ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

JOHN MACDONALD PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #1174

DATES: 1919-1959

SIZE: 2.5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The John MacDonald Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection in September 1988 (Acc.#88-1622). The collection was found in a dumpster after the Department of Special Collections received an anonymous phone call.

ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Dr. John A. MacDonald was born in Bismarck, North Dakota on May 16, 1886. He attended public schools in Bismarck, graduating from high school in 1904, and during the following year attended a business college at Mankato, Minnesota. Dr. MacDonald continued his education at Milwaukee University in Wisconsin, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1907. Eventually, Dr. MacDonald took up medicine, and in 1913 he graduated with a Doctor of Medicine Degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Dr. MacDonald did his training as an intern at Milwaukee County Hospital, Milwaukee Maternity Hospital, and St. John’s Hospital in Fargo until 1915. Dr. MacDonald practiced in Grand Forks for a short time, before moving to Cando in 1916, where he continued to work as a surgeon, as well as a general practitioner, for the next 50 years.

Dr. MacDonald also performed the duties of city and county health officer. Dr. MacDonald was a member of the North Dakota and American Medical Associations, as well as the Lake Region Medical Association. During World War I, Dr. MacDonald performed the duties of medical examiner for the Towner County selective draft board.

Dr. MacDonald was married to Gladys V. Johnson in July of 1918, in Cando. They had two children, Donaldlene, born September 23, 1925, and John Jr., born November 22, 1928. Gladys died June 24, 1942. Dr. MacDonald remarried Dorothy McCarthy on February 10, 1945. The two adopted a daughter, Bernadette, in June of 1944.

Taken from History of North Dakota Vol. 2, (pg. 406-407) by Lewis Crawford.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The John MacDonald Papers consist primarily of ledger books of birth records dating from 1919- 1959. Additional Materials include correspondence, financial information, and a blank prescription book. Materials include information regarding MacDonald's private practice as well as the public hospital in Cando.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

  1. Financial Info, 1926, 1928, 1933
  2. Correspondence, 1936
  3. Blank Letterhead and Prescription Book

Ledgers
1919-1924
1928-1930
1931
1934-1935
1940-1942
1943-1945

Box 2

Ledgers
1946-1949
1950-1951
1952
1954
1955-1956
1957
1958-1959

SEPARATIONS RECORD

One ledger book dating from 1924-1929 was separated and placed on the shelf adjacent to the collection.


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