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William W. Keen 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
William Williams Keen, surgeon and neurologist, was born on 19 January 1837 in Philadelphia. He was the third son of merchant William W. Keen and Susan (Budd) Keen. Keen married Emma Corinna Borden in 1867; they had four daughters, Corinne, Florence, Dora, and Margaret. William W. Keen died on 7 June 1932.
Keen graduated from Brown University in 1859. He entered Jefferson Medical College in 1860, left in 1861 to become Surgeon to the 5th Massachusetts Regiment, then returned to Jefferson and received his M.D. in 1862. He then became Acting Assistant Surgeon in the U.S. Army and worked in a succession of military hospitals, including the Turner's Lane Hospital in Philadelphia, where he studied gunshot wounds and other neurological problems with S. Weir Mitchell and George R. Morehouse.
From 1864-1865, Keen studied medicine in Europe. From 1866 to 1875, he taught pathology at Jefferson Medical College and was the head of the Philadelphia School of Anatomy. He was also Professor of Artistic Anatomy at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1876-1889). From 1884 to 1889, Keen was Professor of Surgery at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. From 1889 to his retirement in 1907, he was Professor of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College.
In 1887, at St. Mary's Hospital in Philadelphia, Keen performed the first successful removal of a brain tumor in the United States. He was the first physician to perform a decompression of the skull and also the first physician in Philadelphia to use Lister's antiseptic surgical practices. Keen was interested in focal epilepsy and microcephaly as well.
William W. Keen edited Gray's anatomy in 1883 and wrote numerous articles and monographs, including, in conjunction with J. William White, the American text book of surgery (1892). Keen was the author of A system of surgery (1906-1921) also.
He was elected to fellowship in the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1867 and was its president (1900-1901). Keen was also a member and president of many other professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Philosophical Society, American Surgical Association, and the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery. In 1920, he was president of the International Society of Surgery and presided over the society's 1923 meeting in Paris.
The William W. Keen papers are comprised of six separate collections, including correspondence, photographs, diaries, and newsclippings. Much of the correspondence deals with eithr family matters or the controversy vivisection. For more detail on the materials contained the Keen papers, please see the "Scope and Content" note for each series.
The William W. Keen papers consist of six separate collection. Several of the collections were donated to the College of Physicians by W.W. Keen Butcher (Keen's grandson). For a more deatiled provenance, please see the "Custodial History" note for each series.
Organization
- Amercian Medical Association -- Correspondence
- Jefferson Medical College. Surgical Clinic -- Photographs
- U.S.S. Relief -- Photographs
Subject
- College students -- United States -- Nineteenth century
- Gallinger Bill -- circa 1900
- Physicians -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Rabies -- Pasteur treatment
- Transatlantic voyages
- Vivisection
Place
- Publisher
- Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Collection Inventory
This small collection of correspondence, 1855-1881, documents the personal life, particularly the youth, of William W. Keen. Also included are three photographs of Keen and his wife, Emma Corinna (Borden) Keen, 1921 and undated; biographical information concerning Keen's military career and estate, 1923-1932; and two lecture admission tickets from the Philadelphia School of Anatomy, circa 1866.
Major correspondents in Series 2.1 are Keen's father, William W. Keen (1797-1882), his elder brother, Charles B. Keen, and sisterin law, Harriet. The extensive series of letters from father to son, 1855-1862, concern many family matters, Keen's undergraduate education at Brown University, bank failures in Philadelphia in 1857, and impressions of the beginnings of the Civil War. The letters from Charles B. Keen, 1859-1865, and Harriet Keen, 1865, give vivid accounts of popular reaction in Philadelphia to the final events of the Civil War, including the fall of Richmond, the surrender of Robert E. Lee, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Also contained in this series are three letters, 1881, from Keen and his wife to their four daughters. These letters, written at sea and in England, describe the Keen's transatlantic voyage and impressions of London and Oxford.
