Faces from the Past (10/12/2026)
Dr. Irving Beck was an esteemed physician, born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from both Brown and Harvard universities and completed his residency training just months before the onset of World War II in 1939. After establishing a thriving practice in Providence, in 1942 he volunteered for the US Army and was commissioned as captain in the Medical Corps and was assigned as Chief of Laboratory Services in the 48th Evacuation Hospital (Rhode Island Hospital Unit). The Evacuation Hospital was based in eastern India, China and Burma. During this time, he also served on a special armed forces commission exploring malaria and its cure. Our archive holds Dr. Beck’s letters and correspondence that were written to his family and friends during these years overseas.
Upon returning home, Dr. Irving Beck continued to work in the medical field until his retirement in 1980.
This post features one of Dr. Beck’s letters during his time in Burma. Swipe to the end for a transcription.
From the Archives (9/28/2026)
Follow us on Instagram!