Sputum research, circa 1972

The J. P. Kilbourn papers consist primarily of Dr. Kilbourn’s research materials and documents related to her role as an educator and mentor in her community. The collection includes academic manuscripts, business records, institutional documents, personal papers, notes, letters and correspondence, and some photographs. The collection contents were generated throughout Dr. Kilbourn’s professional and personal life between the 1950s and the 2010s. These materials will be useful to researchers interested in topics such as clinical microbiology, studies of cystic fibrosis of the lung, bioremediation of contaminated soils, studies in urinalysis methods and urinary tract infections, and yeast and candidiasis.

This collection will also be of interest for those who wish to study gender dynamics in health and science, an issue that Dr. Kilbourn was vocal and passionate about throughout her life. As feminist movements evolved through the 1960s to the 1980s and beyond, these documents show a paralleled personal perspective on the lived experiences of a woman questioning her social and academic environments, and her support for other women as they did the same. The materials are broken down into four series: “I. Research and Publications” (1964-2008), “II. Education and mentoring” (1953-2010), “III. Personal” (1955-2009), and “IV. Digital materials” (undated).