Anne Ramsay Somers papers

The Anne Ramsay Somers Papers consist of 10 linear feet of office files which contain correspondence, project files, and writings. They extend from 1955 to 1978, although the bulk of the papers covers the years 1960 to 1978.

The Somers Papers are incomplete; they contain no material documenting her academic appointments. In addition, they provide only limited information on her service in professional organizations, on her work as a consultant, and on her membership on the Health Insurance Benefits Advisory Council. The papers do, however, contain correspondence with a number of significant figures in health care and health policy, and they provide extensive coverage of her publications and speeches. The papers are organized in three series: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, WRITINGS, and PROJECT FILES.

Series I GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE is arranged alphabetically and dates primarily from the mid 1960s through 1978. The series contains exchanges with acquaintances, colleagues, professional organizations, public officials and others, and it covers a wide range of areas in health and health policy. Somers corresponded with important figures in public health and health economics such as: Odin W. Anderson, Robert M. Ball, Frederick W. Brown, Wilbur J. Cohen, Melvin A. Glasser, Philip R. Lee, James Mackenzie, Robert J. Myers, Ernest W. Saward, Robert M. Sigmond. Her exchanges with Brown, Du Val, Glasser, Lee and Myers contain lengthy, informal discussions of her views on health care and health insurance. However, most of the series is limited to one or a few exchanges with specific correspondents or is routine in nature.

Series II, WRITINGS, is divided into two sections,MonographsandSpeeches and Shorter Writings.Monographsis arranged chronologically by title and covers books and book chapters which Somers authored or co-authored between 1960 and 1977. The section includes drafts, outlines, correspondence, reviews and other items.

TheSpeeches and Shorter Writingssection spans the years 1968 to 1977, although most of the material dates from 1969 to 1974. The section is arranged chronologically by the date papers were first presented or published. Revisions of papers which were subsequently published or presented (including those with variant titles) are filed with the original version of the paper. The section includes speech texts, reprints, tear sheets, and correspondence. The major topics represented are hospital administration, the role of hospitals in health care, consumer health education, and health insurance.

Series III, PROJECT FILES, dates from 1966 to 1979 and covers a variety of Somers' professional activities, including organizations, conferences, and panels on which she served; consulting work; informal consultations with colleagues; and production of a television series on health services organization, financing and health consumerism. The series also includes a few materials from her appointment to the Health Insurance Benefits Advisory Council.

The series includes more than twenty separate organizations and projects, although the coverage for each is very limited. Most of the activities described in the series relate to consumer health education.

The papers are part of the Contemporary Medical Care and Health Policy Collection, which also includes the papers of Somers' husband, Herman M. Somers (Ms. Group No. 1238).