University of Minnesota
Who did Ruth Boynton work for between Oct 1943 and Apr 1945?
Ruth Boynton Ruth Boynton ( 1896 – 1977 ) was a physician , researcher , and administrator who spent almost her entire career at the University of Minnesota . She worked in public health and student health services . At that time , there were few women in any of these fields . She was Director of the University Student Health Service from 1936 to 1961 . It was renamed the Boynton Health Service in her honor in 1975 . Early life and education . Ruth Evelyn Boynton was born in La Crosse , Wisconsin on January 3 , 1896 . She was the daughter of Ervin and Nellie Alice ( Parker ) Boynton . She decided to become a doctor while she was in high school . Her family physician , Dr . Mary P . Houck , was said by an early colleague and friend of Ruth Boynton , William Shepard , to have set an example that influenced Boyntons decision . Dr . Mary P . Houck cared for Boyntons two brothers during their final illnesses , when they were 12 and 20 years old and Nelly Boynton who also died during Ruths youth . She started college at La Crosse State Normal School and transferred to the University of Wisconsin–Madison . She graduated with a major in Medical Sciences and coursework in Latin and French . Career . Boynton graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1921 . In the same year , she was hired as one of the first full-time employees at the Student Health Service . Previously , the Health Service was primarily staffed by a single employee , director Dr . Harold S . Diehl , who took her on as an assistant for three years . In her first year she treated patients during serious outbreaks of scarlet fever and influenza . She saw patients with a wide variety of diseases , including tuberculosis . Over the years , tuberculosis became a major focus of her research and publications . Boynton was Director of the Minnesota Department of Health Division of Child Hygiene from 1923 to 1927 . She also spent one year at the University of Chicago , from 1927 to 1928 , as the Chief Medical Advisor for Women and Assistant Professor of Medicine . In 1929 , she returned to the University of Minnesota for the rest of her career . When Diehl was made dean of medical science , he recommended Boynton for the job of Director . In his letter , he commented that he wasnt sure if a woman could do the job , but if there was one who could , it was Ruth Boynton . Because no woman had been in charge of a university health service before her , there was some hesitation to appoint Boynton , so she had to serve only as the acting director for a year . Boynton was Director of the Student Health Service from 1936 until her retirement in 1961 . During this time , she expanded it into one of the best and most complete student health services in the country . She started several new programs during her time as Director . They include a special food service for students with diseases such as diabetes , hiring health educators to promote disease prevention , and managing the use of radioactive materials on campus . She also boosted the amount of psychological and psychiatric counseling services . As Director , she served as an administrator , physician , researcher , and teacher . She also ran the U of M School of Public Health during World War II when its Director left to serve in the Army . During her career , Boynton was active in groups such as the American College Health Association . The association now awards an annual Ruth E . Boynton Award for service to the Association . She served for twenty-two years on the Minnesota State Board of Health , and was twice elected its President , in 1945 and 1951 . Later life . Boynton retired from the University in 1961 . She moved to Florida where she volunteered her time as the secretary-treasurer of the American College Health Association for several years . In 1975 , the University of Minnesota honored her career and contributions by renaming the Student Health Service to Boynton Health Service , the name it still bears . She died on December 21 , 1977 in Miami after a brief illness . Boynton gave $20,000 to establish the Prudence Catright Scholarship for an outstanding woman graduate student in education to the University of Minnesota in her bequest . To Boynton Health Service she gave $15,000 to establish a learning resources center for the staff . External links . - Ruth Evelyn Boynton Papers , 1931-1962