Vertical File Biographies

This is an individual biography from the vertical file of biographical information, primarily newspaper clippings, created by the Kansas State Histocial Society Library and Archives division. This is a concise version--there may be more information in this or other sources.

Irma Gene Nevins

Irma Gene Nevins of Dodge City, Kansas was the first woman to receive a doctor of safety degree from New York University in the summer of 1941. At that time it was the only school in the nation offering the degree.

Nevins was then the head of the department of health and physical education at Kansas State Teachers’ College, Pittsburg, Kansas. She had also developed the only fully accredited minor in safety at a teachers’ college in the United States. In her department, students learned the essentials of safety in the home, traffic, school, recreation and industry. The school had a dual-equipped car that was one of the first used for driver education.

Nevins’ thesis was the result of a three year study of 500 home accidents in which medical attention was required. She determined from her study that the kitchen was the most dangerous place in a home followed by any stairs in the building. The study was valuable in developing course materials at Pittsburg State and also used by the American Red Cross in preparing their training programs.

Dr. Nevins later became assistant national director of first aid, water safety and accident prevention services of the American Red Cross in Washington D.C. In 1944, she was appointed health chairman of the standing committees of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s clubs. She was also a consultant or served with the American Automobile Association, National Safety Council, Kansas Department of Education, Kansas PTA and Kansas Council of Women.

She was the author or co-author of a number of books dealing with safety and accident prevention as well as magazine articles dealing with the subject.

Sources:
“Kansan Is Only Women to Become A Doctor in Safety Education,” Kansas City Times, September 1, 1941.
“Plan A Safety Series. Red Cross Accident Prevention Leader to Open Class Here,” March 2, 1943.
“Kansas Women Heads National P.B.W. Health,” Topeka Journal, November 11, 1944.


The vertical file is on forty-three microfilm reels arranged alphabetically by name. These reels are available through interlibrary loan, or you may contact the reference staff . Please note that many of the clippings had yellowed and it may be impossible to produce a readable photocopy.

Completion of this biography was made possible by volunteer Frank Sotrines.