The letters in Series 2.2 are from friends of William W. Keen who were associated with his student days at Brown University. There are detailed accounts of army life during the Civil War from Samuel T. Poinier, G. L. Porter, who was a physician during the war, and H. K. Porter. The series of letters from H. K. Porter, 1860-1864, also describe Porter's student life at Brown and the Newton Theological Institution and his attachment to "Tinnie" [Emma Corinna Borden] who later became the wife of William W. Keen. Also included are several letters from Lizzie C. Sears, the daughter of Barnas Sears, president of Brown University.
Box Ser.
1 1 BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION, 1923-1932:
1. Distribution of personal
property and related material
[copy] (1 folder) 1923-1926
2. Military record (1 folder) [ca.1932?]
2 PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1855-1881:
2.1 Correspondence with Keen family members
1. Borden, Emma Corinna,
to Elisa (1 folder) [n.d.]
2. Keen, Charles B.,
to William W. Keen (1837-1932) (1 folder) 1859-1865
3. Keen, Harriet,
to William W. Keen (1837-1932) (1 folder) 1865
4. Keen, William W. (1797-1882),
to William W. Keen (1837-1932) (5 folders) 1855-1862
5. Keen, William W. (1837-1932)
and Emma Corinna Borden,
to daughters (1 folder) 1881
6. Keen, William W. (1837-1932),
to Margaret Butcher (1 folder) [n.d.]
7. Wedding invitations (1 folder) 1867;1878
2.2 Correspondence received from friends
1. Chapman, Robert B. (1 folder) 1859
2. Greene, Mary C. (1 folder) 1860-1861
3. Poinier, Samuel T. (1 folder) 1864
4. Porter, G. L. (1 folder) 1863;1864
5. Porter, H. K. (1 folder) 1860-1864
6. Porter, M. C. (1 folder) 1863
7. Sears, Lizzie C. (1 folder) 1862
3 MISCELLANEOUS, [circa 1866?]:
1. Lecture admission tickets (2)
from Philadelphia School of
Anatomy (1 folder) [ca.1866?]
Box Ser.
1 4 PHOTOGRAPHS, 1921 and undated:
1. Keen, Emma Corinna Borden, seated,
half length
[n.d.]
8" x 10"
bw print [n.d.]
2. Keen, William W. (1837-1932) portrait
[n.d.]
8" x 10"
bw print [n.d.] 2 3. Keen, William W. (1837-1932) seated,
half length,
Goldensky Studios, Philadelphia, Pa.
1921
11" x 14"
bw print mounted 1921
Physical Description2 boxes
A collection of diaries, correspondence, printed materials and photographs, 1869-1932, documenting notable events in the life of William W. Keen. Materials in the collection were probably preserved for a biography.
The collection is divided into six series. The personal papers of William W. Keen, 1883-1929, in Series 1 include two diaries, 1907 and 1913, of trips to Europe. There is also one folder of correspondence which includes a copy of a letter addressed to Woodrow Wilson, 13 October 1918, concerning Keen's views on a proposed armistice to end World War I.
Series 2 contains materials from memorial services for Keen, his wife, Emma Corinna Borden Keen (d. 1887), and father, William Williams Keen (d. 1882). There is also one folder of quotations, 1886-1926, probably assembled by Keen, concerning grief for a dead spouse.
Banquet programs, 1895-1909, from the W. W. Keen Surgical Society of Jefferson Medical College are in Series 3.
Series 4 contains programs, newsclippings, and other printed material, 1869-1927, from notable events in Keen's life. Included is the honorary degree presented by the University of Upsala in 1907. The series also includes an autographed program from a 1913 banquet in honor of polar explorers, Roald Amundsen, R. E. Peary, and Sir Ernest H. Shackleton, and two typescript addresses by Keen.
Photographs of Keen's surgical clinic at Jefferson Medical College Hospital, 1902, and the launching of the first hospital ship, the U.S.S. Relief, in 1922, are preserved in Series 5.
Information on Keen's 1900 presidential badge from the American Medical Association is in Series 6. The badge itself was transferred to the Mutter Museum on 4 May 1990, following processing of the collection.
Box Ser.
