The Dr. William Straight Collection held in the Special Collections and University Archives Department at Florida International University is an extremely fascinating and well researched collection that contains an extensive history of the first and founding doctors in Miami beginning in the late 1800’s. This collection was the personal research of Dr. William Straight, who was a prominent cardiologist and internist for over 40 years in Miami, FL, as well as a published historian and enthusiast of Florida medical history. Dr. Straight was born in Philadelphia, PA and moved to Miami in 1924. Distinguishing himself early he became an Eagle Scout, graduated with honors from the University of Florida, received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and served a tour in the U.S. Navy Medical Corp during WWII. His collection is the result of years of comprehensive research about individuals, organizations, and topics such as James M. Jackson, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Victoria Hospital, various medical societies throughout the state of Florida, epidemics, military medicine, South Florida memoirs, and other unique and interesting memorabilia and ephemera relating to Florida doctors, history and medicine. This collection contains 19 boxes of personal research and papers, 2 boxes of photographs, antique medical cases, and index card filing cabinets with historic and biographical information on each topic that Dr. Straight researched.
