Omer E. Boivin papers
Collection
Identifier: MC-010
Scope and Contents
The majority of the collection consists of French-language newspapers and clippings pertaining to prominent members of the Fall River community, Franco-American organizations, and medical associations. The collection also contains notes, correspondence, and speeches from the various organizations of which Dr. Boivin was a member; programs for conferences and celebrations from The French Cultural Association and The St. Anne School; and a black and white photograph of the Lafayette Monument on Eastern Avenue in Fall River. The most notable item in the collection is a large 18x13x4 indexed scrapbook which contains newspaper clippings on local doctors, lawyers, church and
school leaders of French Canadian descent, as well as events, organizations, and associations within the French Canadian community of Fall River. The bulk of these clippings date from 1935-1977. The scrapbook also contains thank you notes, cards, and photographs which are attached to the inside covers.
Dates
- 1935-1977
Language of Materials
Materials in English and French
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted
Biographical / Historical
Born in 1890, Dr. Omer E. Boivin was a noted physician and
philanthropist of the Fall River community. Being a specialist in both urology and
surgery, he served as a staff member in every hospital of the city over a span of sixtythree
years. He also generously donated thousands of dollars to support continuing
education, French language and culture, and local French-Catholic parishes.
After receiving an elementary education at the Notre Dame College of Fall River, Boivin
was schooled at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Canada for classical studies. He
then graduated from Milton University in Baltimore with a Bachelor of Arts. Boivin
completed his medical studies and earned certification at the University of Maryland
Medical College. He later interned at New York's Lying-in Hospital and Boston City
Hospital.
Dr. Boivin began practicing medicine in 1913; however, he did not begin full time
medical practice until 1921 when he returned to Fall River. He did most of his work as a
surgeon and urologist at St. Anne's Hospital of Fall River. Boivin was also chief of the
urological staff at the same hospital for over forty years. He later helped in the founding
of St. Anne's School of Nursing.
Dr. Boivin earned medical licenses in Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Florida, and
Georgia and became a member of their respective medical associations. Dr. Boivin was
also a member of the Fall River Medical Society, the American Urological Association,
the International Academy of Medicine, the American Medical Association, the
Richelieu Club, and the American and Massachusetts Historical Societies. Additionally,
he was a member, vice-president, and medical director of l'Union St. Jean Baptiste;
director and president of the Liberty Loan Company; and director of the former Fall
River Trust Company.
After retirement in 1975, Dr. Boivin made endowments totaling over $350,000 to medical, educational, and religious institutions. In April of 1985, he donated $100,000 to
Southeastern Massachusetts University (now University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) to
establish a French cultural and language center--the Boivin Center. In October of 1985,
he made an endowment to promote continuing education for health care specialists. In
memory of his parents Stanislaus and Adeline, Dr. Boivin donated an electric carillon to
the Notre Dame Parish in August of the following year. In 1987, he gave $50,000 to Charlton Memorial Hospital where he had served for a number of years. Later in that
year, "The Dr. Omer and Laurette Boivin Scholarship Fund" was established when Dr.
Boivin made an endowment of $100,000 to the Bishop Connolly High School.
Dr. Omer E. Boivin died in September of 1989 at the age of ninety-nine. Source: The
Fall River Herald News, September 25, 1989
Extent
1.6 Linear Feet (2 manuscript boxes and one large scrapbook)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the SMU Archives and Special Collections by Dr. Omer E.
Boivin in July of 1986
Processing Information
Finding aid and processing by Julie Fernandes ’99, June 1998.
Several issues of French newspapers (L’Impartial, Le Drapeau National, and Le
Travailleur) were removed from this collection and placed in MC 11.
- Title
- MC 10, Omer E. Boivin papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Julie Fernandes ’99
- Date
- June 1998.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Claire T. Carney Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Repository