Hospital employees, 1954-1957.
11.	Barnes Hospital personalities, 1954.

Box 8

	Note: Some of the folders in box 8 have been listed out of chronological order.
1.	Arthur H. Compton, 1953-1955.
2.	Evarts A. Graham, 1954-1957.
3.	Ethan A.H. Shepley.
4.	United Fund, 1955.
5.	Community Chest, 1953-1956.
6.	American Red Cross, 1953-1957.
7.	Cardinal Glennon Memorial Hospital dedication, 1955.
8.	Health and hospitals, 1953-1955.
9.	Health and hospitals, 1955-1957.
10.	Hospital Day/Public Health, 1954-1956.
11.	Osteopaths, 1953-1954.
12.	X-ray, 1953-1956.
13.	Cancer treatment, including krebiozen, 1953-1954.
14.	Local news, 1951-1954.
15.	Hospital dieticians, n.d.
16.	Medicine per se, 1933-46.
17.	Medicine per se, 1946-1950.
18.	Barnes Hospital patients, 1932-1951.

Box 9

1.	Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1952-1955.
2.	Heart surgery, 1956-1957.
3.	Cancer/TB, 1954-1956.
4.	Psychiatry, 1953-1956.
5.	Polio/polio vaccine, 1953-1956.
6.	Polio Foundation vs St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 1956.
7.	Health panels, 1955.
8.	University of Missouri medical school, 1953-1956.
9.	Saint Louis University, 1953-1956.
10.	Washington University centennial, 1953.
11.	Federal government, presidential elections, 1948, 1952.
12.	Federal government, Einstein, Hoover, Eisenhower, 1953-1955.
13.	Federal government, Communism, including death of Joseph Stalin, 1953.
14.	Federal government, drafting of physicians, 1950-1953.
15.	Federal government, veterans, 1954-1956.
16.	Federal government, Korea, 1952-1953.
17.	Federal government, atomic bomb, 1950-1956.
18.	Federal government, labor, 1952-1956.
19.	Federal government, economics, 1951-1956.
20.	Federal government, editorials, 1952-1956.

Box 10

1.	Federal government, Forrestal diaries, 1951.
2.	Local health professionals, 1955.
3.	Local news, January-April 1955.
4.	Local news, May-August 1955.
5.	Local news, September-December 1955.

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Series 8: Airline Food Service

Series 8 contains material relating to a new style of hospital patient food delivery at Barnes Hospital, the “airline food services” as developed by Dr. Bradley and Henrietta Becker, administrative dietitian. The series includes an index of the material and is dated 1949-1954.

Box 10

6.	Correspondence and miscellaneous material, 1949-1950.
7.	Correspondence and miscellaneous material, 1950.
8.	Correspondence, paste-up of brochure, 1951.
9.	Correspondence and miscellaneous material, 1952-1954.

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Series 9: Miscellaneous Material

Box 10

10.	Commemoration ceremony at Barnes Hospital, 6/17/52, photograph.
11.	Award from Methodist Church to FRB, 1954.

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