Call Number:

CPP 12/009-01

Repository:

Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Extent:

.6 linear feet (2 document boxes and 1 half-document box)

Language:

English

Date:

1982-1984; 1993-2005; undated (inclusive)

Creator:

College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Section on Medicine and the Arts

Form:

Correspondence, Reports, Programs (documents), and Newsletters

Abstract:

The Section on Medicine & the Arts was established on April 26, 1994, by approval of the College Council. The first informational meeting was held on April 20, 1995. As of 2019, the Section on Medicine & the Arts is still an active section. Its programs explore and nurture a more humanistic understanding of health, illness and medicine through the literary, visual and performing arts. The Records of the Section on Medicine & the Arts span the years 1982 through 2006, although the most of the material dates from 1993 to 2000. The collection is divided into three series, and includes meeting minutes of the Section's Executive Committee, lecture programs, and background information on the formation of the Section. Also included is a file relating to the Physicians Arts Festival, held on May 5, 1984, which may have encouraged the formation of the Section. Researchers should note that the Library does not have the required hardware to playback the VHS video cassettes held in this collection.

The Section on Medicine & the Arts was seemingly inspired by the International Arts-Medicine Association (IAMA), founded in 1985, after the Physicians Arts Festival was held at the College on May 5, 1984. The Section was established on April 26, 1994, by approval of the College Council. Richard Lippin, a founding member of the IAMA, and member of the College Council, was its first chair. The first informational meeting was held on April 20, 1995.

The Section's purposes were:

- To bring together interested Fellows and non-fellows to study and promote the relationship between the healing and creative arts - To develop a vision of the College as a place where health, education, and the arts come together

- To attract artists, scholars, and practitioners who share a concern for the humanistic dimensions of healthcare.

As of 2019, the Section on Medicine & the Arts is still an active section. Its programs explore and nurture a more humanistic understanding of health, illness and medicine through the literary, visual and performing arts. They also promote the arts as a healing force for health professionals, patients and families.

The Records of the Section on Medicine & the Arts span the years 1982 through 2006, although the most of the material dates from 1993 to 2000. The collection is divided into three series, and includes meeting minutes of the Section's Executive Committee, lecture programs, and background information on the formation of the Section. Also included is a file relating to the Physicians Arts Festival, held on May 5, 1984, which may have encouraged the formation of the Section.

Series I: Administration dates from 1993 to 200, and holds meeting minutes and correspondence of the Executive Committee; information regarding the establishment of the Section; membership lists; records of the first two Section chairs, Richard Lippin and Rhonda Soricelli, consisting mostly of correspondence; and annual reports for the years 1995 to 2000.

Series II: Newsletters contains the brief run of newsletters printed by the Section, and dates from 1996 to 1999. Some issues are missing.

Series III: Programs contains files relating to the various lectures sponsored by the Section for the years 1995 to 2005. All program files contain flyers for the lectures, although some files are more substantial and include correspondence between the Section and the speaker, speaker CVs and typescripts, photographs, and sign-in sheets. There are four VHS video cassettes in this series, two of which are for a November 2003 lecture, and one each for 2004 and 2005 lectures. Researchers should note that the Library does not have the required hardware to playback the tapes.

Also included in this series is a file relating to the Physicians Arts Festival, held on May 5, 1984, which may have encouraged the formation of the Section.

Series IV: Exhibits contains newsclippings, flyers, and a guestbook for two of the College's exhibits, cosponsored by the Section: "The Later Works of William Utermohlen" and "Saving Faces," both of which opened in 2006.