COPY

December 27, 1937

Thomas Parran, Surgeon General,
U. S. Public Health Service,
Washington, D. Cy

My dear Doctor Parran:

You will recall, I am sure, our conversation after you
had delivered your very remarkable address at the University of
Kentucky last year in regard to the need for improvement in our
mental hygiene program in Kentucky.

Governor Chandler expressed a great deal of interest in
the problem at the time, and since, with the fine cooperation of
Dr. Treadway, the association interested in psychiatry in Kentucky,
the committee for mental hygiene and the American Psychiatric
Association, he has inaugurated a program which will require several
years for completion.

In the develdépment of his plans, he has had the particularly
enthusiastic support, under the leadership of Honorable Barry Bingham,
publisher of the Courier—Journal and Louisville Times, and of practically
all of the local press in the State.

The State Medical Association has unanimously approved the
development of the program and elected Dr. W. E. Gardner, the State's
most outstanding psychiatrist, as its president-eléct, at its recent
session.

Governor Chandler has been especially favorably impressed
by the remarkable success of the U. 5. Public Health Service Hospital
No. 1, at Lexington. I have had the privilege of conferring with him
during the last few days, and he is particularly anxious to secure
the leadership of Dr. Lawrence Kolb for the next year or two, in the
perfection of this program.

This suggestion has met with the enthusiastic approval of
everyone interested in the subject. The Governor has asked me to say
to you that he will turn the matter of selection of personnel ‘over
entirely to Dr. Kolb, as well as the guidance of the entire program.
If it is found to be necessary, he will do whatever is needed to give
Dr. Kolb such assistance as will enable him to undertake this addition
to the very great burden he is now carrying, so that he can continue
successfully to administer the program in the Hospital at Lexington.
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Before writing this letter, I communicated with
Dr. Kolb so as to be assured that the submission of Governor
Chandler's request to you would be acceptable to him.

Thanking you for the consideration I know you will
give to a development that can mean so much, not only to the
people of Kentucky, but to every other State in the Union,

I am . :

Sincerely,

(Signed) A. T. McCormack
otate Health Commissioner

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