Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite, 1917-2005 (bulk 1917-2003)
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Sophia Smith Collection Smith College Northampton, MA
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Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite Papers
Creation of Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite Papers
Time of Creation of Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite Papers
Satterthwaite, Adaline Pendleton
Biographical History for: Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite Papers
Biographical Note Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite was born on 6 February 1917 in Berkeley, California to Jessie Larimore and John Lewis Pendleton. She graduated magna cum laude from Pomona College in 1937 with a B.S. in chemistry, and earned her M.D. degree in obstetrics and gynecology in 1942 from the University of California at San Francisco. She met her future husband, William Satterthwaite, also a doctor, in 1944 while working in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the couple had one son, David. In 1947 Satterthwaite and her family traveled to China as medical missionaries where she was involved in Barefoot Doctors, a UNICEF program that trained villagers to administer basic medical care to their communities. She continued her work in China following the death of William Satterthwaite in 1949, returning to the U.S. in 1951. From 1952 to 1967 she again lived in Puerto Rico, working as resident physician at Ryder Memorial Hospital, and it was during this time that she was struck by the plight of women who had more children than they could support. She subsequently became involved in running some of the first clinical trials for oral contraceptives, and her data was instrumental in the FDA decision to approve the Pill in 1960. Satterthwaite also conducted pioneering research developing the intrauterine device (IUD). As she became more expert in the realm of maternal child health and international family planning, Satterthwaite was employed by various organizations, including the Ford Foundation, the Population Council of the Rockefeller Foundation, and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities under whose auspices she lived and worked in Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, and Venezuela. In the early 1980s she shifted from full-time work to short-term consulting projects in such countries as Mauritius, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, and Nepal. In the late 1980s, upon retiring and relocating to Langhorne, Pennsylvania to be near her son and his family, Satterthwaite became an active volunteer in numerous organizations. She served on the board of directors of the Institute for Development Training, the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Planned Parenthood of Bucks County, the Newtown Friends School, and the Bucks County YWCA. She was also involved with the American Public Health Association, the League of Women Voters of Bucks County, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Meals on Wheels, and the Middletown Society of Friends. She used her fluency in Spanish to translate for patients at local hospitals, and as a tutor for the Latino Leadership Alliance of Bucks County. In 2002 Satterthwaite received the Bucks County Women's History Award for her contributions to the community. Her professional awards included the National Council for International Health Award, the Women's Health Award of the American Medical Women's Association, and the Margaret Sanger Award of Planned Parenthood of Bucks County. Satterthwaite published widely in professional journals throughout her career. She died in 2005.
The Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite Papers were donated to the Sophia Smith Collection in 2005 by her son, David Satterthwaite.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Adaline Pendleton Satterthwaite Papers consist of 16 linear ft. dating from 1917 to 2003. Types of materials include diaries, photographs, legal and financial documents, reports, case studies, articles, newspaper clippings, charts and statistics, notes, newsletters, printed materials, brochures, pamphlets, and memorabilia. The bulk of the papers date from the early 1950s through the late 1990s and focus on Satterthwaite's career as an obstetrician/gynecologist and internationally-known expert in maternal child health and family planning. Major topics found in these papers include the development of modern methods of birth control, notably the Pill, the IUD, Depo-Provera, and permanent sterilization for both men and women; infant and maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries, particularly as related to pregnancy, childbirth, and multiple, unplanned pregnancies; the prevention and treatment of diarrhea, especially among children; and population control as a global priority. Satterthwaite concluded early in her career that family planning and maternal and child health were critical to world economic and political stability, and her efforts to address these issues are well-documented throughout the collection. While Satterthwaite's letters to her husband are intimate and personal, her correspondence to family and friends is intended for a broader audience. It offers rich insight into daily life in foreign countries, including observations about local cultures, as well as the particulars of Satterthwaite's daily life. The correspondence of Satterthwaite's brother, Robert, who lived and worked for many years in Central and South America, is also of interest. The diaries provide a detailed and intelligent account of Satterthwaite's many years of practice as a doctor, medical advisor, program director, and consultant to various world health organizations. They cover the time period beginning with her appointment as Resident Medical Advisor to the Population Council in Thailand in1966, through completion of her term of employment as Program Adviser to the Bangladesh Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception in 1990. The remaining diaries, dating from mid-1990 to 1994, tend towards brevity and are generally concerned with the more mundane aspects of post-retirement daily life. This series also contains Satterthwaite's published articles, speeches and unpublished essays, as well as sermons by Rev. G. Arthur Canaday.
The Papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions.
The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to Adaline P. Satterthwaite's unpublished works. Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." Copyright to materials authored by others may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
Processed by Burd Schlessinger, 2011
Abortion--History--Sources
lcsh
Birth control--Developing countries--History--20th century--Sources
Contraceptives--Research--Sources
Gynecology--United States--History--Sources
Human reproduction--Social aspects--History--20th century
Missionaries, Medical--Africa--History--Sources
Missionaries, Medical--China--20th century
Obstetrics--History--Sources
Sterilization (birth control)--History--Sources
Women's health services--History--Sources
Women--Health and hygiene--History--Sources
China--Social conditions--1949-1976--Sources
Women--Puerto Rico--Social conditions--Sources
Women--Pakistan--Social conditions--Sources
Women--Bangladesh--Social conditions--Sources
lcnaf
series
Biographical Materials (1917-2003)
This series contains scrapbooks, and photographs of Satterthwaite and her family and friends; newspaper clippings about Satterthwaite and her work; financial information, including documentation of her involvement in several charitable enterprises; and honors and awards. Materials describing the lives of Satterthwaite's sister, Lois Pendleton Todd (also a physician), and her two brothers, Morris and Robert Pendleton, are also included, as are a small amount of genealogical information and materials documenting a return trip to China in 1984.
Correspondence (1923-2001)
This series, which spans Satterthwaite's entire professional life, is comprised of letters to and from Satterthwaite and her family and friends. Her own correspondence consists of detailed letters describing her life and work in various foreign countries. Correspondence with her husband, William Satterthwaite, is filed separately, and letters to and from friends and other family members have been combined (unless there is a significant amount to or from a particular individual, as in the case of Randall Shea, a volunteer for Witness for Peace). Many of the holiday cards contain news from overseas from friends involved in missionary and other types of philanthropic work, informing and elaborating on Satterthwaite's own correspondence.
Writings (1958-2000)
This series consists of diaries and writings by Satterthwaite and others. The diaries are filed chronologically. Those written while she was employed by the Population Council (1966-1974) take the form of daily typed reports that describe in detail her activities. Subsequent handwritten diaries describe her career with other international organizations and her life after retirement (1974 - 1994).
Professional Activities (1958-2000)
This series consists of three sub-series: Medical missionary work is relatively small and primarily contains printed materials about China. Maternal and child health, and family planning is the largest sub-series and contains much of the raw data generated by Satterthwaite and her colleagues. It is arranged alphabetically by name of organization. Post-retirement work documents Satterthwaite's work as a board member of the Child Health Foundation, the Institute for Development Training (in partnership with Reformed Churches of America), and Planned Parenthood of Buck's County.
Subject Files (1956-2000)
This series consists of mixed materials that are filed alphabetically by subject. It illustrates the breadth and depth of Satterthwaite's life-long interest in and commitment to population control, maternal and child health, human rights, and peace and nuclear disarmament.
SERIES I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
Scrapbooks 1930s-40s
Clippings 1985-2002
Resumes n.d.
Passports and biographical statements 1947-90, n.d.
Prayers and inspirational sayings n.d.
Education
High school yearbook 1933
Pomona College 50th reunion 1987
University of California San Francisco Medical School 50th reunion 1991-93
Continuing medical education: correspondence and certificates 1970s-90s
Photographs: Satterthwaite alone, and with family and friends 1917-90s, n.d.
Medical licensure
United States 1980s-2000s
Puerto Rico 1985-95
Legal and financial
Personal documents 1948-2001, n.d.
