Thank you letters to the Birth Home, 1982 - 1986

The Birth Home, Inc. Records contain materials documenting the daily and administrative operations of the non-profit birthing center as well as their involvement in the community and published materials collected by the organization regarding topics relevant to birthing centers, healthcare, pregnancy, and childbirth.

This collection has been divided into 6 major series:

Series I: Patient Records (RESTRICTED) (1984-1986)

Contains patient registration, consent and contract forms as well as fees and payment information, insurance records, and patient care records. Also included are thank you letters and family photographs mailed to the Birth Home from former patients.

Series II: Personnel Files (RESTRICTED) (1982-1986)

Contains the personnel files of Birth Home staff, including birth assistants, birth nurses, cerified nurse midwives, and OBGYN physicians. Files include employment applications, interview materials, time sheets, tax documents, professional health benefits material, and professional liability insurance documentation.

Series III: 501(c)(3) Documentation (1982-1986)

Contains official non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation papers and other important documentation related to Birth Home's non-profit status, including articles of incorporation, by-laws, and tax exemption materials.

Series IV: Administrative Records (RESTRICTED) (1980-1986)

Contains assorted office files created and used by Birth Home staff during daily operations of the facility as well as other administrative and financial records. Included within this series are correspondence; meeting minutes of the board of directors, committees, and staff; job descriptions and interview materials; protocols, policies, and procedures; financial records; utility records; supply lists and catalogs; Birth Home educational and fundraising event planning and promotional materials; advertisements and other public relation materials; educational handouts; blank patient care forms; volunteer and student worker programs; professional organization membership materials; Birth Home newsletters, and news clippings about the Birth Home.

Series V: Martha Goetsch Administrative Records (RESTRICTED) (1980-1986)

Contains the records created and/or maintained by founding member Martha Goetsch, M.D., and her involvement as Medical Director and member of the Board of Directors. Goetsch's records are kept separate from the primary Administrative Records series to highlight this distinction. Materials are primarily board member and Birth Home medical staff records, including meeting agendas and minutes as well as by-law drafts and revisions. Also included are records documenting the planning for Birth Home's opening in 1982 as well as their proposal to merge with Good Samaritan Hospital after losing professional liability insurance and the closing of the facility in 1986.

Series VI: Reference Files (1977-1986; 1995)

Contains published materials, including news clippings, magazine and journal articles, newsletters, directories, pamphlets and booklets, handouts, reports, organizational standards, and legislation collected by the Birth Home related to pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood, midwifery, breast feeding, birthing centers, medical programs in Oregon, and liability and malpractice insurance.

Series VII: Photographs (RESTRICTED) (circa 1982-1986)

Contains black and white and color photoprints of various sizes and color 35mm slides. The majority of the images were taken at the Birth Home, depicting patient births and Birth Home reunion get-togethers. Many of those featured in the photographs are unidentified; however, some patient names are included with the photographs. Images also feature Birth Home staff, including Martha Goetsch, M.D., Catherine Pelosi, C.N.M., and Vicki Cohen, C.N.M. Also includes 35 mm slides taken of a cesarean section at Forest Grove Hospital, used for a presentation at the Birth Home.