1 1 PERSONAL PAPERS, 1883-1929
1. Diary, 1907 March 19-December 31
(1 volume) 1907
2. Diary, 1913 May 20-September 24
(1 volume) 1913
3. Correspondence:
1. Typed letter [copy], 1918 October 13,
Philadelphia, Pa., to Woodrow Wilson,
Washington, D.C. (1 item)
2. Typed letter [copy], 1919 January 7,
[Philadelphia, Pa.?], to John H. Gibbon,
Philadelphia, Pa. (1 item)
3. Typed letter [copy], 1923 December 26,
[Philadelphia, Pa.?], to Howard Butcher,
Jr., [Philadelphia, Pa.?] (1 item)
4. Tinng, Charles B.,
Typed letter [copy], 1926 November 27,
Tokyo, Japan, to William W. Keen,
Philadelphia, Pa. (1 item)
5. Polis, Benjamin,
Typed letter signed, 1929 January 30,
Philadelphia, Pa., to William W. Keen,
Philadelphia, Pa. (1 item)
6. Darrach, William,
Typed letter signed, 1929 February 2,
New York, N.Y., to William W. Keen,
Philadelphia, Pa. (1 item)
7. Irvine, Sir James Colquhoun,
Typed letter signed, 1929 February 16,
St. Andrews, Scotland, to William W.
Keen, [Philadelphia, Pa.?] (1 item)
(1 folder) 1918-1929
4. Passports (1 folder) 1920;1923
5. Poem to Misses Hallowell (1 folder) [1883]
2 MEMORIAL MATERIALS, 1882-1932
1. Collection of memorial materials
(1 folder) 1886-1926
Box Ser.
1 2 2. Castle, John H.,
In memory of William Williams Keen :
a sermon presented in the meeting house of
the First Baptist Church,
West Philadelphia, 1882 October 1
(1 volume) 1882
3. Memorial of Mrs. Dr. William W. Keen
(Philadelphia: Women's Foreign Baptist
Mission Union of Philadelphia and Vicinity)
(1 volume) 1887
4. Minute adopted by the Board of Trustees of
Crozer Theological Seminary, 1932 June 7
(1 folder) 1932
5. H. H. Battles,
Receipt for flowers at funeral of
William W. Keen, 1932 June 10 (1 folder) 1932
3 JEFFERSON MEDICAL COLLEGE
W. W. KEEN SURGICAL SOCIETY, 1895-1909
1-2 Banquet programs (3 folders) 1895-1909
2 4 SPECIAL EVENTS, 1869-1927
1. Royal College of Surgeons Fourth Centenary:
Newsclippings (1 folder) 1905
2. University of Upsala Bicentennial of
Carl von Linne:
1. Honorary doctoral degree (1 folder) 1907
2. Programs and printed material
(2 folders) 1907
3. University of St. Andrews Celebration of
the Five Hundredth Anniversary
of the Foundation:
1. Bennett, Andrew,
Letter signed, 1911 July 19,
St. Andrews, Scotland, to
William W. Keen, Philadelphia, Pa.
(1 folder) 1911
2. Programs and printed material (4 folders) 1911
3. Newsclippings (1 folder) 1911
4. Dinner given by Henry G. Bryant to Captain
Roald Amundsen, Rear Admiral R. E. Peary,
U.S.N., Sir Ernest H. Shackleton, C.V.O.:
Program (1 folder) 1913
Box Ser.
2 4 5. Banquet in Honour of the Visiting Foreign
Delegates to Arrange for the Celebration of
the 100th Anniversary of Peace among
English Speaking Peoples:
1. An impossible war : address, typescript,
1913 May 13, (4 p.). (1 folder) 1913
2. Printed material and newsclippings
(1 folder) 1913 3 6. First Baptist Church of Philadelphia
Celebration of Ninetieth Birthday of
William W. Keen:
1. God's unseen guidance in human life :
address, typescript, [1927 January 19],
(11 p.). (1 folder) [1927]