Anne M. Pendleton Trust 1982-99
Harry and Julia Abramson Fund 1994-99
Lois Pendleton Todd Medical Scholarship (Stanford University Medical School) 1982-92
Assistance to international friends
Ahmed, Kabir 1981-82
D'Costa family 1981-2001
Haque, Anwaral 1981-2001
Tabarias, Winston 1991-2001
Others 1981-98
Honors and awards
Medical College of Pennsylvania 1993
National Council for International Health 1983
Pomona College 1987-91
Other 1967-2003, n.d.
Plaques 1965-2002
Glass 1998, n.d.
Family members
Larimore, Adaline Ann circa 1934 (APS grandmother)
Morris, William: "William Morris and His Family" by Mary Morris Godfrey Embleton n.d.
Pendleton, Anne Miltimore: memorial booklet 1981
Pendleton, Jessie Larimore (APS mother): obituary and correspondence re: last illness and death 1948
Pendleton, Morris (APS brother): obituaries and condolences 1985
Pendleton, Robert (APS brother): anecdotes 1957, n.d.
Satterthwaite, David (APS son): photographs, and printed materials 1990s, n.d.
Satterthwaite, William (APS husband): anecdotes 1949, n.d.
Todd, Lois Pendleton: biographical statement, photographs, book, and clippings re: husband Oliver J. Todd 1931-99, n.d. (APS sister)
Larimore, Morris and Pendleton family: photograph and genealogies 1966, n.d.
Travel: China
Correspondence and travel documents 1983-84
Newsletters 1984-86
Printed materials 1971-86
Photographs
Friends 1950s-90s
Negatives circa 1960s-90s
SERIES II. CORRESPONDENCE
Personal
Galley, Esther T. 1980-81
Pendleton, John L. and Jessie L. 1923-51
Pendleton, Morris B. 1949-84
Pendleton, Robert 1945-47
Satterthwaite, William 1944-45
Shea, Randall (Witness for Peace)
Family and friends
Holiday cards 1950-93
Congressional representatives 1991-97
General
Mailing lists n.d.
SERIES III. WRITINGS
Diaries
Taipei and Thailand 1966
Pakistan and Thailand 1967
Pakistan 1968
New York and Pakistan 1969
Pakistan 1970-71
Peru and Venezuela 1972
Venezuela and Bangaldesh 1973
Dominican Republic and Mexico Jan - Oct 1974
Bangladesh
Nov - Dec 1974, and 1976-77
Life and work in other parts of the world
Published articles 1959-82
Essays and speeches 1958-2000, n.d.
Unidentified fragments n.d.
Writings by others: sermons by Rev. G Arthur Casaday 1967-68
SERIES IV. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Medical missionary work
Articles, newsletters, and printed materials 1938-82, n.d.
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions: LuHo Hospital, Tungchow, China
Photographs, clippings, and printed materials 1943-59
Correspondence (in Chinese), circa late 1940s
Maternal and child health, and family planning
American Public Health Association consultancy: correspondence, financial information, contracts, forms and printed materials 1981-94
Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception: Bangladesh
Correspondence and travel itinerary 1987-88
Reports 1981-92
"Procedure Manual for the Surgical Team Providing Tubal Occlusion and Vasectomy," 1989
Printed materials 1987-91
Ford Foundation, Bangladesh: correspondence and reports 1982
Population Council
Bangladesh: Taylor-Berelson Project: photographs and reports circa 1974-78
Pakistan: reports 1967-71
Thailand
Reports and photographs 1966-67
Trip to Indonesia: clippings and photographs 1966
Trip to Iran: photograph and speech 1966
Venezuela 1971-73
Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of
Articles and clippings 1947-57, n.d.
Pamphlets and brochures 1953-59, n.d.
Ryder Memorial Hospital
Pamphlets and printed materials 1956-89
Correspondence 1952-66
Photographs circa 1950s-65
Birth control and other gynecological and obstetrical issues: reports, charts, statistics, and notes circa 1956-64
Oral contraceptive clinical trials (includes data re: the IUD)
Reports by Satterthwaite 1961-63
Writings by others 1995-98
Farewell tribute 1965
United Nations Fund for Population Activities
Dacca
Correspondence 1974-81
Photographs 1977-81
Performance reviews 1977-79
Population control and family planning
"Five Year Plan," 1980
Reports 1980-82
Printed materials 1980-83
Matlab Project (in partnership with International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research)
Contracts and correspondence 1981-84
Charts, forms, and notes 1980-82
"Drug Dosage Book," n.d.
