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Hilda E. Drum was born in Cologne, Germany. Mrs. Drum studied at the Universite La Sorbonne in 1927 and 1928. She completed her academic studies at Universitaet of Koeln in Cologne, 1931 and earned the equivalent of a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Mrs. Drum also studied languages in England and France and became an instructor in Economics. In 1938 she left Germany. On New Year's Day 1939, she arrived in New York City with 60 dollars to her name. For months she worked as a governess, until she met and married Bernard B. Drum, a former Judge from the Free State of Danzig (now a part of Poland). They moved to Portland, Oregon in 1940.

Mrs. Drum enrolled at the University of Oregon Medical School in the X-Ray Technology program where she received her degree. Upon graduation, she stayed on as a technician and was appointed Chief Technician in July 1943, by Dr. Burton, then Head of the Department of Radiology. In 1954, Mrs. Drum was appointed a member of the Faculty of the University of Oregon Medical School as an instructor. She received a promotion to Assistant Professor, and then eventually became a full Professor. She was very active in Oregon and American Societies of X-Ray Technicians. She held different state offices and worked on many committees on the State and National levels. She served three terms as President of the Oregon Society, the last in 1956.

In 1961, she and her assistant Dr. James B. Haworth designed and exhibited a device at the Third International Convention of X-Ray Technicians in Montreal, Canada. The device made it easier and safer to x-ray infants up to 6 months old. In 1962, she received the NEMA (National Electrical Manufactures Association) award with her paper on "Vertical Infant Positioner for Chest Radiography ... VIP." In 1963, she became a Fellow of The American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

Mrs. Hilda E. Drum retired from her teaching post at UOMS in 1973, after 32 years of service. She died on October 9, 1999 at the age of 96.