Schweitzer (1875-1965) was an Alsatian musician, philosopher, physician, missionary, and author. He operated a medical mission in Lambarene, French Equatorial Africa (now Gabon) from 1913 until his death. Ernst Bueding (1910-86) was a parasite biochemist and pharmacologist who had met Schweitzer in the 1930s. Bueding was also interested in leprosy, and during the period 1945-50 procured drugs for Schweitzer to use in his work.

This collection contains letters written by Schweitzer to Ernest Bueding from Schweitzer's medical mission in Lambarene, Gabon. It also contains Bueding's correspondence with drug companies. Photographs of Schweitzer and Bueding are included. The letters refer to the drugs, many new or experimental, which Bueding procured for Schweitzer. There are also many references to the long hours Schweitzer put in training new doctors to work with him or merely keeping the mission operating in the harsh jungle climate. Bueding collected printed material about Schweitzer.

The collection includes correspondence (1945-57), printed material (1947-87), and photographs (1940s-55). The letters from Schweitzer are mainly in German with some in French. Bueding's correspondence with the pharmaceutical companies is in English. This collection includes references to Schweitzer, Albert, 1875-1965, American Leprosy Missions, American Mission to Lepers, the Missions to Lepers—Gabon, the Ciba Pharmaceutical Company, Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc, Lederle Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, G.D. Searle & Co, Merck & Co, Parke, Davis & Company, and Winthrop Chemical Company (New York, N.Y.).

A finding aid for this collection can be accessed here: http://ead.library.jhu.edu/ms069.xml

Entry made September 2005