Call Number:

CPP 14/003-01

Repository:

Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Extent:

3.5 linear feet (7 document boxes, 1 half document box, and 1 postcard box)

Language:

English

Date:

1976-1998 (inclusive)

Creator:

Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine

Form:

Conferences, Correspondence, Floppy Disks, Grants, Photographs, and Publications (documents)

Abstract:

The Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine (Wood Institute) was established in 1976 to promote to the scholarly community the rich historical resources of the College's historical library and the Mütter Museum. From its founding, the Wood Institute also took over printing and editorial duties of the College's journal, Transactions and Studies, which was published in 1793 and from 1844 to 2002. As of 2018, the Wood Institute sponsors conferences, occasional seminars, and short-term travel grants to researchers who require the resources of the museum and library. The Records of Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine date from 1976 to 1998 and are divided into six series: Administration, Director's Files, Conferences and Lectures, Publications, Transactions and Studies, and Media. Within these series can be found files detailing correspondences, research grants, publications like Transactions and Studies, and conference papers. Also included in this collection are various forms of media, such as floppy disks, cassettes and VHS tapes, that contain information about software and files relating to Transactions and Studies, the Wood Institute, and the Yellow Fever publication.

The Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine (Wood Institute) was established in 1976 to promote to the scholarly community the rich historical resources of the College's historical library and the Mütter Museum. From its founding, the Wood Institute also took over printing and editorial duties of the College's journal, Transactions and Studies, which was published in 1793 and from 1844 to 2002. As of 2018, the Wood Institute sponsors conferences, occasional seminars, and short-term travel grants to researchers who require the resources of the museum and library.

The Wood Institute was initially funded by the National Library of Medicine through a contract grant the Regional Medical Library had with the college. However, this grant was meant to financially support the Institute only for the first two years, as the Institute was to then search for alternative funding sources to continue operations. In its infancy, the Institute also received donations from other various funds and programs, including an anonymous donation. As a condition of this anonymous donation, the Institute was renamed the Francis Clark Wood Institute. The Wood Institute also received an additional donation from the National Library of Medicine to be used towards salaries during the 1979-1980 fiscal year. It was during the 1980-1981 fiscal year that the Wood Institute became self-supporting.

Ronald F. Kotrc was the first Director until his retirement in 1982, when Diana Long was hired as the new Director. In 1983, the duties of the Director were modified and multiple new positions were created. The Director had previously been in charge of the administration of the Historical Collections of the Library and the Mütter Museum but this was no longer so. The director was now responsible for only the activities of the Wood Institute and the publication of Transactions and Studies.

One of the many programs of the Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine includes the F.C. Wood Institute Short Term Fellowships that offers grants to cover travel and lodging expenses for researchers who wish to use the College's collection of texts, manuscripts, archives, images, artifacts, and specimens in the history of medicine for short-term research. Other programs sponsored by the Wood Institute include seminars, lectures, and conferences.

The Records of Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine date from 1976 to 1998 and are divided into six series: Administration, Director's Files, Conferences and Lectures, Publications, Transactions and Studies, and Media.

Series I: This initial series, Administration, covers the administration of the Wood Institute and spans the years 1977 to 1997. The files contained within this series consist of memos and emails regarding administrative tasks; materials relating to the rededication of the grave for Dr. Benjamin Rush, a prominent Philadelphian physician; various grant proposals, such as from the National Endowment of the Humanities, the Fels Foundation, and the National Library of Medicine; and other items, including a sign for a seminar room and a registration form.

Series II: Director's Files consists of files belonging to the Directors of the Wood Institute and are comprised of both files related to the Institute and those of interest to the Directors. The records in this series date from 1976 to 1987. The Directors who contributed files to this series are both Ronald F. "R.F." Kotrc, the Institute's first director from 1977 until 1982, and Diana Long, the director from 1983 to 1989. These Director's files in their entirety span the years 1976-1987. Files of particular interest to researchers may be those related to the Presidential Visit in 1987, personal correspondences of Director Diana Long and Executive Director William Chavez, and files about research grants.

Series III: Conferences and Lectures houses files related to conferences held by the Wood Institute, 1982-1987, such as the Addiction Conference that was held from May 9-11, 1997, the Bicentennial Symposium that took place November 20, 1987, and the Hospital Conference that occurred from November 2-4, 1987. Also housed in this series are various papers submitted to these conferences and participant and conference materials.

Series IV: Publications holds files pertaining to publications belonging to the Wood Institute and dates from 1995 to 1996. Publications included in this series are Fugitive Leaves and Forum. This series also holds files on a meeting related to the Publications Steering Group. A particular note of interest are the mechanicals and photographs for a Wood Institute brochure.

Series V: Transactions and Studies has correspondence dating from 1980 to 1984 relating to the journal and photographs that were either used in Transactions and Studies and events or persons connected with Transactions and Studies.

Series VI: Media contains various 5 1/4" and 3.5" floppy disks relating to various software, files belonging to a woman named Caroline, files relating to Transactions and Studies, the Wood Institute, the Yellow Fever publication, and Pagemaker files. The series spans from 1986 to 1998. This series also contains cassette tapes, one of which is from the rededication of the grave of Dr. Benjamin Rush and VHS tapes, one of which is of a cocktail party hosted by the Wood Institute. Researchers should note that the media found in this collection (floppy disks and cassette tapes) are not able to be viewed or played as the Library does not have the required hardware.