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Records of the Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine I

Notifications

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]19 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
CPP 14/001-01
Repository:
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Extent:
2.4 linear feet (6 boxes)
Language:
English
Date:
1879-1987 (inclusive) and 1977-1985 (bulk)
Creator:
Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine and College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Library
Form:
Administrative records, Correspondence, Minutes, and Reports
Abstract:

The Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine was founded in 1976 to support research in the field of social medical history. Over the years, the Institute has especially encouraged the study of contemporary issues in historical perspective.

The idea of forming an Institute for the History of Medicine at the College of Physicians was first proposed in 1966. In this year, President Francis Clark Wood appointed a committee to assess the changing needs of the College. The committee, chaired by George P. Berry of Harvard University, praised the College for its holdings, but felt that the public needed greater access to them. In 1974, President John P. Hubbard called together a committee to address Berry's recommendations and draft a plan for an Institute for the History of Medicine. Whitfield Bell, Librarian of the American Philosophical Society, and Carleton Chapman, former dean of Dartmouth Medical School, were two of the most vocal and influential members on this committee.

The initial goals of the Institute for the History of Medicine were to organize research materials, provide funding for visiting scholars, and publish the journal of the College, Transactions and Studies. The Institute planned to establish a working relationship with Philadelphia universities and medical colleges, and it was hoped that these institutions eventually would provide the funding necessary to support the activities of the Institute. This arrangement never occurred, however; initial funding came from the National Library of Medicine, and in 1977, an anonymous source donated $500,000 to the Division of Medical History with the stipulation that the Division be named in honor of Francis Clark Wood.

In January 1977, Ronald F. Kotrc was seltcted as the first Director of the F. C. Wood Institute. Kotrc was responsible for the administration of all historic departments of the College, including the Historical Collections of the Library and the Mutter Museum. Kotrc served as Director for five years, until his resignation in September 1982; in 1983, Diana Long was hired as his replacement. At this time, the duties of the Director were modified, and new positions were created. Long was responsible for the activities of the F. C. Wood Institute and the publication of Transactions and Studies, but the administration of Historical Collections of the Library and the Mutter Museum no longer remained under her jurisdiction.

As of 1991, the Francis Clark Wood Institute publishes Transactions and Studies, holds conferences and seminars, and sponsors visiting scholars through its Wood Fellows Program.

This collection of records of the Office of the Director of the Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine spans 1879 to 1987. Included are the records of Ronald F. Kotrc, Director of the Institute from 1977 to 1982, and Diana E, Long, Director from 1983 to 1989.

The papers of Ronald F. Kotrc span 1879 to 1982. Series 1 contains records of the F. C. Wood Institute, including plans for its establishment, agendas, minutes, and reports. Also present is correspondence pertaining to research grants, the publication of Transactions and Studies, and holdings of the museum and library, Notable correspondents include Whitfield J. Bell, Francis C. Wood, William H. Helfand, Carleton B, Chapman, Jonathan E, Rhoads, and Saul Jarcho.

Included among Kotrc's papers are records of the Historical Collections of the Library and the Mutter Museum, Reports and minutes of the Library Committee are in Series 2, as well as material pertaining to water damage that occurred in the stacks in 1978. Also documented in Series 2 is the preparation of a guide to the archives of the College and a guide to psychiatric archives in the Mid-Atlantic states. Included are plans, proposals, and grant applications for these projects.

Records of the Mutter Museum, such as correspondence, reports, proposals, information on funding and finances, and statements of goals and objectives are contained in Series 3. Also present are pamphlets and catalogues from various museum organizations.

The papers in Series 4 concern the administration of the College. Included are memoranda, many of which are from Executive Director William F. Chaveas, and financial information, such as reports from the Third Century Program, a program devised to raise funds for various College expenses. Series 5 contains minutes and reports from the Council, whose meetings Kotrc occasionally attended.

