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Robert M. Girvin papers

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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:
MSS 2/047
Repository:
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Extent:
.2 linear feet (1 box)
Language:
English
Date:
1871-1908 (inclusive)
Creator:
Girvin, John H. (John Harper) and Girvin, R. M. (Robert M.)
Form:
Correspondence
Abstract:

Robert M. Girvin, Philadelphia obstetrician, was born in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, on 3 February 1836. He married Susan Bell Harper in 1866 or 1867; the Girvins had six children, including John H. Girvin (1869-1938), a physician, Charles J., Robert H., Jr., Mary, and Helene. Robert M. Girvin died on 17 March 1900 of angina pectoris.

Girvin received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1862 and then became a Resident Physician at Philadelphia Hospital. At the end of his residency, he worked at the Satterlee Hospital for the duration of the Civil War, and then opened his private practice in West Philadelphia.

From 1865 to 1876, Girvin was a member of the obstetrical staff at Philadelphia Hospital. He also helped to establish the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia in 1871 and was Consulting Physician in the Department of Diseases of Women there.

Robert H. Girvin was elected to fellowship in the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1885. He was also a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Obstetrical Society.

This small collection of papers of Robert M. Girvin includes personal letters from Reinhold L. Herman, 1876-1877 and 1898; letters from Charles P. B. Jefferys, 1875 and 1878, reporting on the health of Charley [Jefferys' son?], suffering from liver and kidney disorder; two letters, 1878, from Amos Row, containing inquiries about the use of "mannikins" for anatomical instruction; and letters, 18711872, from a former patient, Caroline McGehee Stewart, describing her experiences with menstruation, pregnancy, and tapeworm for which Girvin prescribed kousso [brayera].

Series 2 contains a lengthy daily account, 1871, by one of Girvin's patients [J.C.M.?] which describes the symptoms and treatment for cancer of the colon. The patient was treated with a combination of opium, enemas, condurango bark, and electricity. A few miscellaneous letters received by John H. Girvin, a physician and one of Robert M. Girvin's sons, are contained in Series 3. Correspondents include: John C. Heisler, ca.1900, J. H. Musser, 1900, and Charles A. Oliver, 1901.

This collection of Robert M. Girvin's papers was donated to the Historical Collections of the Library of the College of Physicians as part of a large gift by Samuel X Radbill, ca. April 1984.

Subject

Publisher
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Collection Inventory

Given, R. A., ALS, Kellysville, Pa., 03 February 1871.
Box 1 Folder 1
Herman, Reinhold L.
Herman, Reinhold L., ALS, circa 1876.
Box 1 Folder 2
ALS, Keene Flats, N.Y., 23 August 1876.
Box 1 Folder 3
ALS, New York, N.Y., 07 October 1876.
Box 1 Folder 4
ALS, New York, N.Y., 20 December 1876.
Box 1 Folder 5
ALS, 26 December 1876.
Box 1 Folder 6
ALS, New York, N.Y., 09 January 1877.
Box 1 Folder 7
ALS, New York, N.Y., 10-11 March 1877.
Box 1 Folder 8
ALS, 05 June 1877.
Box 1 Folder 9
ALS, Boston, Ma., 25 November 1898.
Box 1 Folder 10
Heston, John W., ALS State College, Pa., 30 March 1888.
Box 1 Folder 11
Jefferys, Charles P.B.
Jefferys, Charles P.B., ALS East Hampton, N.Y., 13 September 1875.
Box 1 Folder 12
ALS, East Hampton, N.Y., 16 June 1878.
Box 1 Folder 13
ALS, East Hampton, N.Y., 04 August 1878.
Box 1 Folder 14
ALS, East Hampton, N.Y., 20 August 1878.
Box 1 Folder 15
ALS, East Hampton, N.Y., 29 August 1878.
Box 1 Folder 16
ALS, East Hampton, N.Y., 06 October 1878.
Box 1 Folder 17
Row, Amos, ALS Postville, Ia., 05 June 1878.
Box 1 Folder 18
ALS, Postville, Ia., 05 July 1878.
Box 1 Folder 19
Stewart, Caroline McG.
Stewart, Caroline McG., ALS Laurel Hill, Miss., 10 December 1871.
Box 1 Folder 20
ALS, Laurel Hill, Miss., 7-9 January 1872.
Box 1 Folder 21
ALS, Laurel Hill, Miss., 13-19 January 1872.
Box 1 Folder 22
ALS, Laurel Hill, Miss., 21 March 1872.
Box 1 Folder 23
ALS, Laurel Hill, Miss., 31 October 1872.
Box 1 Folder 24
ALS, Laurel Hill, Miss., circa 05 December 1872.
Box 1 Folder 25

Heisler, John C., ALS , Philadelphia, Pa., circa 21 March 1900.
Box 1 Folder 26
Musser, J. H., TLS, Philadelphia, Pa., 04 December 1900.
Box 1 Folder 27
Oliver, Charles A., TLS, Philadelphia, Pa., 12 February 1901.
Box 1 Folder 28
St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, DS, Philadelphia, Pa, circa 30 November 1908.
Box 1 Folder 29
Given, R. A., 1871.
Box 1 Folder 31
Herman, Reinhold L., 1876 - 1898.
Box 1 Folder 32
Heston, John W., 1888.
Box 1 Folder 33
Jefferys, Charles P. B., 1875; 1878.
Box 1 Folder 34
Row, Amos, 1878.
Box 1 Folder 35
Stewart, Caroline McG., 1871 - 1872.
Box 1 Folder 36
Subseries 2.2: Case records, 1871 - 1872.
Box 1 Folder 37
Heisler, John C., circa 1900.
Box 1 Folder 39
Musser, J. H., 1900.
Box 1 Folder 40
Oliver, Charles A., 1901.
Box 1 Folder 41
St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, 1908.
Box 1 Folder 42

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