Berryhill, W. Reece (Walter Reece), 1900-1979

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Walter Reece Berryhill was director of student health services, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1933-1941, and dean of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 1941-1964.

From the description of Walter Reece Berryhill papers, 1919-1979. WorldCat record id: 25724817

Walter Reece Berryhill was born 14 October 1900 in Charlotte, N.C., the son of Samuel Reece and Minnie Eugenia Scott Berryhill. In 1921, he graduated from the University of North Carolina. Six years later he completed course work at the Harvard University School of Medicine. Berryhill served as an intern at Boston City Hospital, and as a resident at University Hospital (Case Western Reserve University), Cleveland, Ohio.

In 1931, Berryhill returned to his native state. From 1933 to 1941, he served as physician-in-chief at the University infirmary and director of the student health service at his alma mater. Also during this period, Berryhill was promoted to associate professor, then to assistant professor, and, finally, to assistant dean of the School of Medicine. In 1941, he became both professor of medicine and dean of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. After 27 years as dean, Berryhill stepped down from that position in 1968. He retired in 1971, having served his last three years as the Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Medicine.

In addition to his service at UNC, Berryhill was vice-president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 1958-1959, and sat on the executive council. He also wrote numerous articles pertaining chiefly to lung diseases and medical education. His final project was the co-authoring of Medical Education at Chapel Hill: The First Hundred Years (1979).

Berryhill received various awards for his service to medical education. Among these were the Faculty-Alumni Distinguished Service Award (1955), honorary degrees from Davidson College (1956) and UNC-Chapel Hill (1976), the O. Max Gardner Award (1964), and the Distinguished Citizen Award (1964). He considered his greatest honor the choice of Berryhill Hall as the name of the Basic Medical Sciences Building at UNC-Chapel Hill. The University thus acknowledged Berryhill's successful efforts to change the medical school from a two-year to a four-year program, and to lead the school to national prominence.

On 3 August 1930, Berryhill married Norma Mae Connell. The couple had two children, Jane and Catherine. Berryhill died 1 January 1979.

From the guide to the Walter Reece Berryhill Papers, 1919-1979, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Manning, Isaac Hall, 1866-1946. History of the U.N.C. School of Medicine, 1879-1937 [manuscript] 1940. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. School of Medicine. Office of the Dean. Records of the Office of the Dean of the School of Medicine, 1905-1998 (bulk 1952-1995) (general abstract). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Walter Reece Berryhill Papers, 1919-1979 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. School of Medicine. Office of the Dean. Records of the Office of the Dean of the School of Medicine, 1905-1998 (bulk 1952-1995) (organizations and deans abstract). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Berryhill, Norma. Norma Berryhill : a North Carolina treasure. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Manning, Isaac Hall, 1866-1946. History of the Medical School of the University of North Carolina / as written by Dr. Isaac Hall Manning, Sr. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Health Sciences Library
referencedIn Office of the Vice Provost for Health Affairs of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1932-2005, (bulk 1950-2000) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives and Records Service
creatorOf Walter Reece Berryhill Papers, 1919-1979 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn General Faculty and Faculty Council of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1799-2011 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives and Records Service
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Berryhill, Norma. person
associatedWith Blythe, LeGette, 1900-1993. person
associatedWith Bobbitt, William H. (William Haywood), 1900-1992. person
associatedWith Castle, William B. (William Bosworth), 1897- person
associatedWith Coates, Albert, 1896-1989. person
associatedWith Daniels, Jonathan, 1902-1981. person
associatedWith Ervin, Sam J. (Sam James), 1896-1985. person
associatedWith Eure, Thad, 1899-1993. person
associatedWith Finland, Maxwell. person
associatedWith Fordham, Christopher C. person
associatedWith Friday, William C. (William Clyde) person
associatedWith Hodges, Luther Hartwell, 1898-1974. person
associatedWith Love, Cornelia Spencer, 1892-1981. person
associatedWith Lynch, Kenneth Merrill, 1887-1974. person
associatedWith Manning, Isaac Hall, 1866-1946. person
associatedWith McNider, William de Berniere, 1881-1951. person
associatedWith Moritz, Alan Richards, 1899- person
correspondedWith Provine, William B. person
associatedWith Ross, Robert A. (Robert Alexander), 1899-1973. person
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962) corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962). School of Medicine corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. General Faculty. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Office of the Vice Provost for Health Affairs. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. School of Medicine corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. School of Medicine. Office of the Dean. corporateBody
associatedWith White, Thomas J. (Thomas Jackson), 1903-1991. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina
United States
Subject
Disease
Medical education
Family medicine
Medical colleges
Medicine
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1900

Death 1979

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