Percy E. Ryberg papers, 1906-1991

Navigate the Collection

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials


Restrictions:
Access restricted. Medical Research Materials series contains potentially sensitive information and requires permission from the curator to access. Contact Research Services to request access....
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Ryberg, Percy E. (Percy Edward), 1908-2001
Abstract:
Collection primarily comprises New York psychiatrist Percy E. Ryberg's personal family correspondence (in particular with his wife, Barbara), diaries, and other personal papers, some of which speak to Ryberg's youth in Argentina. Professional correspondence, articles, and other items document his career and interests in sexual and mental health, substance abuse treatments, identity, spiritual and astrological aspects of medicine, and other topics, and the publication of his book, Health, Sex, and Birth Control . Also includes biographical and genealogical information; Ryberg's 1944 court martial and later notes about appealing it; photographs and photograph albums; and glass plate negatives. Acquired by the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.
Extent:
6 Linear Feet (11 boxes; 1 oversize folder)
Language:
English. Some materials in Spanish.
Collection ID:
RL.01127

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists primarily of psychiatrist Percy Ryberg's personal correspondence (in particular with his wife, Barbara), diaries, and other personal papers (1908-1991), some of which speak to his youth in Argentina and his military service in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. Ryberg's career as a physician and psychiatrist is represented through professional correspondence, writings, and medical research material. The material includes articles on the treatment of alcoholism in the mid-twentieth century, the publication of his book Health, Sex and Birth Control , and research on histamine reactions on the skin. Other topics that may be mentioned in the papers include mental health treatment, gender identity, schizophrenia, and spiritual and astrological aspects of medicine. The collection contains a copy of Ryberg's 1944 court martial, where he was charged with conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman for renting a London apartment with airmen accused of homosexual activity. There are also clippings and correspondence relating to the trial of William Koch (1940s), a U.S. physician who claimed to have developed a cure for cancer.

The collection also includes photographs (1906-1990s), mostly family snapshots and professional portraits of Ryberg, and photograph albums documenting Ryberg's travels and career. Glass plate negatives bear images of diplomas, and military portraits of Ryberg from 1942.

Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.

Biographical / historical:

Percy Edward Ryberg (February 26, 1908-December 16, 2001) was a New York-based psychiatrist whose work focused on the treatment of alcoholism, mental health, gender identity, and sexual health. He was also interested in spiritual and astrological aspects of healing.

Ryberg was born on February 26, 1908 in England and grew up in Argentina. After graduating with a medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires in 1935, Ryberg worked as a physician in the city. Then in 1938 he earned a three-year fellowship to the Mayo Clinic. Following the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as a medical officer. In 1942 he published Health, Sex and Birth Control , which included a chapter devoted to understanding homosexuality. He served overseas in England until his dismissal in December 1944 following charges of misconduct for renting an apartment with two gay airmen.

Following his discharge, Ryberg worked for Johns Hopkins University as a psychiatrist before relocating to New York and working there in a variety of hospitals and clinics. He served as the president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine from 1965-1967. He was married to Barbara "Bobbie" Ryberg (January 18, 1912-October 1, 2003) of Baltimore, Maryland. Ryberg died on December 16, 2001.

Sources cited: Barrett, Matthew. "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Doctor: Medical Attitudes toward Homosexuality and the Court Martial of Dr. Percy Ryberg," Canadian Journal of History (Vol. 55 No. 1-2), 2020.

Acquisition information:
The Percy E. Ryberg papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2003. Addition 2024-0054 received as a gift from John B. Thomas in 2024.
Processing information:

Processed by Ann Langford

Completed April 15, 2003

Encoded by Elizabeth Arnold

Collection re-processed and finding aid updated by Katrina Martin, June 2015.

Description and authority heading revised and subject headings added, Paula Jeannet, April 2019.

Accession 2024-0054 added by Meghan Lyon, June 2024.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials


Restrictions:

Access restricted. Medical Research Materials series contains potentially sensitive information and requires permission from the curator to access. Contact Research Services to request access.

Access note. Glass plate negatives in this collection are fragile and may require extra assistance from staff. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Percy E. Ryberg papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.