Present in Series 6 is material from the Section on Medical History, such as minutes of the Executive Committee; and lecture and program announcements. Also included is correspondence from Russell Charles Maulitz, Chairman of the Committee, and clerk Dorothy I. Lansing. Kotrc, as the Director of the F. C. Wood Institute, was an ex-officio member of this Section. Series 7 contains information on the College's Continuing Education Program, including correspondence, the typescript of an address given by John P. Hubbard in 1977, and pamphlets announcing Continuing Education Programs.

Materials pertaining to the "Mitchell Project" are contained in Series 8. Present is correspondence between Kotrc, Bruce Fye, and Lawrence C. McHenry concerning their plans for a book on S. Weir Mitchell. Also included are three articles written and signed by McHenry, and photocopies of three Mitchell bibliographies.

Series 9 documents the activities of the Institute on Human Values in Medicine, a project of the Society for Health and Human Values. Much of this material relates to Kotrc's role in planning and organizing the Institute's "Conference on the Humanities in the Clinical Setting", which was held at the College of Physicians in March 1978. Included is correspondence, a list of participants, proposals, and agendas.

The records of Diana E, Long span 1974 to 1987. Included in Series 1 are records of the F. C. Wood Institute, including correspondence with President Brooke Roberts, financial information, and issues of Fellows' Forum. Series 2 contains material from the Historical Collections of the Library, such as a proposal for cataloging the Lawrence F. Flick Pamphlet Collection and a copy of the Collection Development Policy for 1985.

Information about the finances of the College are contained in Series 3. Present is an operating budget for 1984, project objectives of the New Century Fund (1985), and the results of a Campaign Planning Study (1985). Series 4 contains various drafts of a Strategy Formulation Survey prepared for the College in 1984.

The source of these records of the Office of the Director of the F. C. Wood Institute is unknown.

The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.

Organization

Publisher
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Collection Inventory

