Dr. Robert E. Low Medical Mission Papers, 1990-1995
(Collection 130)
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.
Representative Images from the Low Collection
Collection Arrangement
I) Correspondence 1990-1997
81 items
II) Medical Missions
900 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.
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