Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Melvin C. Shaffer papers, 1947-1987, Accession number 2020.12.024, Special Colections and Archives, Health Science Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Melvin C.Shaffer, in 2020.

Biographical / Historical

Melvin Cyrus Shaffer, the second of three sons born to Frank and Elizabeth Shaffer, was born in Shinnston, West Virginia on May 9, 1924. Shaffer was a white male who was raised and attended school in rural West Virginia where he first developed an interest in photography, kindled by a gift of an old camera from his grandmother. He presented papers on photography twice at the West Virginia Science Academy where he made the acquaintance of a physician who invited the young Shaffer to move to Philippi, West Virginia to complete high school and learned about clinical photography.

Following his high school graduation, Shaffer spent one year at Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi. He enlisted in the United States Army and was posted at the Army Medical Museum where he received further training in photography. His basic training as a medical corpsman took place at Camp Picket and he was assigned to the 3rd Detachment, Medical Museum and Arts Service. Initially deployed to Casablanca in August of 1943, Shaffer spent time in North Africa, Italy, and Germany where he witnessed and photographed the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp and arrived in Berlin just following the German surrender. Shaffer was honorably discharged from the Army on November 16, 1945 and returned to Washington, D.C. where he worked at the Armed Force Institute of Pathology helping to identify the many photographs and films he made while overseas. He also continued his education at George Washington University.

On January 1, 1947 Shaffer started his affiliation with the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) as Director of Visual Education. This new department would provide photography and art illustrations for the School of Medicine. During his 37-year tenure Shaffer built a large department responsible for audiovisual services and instructional support. At Shaffer's suggestion the School of Dentistry introduced closed circuit television in 1953, one of the first institutions in the United States to use this technology in educating dental students. As a result of his success in his role as director, the MCV Board of Visitors appointed him as an assistant professor in 1966. He subsequently rose through the ranks to full profession in 1979 in spite of the fact that he did not earn a college degree.

Shaffer was active professionally in a number of photography, educational, and biomedical communications organizations. He was a founder and charter member of the Health Sciences Communications Association and Association of Medical Television Broadcasters. Shaffer served in leadership roles in both organizations. During the last fifteen years of his career at MCV and then Virginia Commonwealth University, he consulted extensively with medical institutions in the United States and abroad. He worked with both the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization advising about audio-visual services and instruction. His department was considered by many as the model for supporting health sciences education. His consulting took him to Mexico, Cuba, the Soviet Union, Brazil, and other countries.

Early in his career Shaffer developed an interest in aviation possibly a result of his experiences in the military during World War II. He became a skilled pilot and frequently flew planes over MCV to capture aerial images illustrating the physical growth of the institution. Shaffer retired in 1984 and remained in Richmond for some years while serving on local airport advisory boards. He later relocated to Green Valley Arizona where he passed away on January 25, 2021. Shafer and his wife of 67 years, Edith, had two sons.

Content Description

This collection consists of materials retained by Melvin C. Shaffer from his tenure at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) and later donated to Virginia Commonwealth University. The collection primarily documents his consulting and professional work in biomedical communication from his appointment as director of Visual Education in 1947 until his retirement in 1984. There is correspondence related to his position including his hiring in 1947 and some activities in Visual Education but no extensive documentation related to the operation of his department.

The collection includes correspondence, 1947-1987, certificates, publications, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other printed materials related to his work. There are photographs of the television system Shaffer developed in the School of Dentistry to support dental education, one of the first in the United States. The images show the television studio, equipment, classroom, and operatory in the School of Dentistry. The collection also includes photographs of Shaffer and one image Shaffer captured of the Dalai Lama. There are patent documents related to the "Shaffer Bronchoscope," an instrument used for diagnosis, treatment, and photography of the trachea bronchial tree. Shaffer collaborated with Dr. William E. Pembleton on its development. The United State Patent office issued Shaffer letters patent for the device in 1955. Shaffer designated the Medical College of Virginia Foundation as the recipeint of commissions from the manufacture of the instrument. Other documents of note are Dr. William T. Sanger's plan for an academic village at MCV and the organization charts, position descriptions, and background information related to the creation of University Libraries and Visual Education Services at VCU in 1981.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Medical College of Virginia. Department of Visual Education
• Photographs