Call Number:

CPP 10/021-01

Repository:

Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Extent:

.4 linear feet (1 document box)

Language:

English

Date:

1903-1915 (inclusive)

Creator:

College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Building Committee

Form:

Blueprints, Correspondence, Financial records, Minutes, and Reports

Abstract:

The Building Committee of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia was appointed on 6 April 1904, shortly after the Fellows elected to construct a new College building on 22nd and Ludlow Streets in Philadelphia, William W. Keen suggested that a committee, consisting of the President of the College and five Fellows appointed by him, should be formed to supervise the building's plan and construction. According to Keen's resolution, it would be the responsibility of the Building Committee to "select an architect •.• [and] procure plans and specifications and bids from several responsible builders". At the close of the meeting, President Arthur V. Meigs chose James Tyson, William Thomson, James C, Wilson, William J, Taylor, and George McClellan to serve on the Building Committee.

The first official meeting of the Building Committee was held on 18 April 1904. At this time, an additional member, John K, Mitchell, was appointed by the President, and William J, Taylor was elected secretary. Over the next ten years of the committee's existence, Fellows such as G. E, De Schweinitz, Richard H. Harte, and Frederick P. Henry would serve on this committee.

The Building Committee's first major decision was to hire Cope and Stewardson, a Philadelphia architectural firm, to design the College building. After selecting an architect, the committee discussed the floorplan of the building, selected building materials, and arranged for the installation of telephone and electric service. The furnishings for the College were selected by a Subcommittee on Furniture, consisting of William J, Taylor, Richard H. Harte, and John K, Mitchell, The Building Committee also monitored expenses and made regular progress reports to the Fellows at College meetings.

The Building Committee continued to meet through 1914, when the furnishing and construction of the College building on 22nd Street was completed.

This collection of records from the Building Committee of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, spanning 1903 to 1915, consists of correspondence, minutes, reports, financial records, and miscellaneous material such as photoprints and blueprints. The collection also includes minutes, correspondence, and financial records from the Subcommittee on Furniture.

The general correspondence of the Building Committee is contained in Series 1, Included are numerous letters from Cope and Stewardson, the Philadelphia architectural firm hired to design the College building, Also present is correspondence relating to the plan, construction, and planting of the Sinkler Garden, including correspondence with Stewardson and Page, the architects who designed the garden.

Series 1 also contains letters from Horatio C. Wood concerning the furnishing of the Wood Room, which he sponsored, and correspondence between William J, Taylor and A, Haller Gross pertaining to the furnishing of the Samuel D. Gross Library. Included among this correspondence is a letter from William W. Keen to Sir William Osler, whose wife was involved in the selection of furnishings for the Gross Library.

Also present in Series 1 are letters from donors to the College Building Fund, including S, Weir Mitchell, Charles C, Harrison, W.W. Frazier, Samuel McClintock Hamill, Archibald Thomson, E, T. Stotesbury, and Andrew Carnegie, Other notable correspondents in Series 1 include Richard H. Harte, Thomas R, Neilson, Charles Perry Fisher, J, Ewing Mears, Arthur V. Meigs, John K, Mitchell, Alfred Stengel, Francis R, Packard, G. E, De Schweinitz, and Wharton Sinkler. William J, Taylor is the major correspondent in the collection.

Minutes from the monthly meetings of the Building Committee are contained in Series 2, and the Building Committee's Reports to the College are in Series 3, These minutes and reports, prepared by secretary William J, Taylor, document the committee's activities, including the selection of the architectural firm, the revision of floorplans, and the supervision of the building's construction. Series 4 contains estimates, bills, receipts, summaries of expenses, and other financial records documenting the cost of the project.

The records of the Subcommittee on Furniture, including correspondence, minutes, and financial records, are contained in Series 5. Series 6 contains miscellaneous material; present is a photostat of a certificate presented to Andrew Carnegie for being the most generous donor to the College Building Fund (ca. 1903), a postcard of the College and other photoprints (1909), a blueprint of a proposed plan for the Sinkler Garden (1912), and blueprints of the Sinkler tablet (1912).