Case studies and reports
Health Services Project 1983
Maternal Mortality Study (by Lyn Singer) 1983-84
Other 1982-83
Charts, diagrams, and memorabilia circa 1982 (includes urine sample)
Abortion, IUD, Depo-Provera: articles and reports 1980-89
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research
Correspondence, memoranda and reports 1980-86
Conferences and annual reports 1982-89
Newsletters 1995-2000
Miscellaneous reports and printed materials 1983-89
Munshiganj Project: reports 1984
APS visit to Gafargaon Women's College 14 Apr 1988
UNFPA (in partnership with Center for Population and Family Health at Columbia University): Nepal
Correspondence 1987-92
Program description circa 1980-88
Financial information 1987-88
Reports
Family Planning and Child Study Project: forms n.d.
Maps and printed materials 1985-87 [see also Oversize Materials]
Articles 1982-91
Clippings 1985 [see also Oversize Materials]
Center for Population and Family Health: general information 1989-90
World Neighbors: Peru
Proposal 1982
Correspondence 1983-88
Financial information 1984
Reports 1984, 1989
Charts and statistical information
Notes and forms circa 1983-84
Articles, clippings, and printed materials 1984-87, n.d.
Post-retirement
Child Health Foundation 1986-98
Board of Trustees files: notes 1986-99
Annual reports and newsletters 1991-98
Projects and proposals 1992-98
Clippings and press releases 1988-95
Institute for Training and Development
Statements of purpose and strategic plans 1989-2000
General correspondence 1987-93
Board of Directors files: correspondence and memoranda, agendas, and minutes
Financial information 1990-98
Newsletters and printed materials 1992-2000
Projects and proposals
HIV/AIDS 1992-93
Video productions 1990s
Women's health 1990-93
Planned Parenthood of Bucks County (Pennsylvania)
General correspondence 1992-94
Abortion Task Force: agendas, minutes, and financial information 1993-94
Affiliate Medical Committee: agendas, minutes, and financial information 1992-96
Newsletters and brochures 1992-95
SERIES V. SUBJECT FILES
Abortion 1991-93
Adoption 1994-95, n.d.
Bangladesh 1984-94, n.d.
Birth control
General 1964-91
Oral contraception in developing countries
Correspondence, notes and reports 1984
Charts and statistics 1982-84
"Effects of Oral Contraceptive Use on Serum Lipids," 1981-84
"Tentative Program for 'Expert Meeting on Oral Contraceptive Needs of Developing Countries'," 1978-88
Other articles, and printed materials 1982-89
Child health 1982-99, n.d.
Childbirth n.d.
Choice in dying 1996
Family planning and world population growth 1960-2000, n.d.
HIV/AIDS 1996
Human rights 1990, n.d.
India: Padhar Hospital 1992-94
League of Women Voters of Bucks County (Pennsylvania)
Population Coalition 1966-2000, n.d.
Publications and printed materials 1997
Medical issues and conditions (general) 1986-92
Peace and nuclear disarmament
Canberra Commission (Australia) 1997
Physicians for Social Responsibility and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War 1984-97
Printed materials 1983-2000, n.d.
Politics 1981-97, n.d.
Religion
General 1988-93, n.d.
Langhorne (Pennsylvania) Presbyterian Church 1992-96
Quakers and others circa 1969-2001
Teen sex and teen violence 1992-93
Thailand 1981-82
Women's issues and organizations 1969-92, n.d.
Miscellaneous and unidentified documents 1956-98, n.d.
Oversize Materials
Biographical materials
Clippings 1950s-80s
Honors and awards 1964, n.d.
Subject files
Abortion: NYT article on late term abortion 1993
Birth control: magazines 1957-93
Family planning and world population growth: clipping 1981
Teen sex and teen violence: clippings 1993
Thailand: clipping 1982
Posters and medical charts 1964-98