Frederick M. Anderson

Frederick Mather Anderson was born near Elko, Nevada on January 17,1906. He attended a number of public schools and graduated from the University of Nevada in 1928 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1929, he received a Rhodes Scholarship and entered St. Johns College, Oxford, England. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts with First Honors from the School of Physiology in 1932. He graduated cum laude from the Harvard Medical School in 1934 and interned in several hospitals in the eastern United States.

Anderson began his medical practice in Carson City, Nevada in 1938. He served in the U.S. Medical Corps from 1941 to 1945, and resumed the practice of medicine in Reno, Nevada in 1946, continuing until his retirement in 1983.

In 1956, Dr. Anderson was elected to the University of Nevada Board of Regents, serving from 1957 until 1979 and as chairman from 1965 through 1968. He was an active figure in University of Nevada affairs and instrumental in the founding and development of the University of Nevada School of Medicine on the Reno campus in 1969. He was also active in politics, running for the U.S. Senate in 1958, and involved in community projects and organizations. Dr. Anderson currently resides in Reno, Nevada. An oral history, completed by Dr. Anderson in 1985 for the Oral History Program of the University of Nevada, entitled Frederick M. Anderson, M.D.: Surgeon, Regent, and Dabbler in Politics, is available for research use.

Scope and Content

The Frederick M. Anderson papers are contained in 5 cubic feet and date from 1929 to 1984. The collection has been divided into five series documenting Anderson's medical practice, his term on the University of Nevada Board of Regents, the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Anderson's political involvement, his personal papers. Within each series, material consists of correspondence, reports, notes, speeches, and printed material.

Dr. Anderson selected the papers to be included in the collection and many of them are annotated with his personal comments. Pages of material which he stapled together to form a unit have been kept intact and his handwritten explanations on cards remain affixed to the papers. Cards of handwritten notes used in his oral history are also part of the collection. In general, the material in the collection consists of papers which Dr. Anderson believed to be important and of lasting value.

 

This collection is divided into the following 5 series:

Series 1:  Medical Practice

Series 2:  University of Nevada Board of Regents Series

Series 3:  University of Nevada School of Medicine Series

Series 4:  Politics

Series 5:  Personal Papers

 

Box 1

84-01/1    Series 1:   Medical Practice. 1935-1983.   16 Folders.

The material in this series pertains to Dr. Anderson's medical profession and dates from 1935 to 1983. He began the practice of medicine in Nevada in 1938, served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1941 to 1945, and then resumed private practice in Reno in 1946. Dr. Anderson became associated with Washoe Medical Center and was named Chief of Staff there in 1954. He served as president of the Nevada State Medical Association in 1955 and chairman of the Washoe County Board of Health in 1958. Specializing in cancer research, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Reno Cancer Center from 1956 to 1984 and was president of the Nevada Division of the American Cancer Society from 1946 to 1978. Other special interests include research in drug abuse and Indian medicine. Dr. Anderson formally retired from medical practice in 1983. A folder list for this series is included.

Folders  84-01/1/1 to 84-01/1/16:

1. Reprints, 1935, 1945, 1965.
2. Indian Medicine, 1939-1961.
3. Certificates and Awards, 1940-1981.
4. Correspondence, 1942-1981.
5. U.S. Army Medical Corps, 1943-1947.
6. Cancer Research, 1949-1973.
7. Printed Material. Newspaper Clips, 1950-1964.
8. Eighth International Cancer Congress, USSR, July 22-28, 1962.
9. Medical Societies, Personnel, Hospitals, 1964-1983.
10. Programs, Meetings, Registers, 1965, 1983.
11. Drug Abuse, 1969.
12. DETRAP, Notebook 1, 1969-1971.
13. DETRAP, Notebook 2, 1971.
14. Terry E. Lilly, M.D., 1979.
15. Acupuncture, 1973-1974.
16. “Medical Cases"

 

Box 2

84-01/2     Series 2:  University of Nevada Board of Regents. 1945-1984.  24 Folders.

Dr. Fred Anderson was elected to the University of Nevada Board of Regents in 1956. He served as regent from 1957 through 1978 and was chairman of the Board from 1965 through 1968. 

The material in this series concerns the University of Nevada and spans the time period from 1945 to 1984. A folder list is included.

Folders  84-01/2/1 to 84-01/2/24:

1. Fleischmann Foundation Grants, 1945-1980.
2. Biographical Information, 1955-1983.
3. UNR Statistics, 1957-1983.
4. George Whittel, 1960.
5. Correspondence, 1962-1979.
6. Speeches, 1963-1967.
7. UNR Indian Students, 1964.
8. Newspaper Clippings, 1965-1983.
9. Desert Research Institute, 1965-1980.
10. Programs, Brochures, 1965-1983.
11. Orvis School of Nursing, 1966.
12. Stead Facility, 1966.
13. Nevada Historical Society, 1966-1967.
14. UNR Legislation, 1967-1983.
15. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1967-1983.
16. Board of Regents Meeting, March 9, 1968.
17. Student/Faculty Demonstrations, 1969-1970
18. University of Nevada System. Board of Regents Handbook. 1970.
19. Board of Regents By-Laws, 1972-1983.
20. Lawlor Events Center, 1979-1983.
21. UNR Foundation, 1980-1984.
22. University of Nevada Press, 1982.
23. Judicial College, 1983.
24. University of Nevada Libraries, 1983.

