Paul F. Fenton (1915-1982) received his bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester and his master's and doctor's degrees from the University of Vermont in 1940 and 1944, respectively. He came to Brown University as an associate professor in 1949, after teaching for several years at the University of Vermont and Yale University. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 1954. Fenton served as the director of graduate studies in the biology department and the Division of Biological and Medical Sciences from 1953 to 1968.
As a researcher in the biochemistry of nutrition, Fenton played a key role in the development of the medical studies program at Brown. According to Richard Goss, former Dean of Biological Sciences, Fenton was in the forefront of research on obesity, and his innovative teaching style won him accolades from his students as one of the best professors at Brown. He was awarded grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Public Health Service, and in 1957 was awarded a fellowship from the Guggenheim Foundation for research in molecular and cellular biology.
Fenton passed away on January 24, 1982, in Barrington, R.I. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth and two sons, John and Robert.
The Paul F. Fenton ofice files have been organized into one series of administrative files. The files include folders regarding Brown's relationship with the Rhode Island, Miriam and Pawtucket Memorial Hospitals; the medical curriculum at Brown, the Executive Council at Brown from 1964 to 1968, biochemistry at Brown, psychiatry, and several administrators at Brown, including Ray L. Heffner, Brown's thirteenth president, and Merton P. Stoltz, three-time acting president of Brown.
The Paul F. Fenton office files have been organized in one series:
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Paul F. Fenton office files, OF-1ZME-2, Brown University Archives.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.