John Edward Fogarty (1913-1967) was an American legislator who became known as "Mr. Public Health" for his outstanding advocacy of federal funding for medical research, health education, and health care services. As Democratic representative for Rhode Island, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1941 to 1967, and chaired the House Appropriations Subcommittee for the Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare from 1949. During his congressional tenure Fogarty championed a vast expansion of the National Institutes of Health, as well as aid to medical schools, libraries, and programs for blind, deaf, and mentally retarded children. He sponsored or contributed to virtually every piece of health-related legislation introduced during these years.

The Providence College Archives and Special Collections in Providence, Rhode Island, is the primary repository for the John E. Fogarty Papers, which range from ca. 1941 to 1967. The collection contains photographs, personal and legislative correspondence, speeches, and legislative records.

As part of its Profiles in Science project, the National Library of Medicine has made available online, in collaboration with the Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections at Providence College, a digitized selection of the John E. Fogarty Papers. This website provides access to the portions of the John E. Fogarty Papers that are now publicly available. Individuals interested in conducting research using the full collection of John E. Fogarty Papers should contact the Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections at Providence College.

The John E. Fogarty exhibit also includes many documents and photos generously loaned to the National Library of Medicine by Mr. Fogarty's daughter, Mary Fogarty McAndrew.

This Profile is designed to introduce you to the various phases of Fogarty's legislative career and professional life. Narrative sections available from the navigation bar under "The Story" focus on Fogarty's life and major contributions to the expansion of medical research and health care programs in the United States.

Researchers can search the digitized items using the Search box or browse all Documents and Visuals in the collection by selecting "Collection Items" from the navigation bar.