Box 3

84-01/3    Series 3:  University of Nevada School of Medicine.  1961-1984.  22 Folders.

On February 11, 1967, a motion by Dr. Fred Anderson to institute immediate and long range planning for development of a Health Sciences Center at the University of Nevada, Reno in cooperation with Washoe Medical Center was adopted by the Board of Regents. A gift from Howard Hughes of $300,000 annually for twenty years toward support of a School of Medical Sciences initiated passage of the project by the Nevada State Legislature and a medical school received legislative approval in 1969.

The University of Nevada School of Medicine began as a two year program in existing facilities on the Reno campus. On August 8, 1972 the Fred M. Anderson, M.D. Health Science Building opened officially. In 1977, the program was extended to four years and in 1980, the first class of M.D.s trained completely in Nevada was graduated. 

The series contains material pertaining to the history and development of the University of Nevada School of Medicine from 1961 to 1984. A folder list is included.

Folders 84-01/3/1 to 84-01/3/22:

1. Hiram Manville Foundation, 1961-1963.
2. Medical School Students, 1961-1983.
3. Title IX survey, UC Davis, 1966-1967.
4. WICHE, 1966-1970.
5. Medical School Orgins, Statements, Reports, 1967-1969.
6. Medical School Legislation, 1967.
7. Medical School Correspondence, 1967-1984.
8. University of Nevada Medical Education Feasibility Study, 1968.
9. University of Nevada Medical Education Feasibility Study, Appendix, 1968.
10. Howard Hughes, 1968-1978.
11. Medical School Dedication, 1972.
12. Releases and Newsclips, 1971-1981.
13. Medical School Budget, 1972-1981.
14. Medical School Reports, 1972-1983.
15. Medical School Advisory Committee, 1973-1983.
16. Medical School Grants and Scholarships, 1974-1983.
17. Medical School Residency Programs, 1978-1981.
18. Claude I. Howard, 1978-1983.
19. Medical School Hooding Ceremony, 1980-1983.
20. Medical School Publications, 1980-1983.
21. School of Medicine Study of Selected Issues, November, 1981.
22. "Lung Lamellar Body Structural Defects..." by Clifford J. Stratton, 1984.

Box 4

84-01/4    Series 4:  Politics. 1958-1983. 11 Folders.

On March 26, 1958, Dr. Fred Anderson announced his candidacy for U.S. Senator from Nevada on the Democratic ticket. He was defeated in the primary election on September 2, 1958 by Howard Cannon.

The series includes material from Dr. Anderson's senatorial campaign as well as material collected as a result of his involvement in other political campaigns in Nevada from 1958 to 1983. A folder list is included for this series.

Folders 84-01/4/1 to 84-01/4/11:

1. Democratic Politics, 1958.
2. Anderson Politics, 1958.
3. Colorado River Commission, 1958.
4. News Releases, 1958.
5. Campaign Memorabilia, 1958.
6. Campaign Speeches, 1958
7. Campaign Correspondence, 1958-1961.
8. Mayor Decision, 1959.
9. Kennedy, Johnson Inaugurations, 1961, 1965.
10. Grant Sawyer Campaign, 1962, 1964.
11. Paul Laxalt, 1974-1983.

Box 4

84-01/5    Series 5:  Personal Papers.  1929-1984. 13 folders, 1 Video Cassette, 1 Scrapbook.

This series contains material related to Dr. Anderson's personal interests and involvements, 1929-1984. A folder list is included for the series.

Folders  84-01/5/1 to 84-01/5/13:

1. Newspaper Clippings, 1929-1983.
2. Oxford and Related Topics, 1929-1984.
3. Correspondence, 1962-1975.
4. Nevada Highway Department Committee, 1966.
5. Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. Park Beautification Project, 1966.
6. Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 1966-1971. 
7. Sertoma Award, 1975.
8. Proctor Hug Jr., 1977. 
9. Fiftieth Anniversary Dinner, May 6, 1978.
10. Charleton Laird Book, 1981-1982.
11. Grace Griffen, 1983.
12. Memorabilia.
13. Oral History Note Cards.

Video Cassette: Interview with Dr. Fred Anderson. Nevada Weekly. Aired January 14, 1979.

Box 5

Scrapbook.

Manuscripts | Special Collections

Please direct questions to Jacquelyn Sundstrand
Updated May 20, 2009