LATIN AMERICAN LIBRARY
TULANE UNIVERSITY
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70118
Manuscripts Collection 130
Dr. Robert E. Low Medical Mission Papers, 1990-1995
COLLECTION GUIDE
Prepared by Philip S. MacLeod
February, 1999
Collection Overview
Dr. Robert E. Low was born in Addis, Louisiana. He studied medicine at
Tulane University's Medical School and moved to Brewton, Alabama where he
set up a family medical practice in 1949. Dr. Low is an active member of
the First United Methodist Church of Brewton.
Between February 1990 and February 1995 Dr. Low participated in a
series of nine medical missions, one to Honduras and the remaining eight
to the Guatemalan highlands. The missions were organized by the United
Methodist Church and the last seven missions were led by the Rev. R.L.
"Ted" Hoagland, a retired pastor from Mobile, Alabama. Each mission lasted
approximately ten days, providing basic medical and dental treatment to
more than 1000 patients who lived in the remote villages of Honduras and
Guatemala. Medical team particiapants included physicians, nurses,
dentists, pharmacists, radiologists, nutritionists, translators and team
assistants all of whom paid their own way.
The Low Medical Mission Papers include correspondence, itineraries,
lists of mission participants, more than 2700 medical examination records,
summaries of treatment, lists of donors and public speaking notes.
Thecollection also has a number of books, brochures, pamphlets, articles
and postcards that mainly deal with Guatemala. Of particular interest are
the more than 1400 photographs and 1000 transparencies which document the
activities of the various medical missions. Also of note are Dr. Low's
mission journals which provide a personal narrative about his daily
activities in Honduras and Guatemala.
Collection Arrangement
I) Correspondence 1990-1997
81 items
II) Medical Missions
2900 items, 1407 photographs and 1093 slides
III) Miscellaneous Items
*The photographs and slides are organized chronologically and follow the
file of materials from each of Dr. Low's medical missions.
**A guide to the photographs from each mission, based on Dr. Low's
personal comments, is available in the LAL Manuscripts Office upon
request.
For greater detail see the printed collection guide in the LAL
office.
Latin American
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Last updated: March 8, 2000