Archives West Finding Aid

Otis B. Wight, M.D., was born on May 28, 1877, in Cleveland, Ohio. He received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1898 and graduated from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1902. Otis married Clara L. Martin in 1904 and raised 2 daughters, Mary Louis and Jean and 1 son, Otis.

Wight was commissioned as Captain during WWI on December 2, 1917. His first assignment in 1918 was to mobilize enlisted men to staff Base Hospital 46. Base Hospital 46 was the University of Oregon Medical School's organized contingent of the volunteer medical personnel. He went first to Camp Lewis, Washington where he was promoted to Major. He also accepted a commission as Chief of Medical Service at the Base Hospital. In January of that same year, Wight became Adjutant and Registrar.

Wight served over 40 years as a Portland physician, surgeon, and civic leader. He also specialized in the treatment of cancer using raidum. In 1955, at the age of 77, Dr. Wight died from a stroke. From the time that he suffered his first stroke until his death in 1955, he resided in Good Samaritan Hospital, becoming, at that time, the hospital's longest-term patient.

Medical Practice:

Private practice – Portland, Oregon

Medical director – Old Oregon Mutual Life Insurance Company (Standard Insurance Company)

Commissioned Captain, Medical Corps – WWI

Memberships:

Board of Trustees – Portland Art Museum

Arlington Club

Waverly Country Club

Oregon State Medical Society

American College of Surgeons

Theta Xi social fraternity

Freemasons – Willamette Lodge AF & AM

Publications:

On Active Service with Base Hospital 46 U.S.A.: Mar. 20, 1918 to May 25, 1919, ed. Otis B. Wight, Major, M.C., Donald Macomber, Captain, M.C., Arthur S. Rosenfeld, First Lieutenant, M. C. Arcady Press: Portland, Oregon, 1920.