1. Plans for the F. C. Wood Institute, circa 1977.
Box 1
2. Agenda for College Meeting, 14 June 1978.
Box 1
3. Agendas and Minutes of the Advisory Committee, 26 September 1978-15 April 1982.
Box 1
4. Reports, 1979 July-1980 June.
Box 1
5. Visiting Scholar Subcommittee, 07 February 1980-26 May 1981.
Box 1
1. Transport of Furniture to F. C. Wood Institute, 27 June 1980-26 August.
Box 1
2. Saul Jarcho--Correspondence and Application for Research Grant, 12 August 1980-02 April 1982.
Box 1
3. Research Grant Advertisements, 10 December 1980-17.
Box 1
4. Correspondence--General, circa 1977-1982.
"A", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"B", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"C", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"D-E", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"F-H", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"I-L", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"M-P", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"R", circa 1977-1982.
Box 1
"S", circa 1977-1982.
Box 2
"T-V", circa 1977-1982.
Box 2
"W-Z", circa 1977-1982.
Box 2
1. Correspondence--Estates of George B, and Horatio C, Wood, 26 April 1879-19 January 1920.
Box 2
2. Bibliographies of Theron G. Randolph and John P. Hubbard, April 1975-09 November 1979.
Box 2
3. Resumes, 18 February 1976-09 August 1977.
Box 2
4. Miscellaneous Pamphlets, circa 1979.
Box 2
5. Miscellaneous, circa 1975-1980.
Box 2
1. Agendas and Minutes, 04 February 1977-04 January 1979.
Box 2
2. Correspondence, 16 November 1977-11 January 1978.
Box 2
3. Report of Visiting Committee to the Library, December 1969.
Box 2
4. Report to Library Committee: "Data and Recommendations for Planning for Library Stack Space", 04 April 1977.
Box 2
5. Report of the Mid-Eastern Regional Medical Library Service, 22 August 1979.
Box 2
6. Income and Expenses, 28 March 1977.
Box 2
7. Statistics on Library use, 01 April 1977-circa 1979.
Box 2
8. Space needs of Library, 12 April 1977-22 September 1978.
Box 2
9. Water damage in the stacks, 10 September 1978-07 March 1979.
Box 2
10. Access to Historical Materials, undated.
Box 2
11. Cancelled Serials, 1977.
Box 2
12. "Census of Incunabula in the Library of the College" [photocopy from Transactions and Studies], undated.
Box 2
13. Articles [photocopies], September 1977-06 December 1978.
Box 2
1. A Guide to the Archives of the College of Physicians, undated.
Minutes of Division of Medical History re: Funds for Manuscripts, 17 March 1977.
Box 2
Correspondence, 24 March 1977-05 June 1981.
Box 2
Plans for the Guide, circa 1977.
Box 2
Procedures and Work Pattern, circa 1977.
Box 2
List of Manuscripts, undated.
Box 2
Miscellaneous Notes, undated.
Box 2
3. Philadelphia General Hospital Materials, 1976-1979.
Approaches, 1976.
Box 3
Memoranda, 1977.
Box 3
4. Minutes re: Project of Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, 07 March 1978.
Box 3
5. Minutes of Committee Meetings (for the Archives), 19 September 1979-15 November.
Box 3
6. "The Preservation of Medical and Public Health Records" [photocopy], 1979.
Box 3
7. Society publications and printed material [photocopies], circa 1966-1977.
Box 3
1. Minutes of Mutter Museum Committee, 20 April 1977.
Box 3
2. Correspondence with Elizabeth M. Moyer-- Museum tours, 08 December 1971-26 February 1979.
Box 3
3. Correspondence-- Museum staff, 26 August 1974-24 May 1982.
Box 3
4. Reports, 1980-1981.
Box 3
5. Development Plan, undated.
Box 3
6. Goals and Objectives, 21 January 1977-05 February 1979.
Box 3
7. Funding and Finances, 1972 July-08 July 1980.
Box 3
8. Proposal submitted to the Philadelphia Foundation, 25 January 1977.
Box 3
9. Outline for proposal, 06 February 1979.
Box 3
10. Museum staff, circa 1969-1981.
Box 3
11. Promotion, 28 January 1977-Mar. 16.
Box 3
12. Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts-Correspondence and questionnaire, 21 January 1979-Apr.
Box 3
13. Conservation Training Programs at Universities--Correspondence, catalogues, pamphlets, 06 February 1979-12.
Box 3
14. Institute of Museum Services-Correspondence and grant application, 10 October 1979.
Box 3
15. Smithsonian Institution Office of Museum Programs-- Workshop Series Catalogue, 1980.
Box 3
16. "Custodianship of Rush-JennerPasteur- Lister-Curie Mementos", circa 1939.
Box 3
17. "A Curator's Story of the Mutter Museum and College Collections" by Ella N. Wade [reprint from Transactions and Studies], October 1974.
Box 3
Subseries 4.1 Minutes of Executive Director's Staff Meeting, 07 February 1979.
11 February 1977-July 27.
Box 4
01 August 1977-December 15.
Box 4
05 January 1978-3 August.
Box 4
04 January 1979-02 December 1981.
Box 4
1. Revised rulings re: Benefactors and Eminent Benefactors, 27 September 1966.
Box 4
2. Tax exempt status, 28 September 1971-23 January 1976.
Box 4
3. Third Century Program, 15 December 1977-24 February 1978.
Box 4
4. Financial Statement, 11 August 1978.
Box 4
5. Pew Trust, undated.
Box 4
Series 5: COUNCIL, 1977.
Box 4
1. Minutes of Executive Committee, 15 June 1978.
Box 4
2. Correspondence, 07 January 1977-1981 Nov.
Box 4
3. Lecture and Program Announcements, 16 November 1977-31 May 1978.
Box 4
4. Finances, 27 June 1978-18 March 1981.
Box 4
1. Minutes, 30 March 1977.
Box 4
2. Correspondence and Memoranda, 02 February 1977-13 March 1978.
Box 4
3. "Profiled Continuing Education" Address by President John P. Hubbard, 01 September 1977.
Box 4
4. "Cooperation for Better Continuing Education", undated.
Box 4
5. Pamphlets and articles, circa 1976-1979.
Box 4
1. Correspondence, 01 July 1981-23 February 1982.
Box 4
2. "Doctors Afield: S. Weir Mitchell" by Lawrence C. McHenry, Jr, [reprint, signed by the author], 02 April 1959.
Box 4
3. Lawrence C. McHenry, Jr.'s Introduction to Injuries of Nerves and their Consequences by S. Weir Mitchell [photocopy, signed by the author], 1965.
Box 4
4. "Osler and Neurology" by Lawrence C. McHenry, 05 July 1967.
Box 4
5. S. Weir Mitchell Bibliographies, 1969-1970.
Box 4
1. Correspondence--General, 13 June 1977-20 April 1978.
Box 5
2. Invitations to Medical Schools, 03 January 1978-10 March.
Box 5
3. Responses from participants, 26 January 1978-23 March.
Box 5
4. Lists of Participants, undated.
Box 5
5. Procedures to be followed in Conference Planning, undated.
Box 5
6. Proposed Program and drafts of Agendas, 15 August 1977-03 January 1978.
Box 5
7. Proposal for Conference at the College of Physicians, 15 September 1977.
Box 5
8. Humanities in the Clinical Setting: Objectives and Methods, undated.
Box 5
1. Correspondence, 21 March 1978-27.
Box 5
2. Report--Conference on Human Values in Medicine for the six Medical Schools of Pennsylvania, 24 October 1975-25.
Box 5
3. "Teaching Humanities in Medical School: The Experience of the Medical College of Pennsylvania", undated.
Box 5
1. Program and Agenda from Annual Meeting of the Institute on Human Values in Medicine, 22 September 1977.
Box 5
2. Essay questions, evaluation form, and case histories, 1977-31 March 1978.
Box 5
3. Society for Health and Human Values Newsletter, 1977 June.
Box 5
4. Bibliographies, undated.
Box 5
5. Miscellaneous notes, undated.
Box 5
6. Miscellaneous articles [photocopies], 1975 Sep.-06 March 1978.
Box 5

