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C. Pardue Bunch papers

 Collection
Identifier: HHC 66

Scope and Content

The materials survey the life and career of Dr. C. (Charles) Pardue Bunch (1913-1985), a family practitioner for forty years in Artesia, New Mexico. Among the subjects covered are Dr. Bunch's personal and professional backgrounds; his desire to be a medical missionary in China, the nature and special interests of his practice, the medical community of the Pecos Valley, his long and varied service within the New Mexico Medical Society, his many civic and religious interests and honors, his writings, and his family.

Series I. Biographical Material, 1913-1980.

Series II. Professional Activities, Awards, Honors, Tributes, 1957-1985.

Series III. Writings, 1928-1981.

Series IV. Correspondence, 1945-1985.

Series V. Photographs, 1930-1980.

Dates

  • 1913-1985

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is available for research and open to the public.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Biography or History

C.(Charles) Pardue Bunch (1913-1985) was born May 4, 1913 in Statesville, North Carolina. Although he spent most of his formative years in Statesville, Dr. Bunch lived with relatives a few years in New Mexico for health reasons. He graduated from Carlsbad (New Mexico) High School in 1929. That year he was sixteen, president of his senior class, and the winner of the Governor's Cup for an essay he wrote on highway safety, although he had never driven a car.

Dr. Bunch received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1934 and that same year was a delegate to the first American-Japanese Student Conference in Tokyo. In 1935-36, he was headquarters secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement in New York. He received his M.D. degree from Duke Medical School in 1939. In 1941, Dr. Bunch started graduate school in Chinese Studies at the University of California, Berkeley in preparation for becoming a medical missionary. However, his health and World War II intervened and instead he started a general practice at Sturgill, North Carolina. Dr. Bunch moved his practice to Artesia, New Mexico in 1944.

A man of many interests, Dr. Bunch published articles in medical and scientific journals and wrote a chapter, "Is All Healing Based on Faith?" for a book titled "Faith Healing." He was an active participant in local, state, and national organizations. Dr. Bunch was a charter member of the American Academy of Family Practice, and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He was an active member of the New Mexico Medical Society, holding various committee positions and serving as president in1963-64. Dr. Bunch was president of the Eddy County Medical Society, 1951-1952, and an associate clinical professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Family Practice. From 1952-1958, Dr. Bunch was a member of the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners.

In 1984, the New Mexico Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians nominated Dr. Bunch for the "Family Doctor of the Year." Letters of support for this nomination came from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, patients, colleagues, educators, and his church. Dr. Bunch was named one of the ten finalists for the award.

Dr. Bunch married Marjorie King in 1936 and they had four children. He retired in 1984 after forty years as a family practitioner in Artesia. Dr. Bunch died November 3, 1985.

Extent

1 document case

Abstract

This collection consists of biographical and professional materials surveying the life and medical career of Dr. C. (Charles) Pardue Bunch. Correspondence, personal records, photographs, and writings cover the life and forty year medical practice of a rural doctor in a small town in New Mexico.

Related Archival Material

C. Pardue Bunch Oral History. HHC 54.FL 1280. New Mexico Health Historical Collection. Earl L. Malone Oral History. HHC70.FL 1060. New Mexico Health Historical Collection. Emmit M. Jennings Oral History. HHC71.FL 857. New Mexico Health Historical Collection. Owen C. Taylor Oral History. HHC213.FL 1238. New Mexico Health Historical Collection. New Mexico Medical Society Presidents 1949-1969 [graphic]. PH 056. New Mexico Health Historical Collection. New Mexico physicians, licensed 1940 to date. PH 107. New Mexico Health Historical Collection.

Separated Material

C. Pardue Bunch, M.D., 1913-1985 Photographs. PH 010.

Processing Information

Processed by Peggy McBride
Title
Finding Aid of the C. Pardue Bunch Papers, 1913-1985
Status
Approved
Author
Processed by Peggy McBride
Date
©2005
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center Repository

Contact:
MSC 09 5100
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 United States
505-272-2311