1. Minutes of the Steering Committee, 09 September 1982.
Box 5
2. Job Description, Director of the Wood Institute, 03 January 1983.
Box 5
3. Correspondence and resumes submitted for 1981 research grants, 23 January 1981-10 March.
Box 5
4. Correspondence with President Brooke Roberts, 11 May 1983-10 January 1985.
Box 5
5. Report of Visiting Scholar Subcommittee, 1980 Feb.
Box 5
6. Annual Report, 1986-1987 circa 1987.
Box 5
7. Finances, undated.
Box 5
8. Resumes, 26 November 1985.
Box 5
9. Fellows' Forum, 1981 Aug.-1986 Aug.
Box 5
1. "Historical Collections of the Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia: A Survey of their Extent in 1973 and a Chronicle of the Major Acquisitions" [photocopy from Transactions and Studies], 1974 Jan.
Box 5
2. Lawrence F. Flick Pamphlet Cataloging Proposal, 19 April 1984.
Box 5
3. Historical Collections-Objectives, circa 1984.
Box 5
4. Collection Development Policy, 1985 May.
Box 6
1. Operating Budget, 13 April 1984.
Box 6
2. Financial Statement, 16 October 1985.
Box 6
3. New Century Fund-- Project Objectives, 01 July 1985.
Box 6
4. Campaign Planning Study-- Market Survey Findings and Consultant's Recommendations, 06 August 1985.
Box 6
5. Printed Material on Fundraising and Grants, circa 1982-1983.
Box 6
1. Correspondence re: Medicine and Society Program, 15 December 1982-19 December 1983.
Box 6
2. Strategy Formulation Survey, undated.
Draft #3, 02 June 1984.
Box 6
Drafts and notes, 29 October 1984-Dec. 19.
Box 6
Final Draft, 18 December 1984.
Box 6
Printed Material, 1979 February-circa 1984.
Box 6

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