2. Resolution of congratulation
(1 folder) 1927
7. Miscellaneous printed material (3 folders) 1869-1926
5 PHOTOGRAPHS AND PICTORIAL MATERIAL, 1902 and 1919
1. Professor William W. Keen's Clinic,
Jefferson Medical College Hospital,
Philadelphia, Pa.,
E. N. Fought,
1902 December 10
bw print mounted, 8" x 9.5" (1 item) 1902
2. Sponsor party of U.S.S. Relief, Hospital
Ship, U.S. Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa.,
Replogle,
1919 December 23
bw print, 8" x 10" (1 item) 1919
3. Keen, Charles B.
"Glen Haven, N.Y., or The Flume, White Mts.",
[undated]
pencil sketch, 7.75" x 10.5" (1 item) [n.d.]
6 RELICS, 1900
American Medical Association president's
badge, [1900 June 7] (1 folder) 1900 [MISSING AS OF 5/27/2015]
Badge transferred to Mutter Museum, 4 May 1990.
Physical Description3 boxes
This collection contains three formal photographs of William W. Keen, 1931 and undated. All three photographs are from the last years of his life.
Physical Description1 folder1 oversize folder (3 items)
1.2 Linear feet3 boxes
The collection contains letters received by William W. Keen and copies of his replies, 1883-1919, along with a few newsclippings concerning controversies over vivisection in the late 19th and early 20th century. Keen's letters define his defensive position on vivisection.
Correspondents are physicians, political figures, or social activists and include: James M. Brown and Jacob H. Gallinger on alleged experimentation on human beings; Simon Flexner on a serum for cerebrospinal meningitis; William S. Pierce and Floyd W. Tomkins on the moral arguments against vivisection; and Caroline Earle White on Keen's use of a dog for experimentation with nerve reattachment. Other correspondents are Horace K. Regar, George Henry Simmons, and William Henry Welch. A calendar of the correspondence is included.
Physical Description1 Box16 folders
he collection consists primarily of letters dated from the 1880s and 1890s written by William W. Keen to his daughter, Margaret. There are also some letters from other Keen family members addressed to Ms. Keen as well as newspaper clippings.
The earliest letters (folder 1.1) are addressed to Ms. Keen as a young girl. These brief notes advise Ms. Keen to be careful of her misspellings (among other things) and include two notes written by Dr. Keen in 1886 with his left hand (due to an injury). A letter dated July 10, 1897 (also in folder 1.1) and marked "Private" discusses the death of "your dear mother" upon the first anniversary of her passing.
Folder 1.2 includes letters from Europe (aboard the "Umbria" and from Oxford, Paris, Munich, Interlachen, and Canterbury). Folder 1.4 includes a pocket-sized promotional calendar from The West End Trust and Safe Deposit Company. Letters in Folder 1.4 begin an intermittent but long-term discussion of finances between father and daughter. Folder 1.5 includes a note with a doodle (possibly drawn by Dr. Keen?) Folder 1.5 also includes a letter dated Jan. 18th, 1897 discussing a "Diplomatic Corps" reception attended by Dr. Keen and "the girls" with President and Mrs. Cleveland at the White House. Folder 1.6 includes a letter dated February 17, 1897 that discussed Dora's election as "school director." Folder 1.7 includes a document from the "Annual Banquet of the Alumni Association of Jefferson Medical College," dated May 13, 1897.
There is a significant gap in the series of letters between the time of the second to last letter (dated September 27, 1897) and the final letter (dated June 20, 1928).
The remaining series include correspondence from Florence Keen, "Mary", E.D. Gillespie, Dora Keen, and "Aunt Hattie" to Margaret Keen. It also includes letters from Dr. Keen to his daughters Dora and Florence as well as a group of letters to Dr. Keen from assorted individuals.
The newsclippings' folder includes a feature article on Dr. Keen from The Philadelphia Press, dated July 23, 1899. It also includes a letter to the editor written by Dr. Keen, and a cartoon that features Dr. Keen. [N.B. -- Newspaper clippings included by Dr. Keen in letters to his daughter Margaret have been filed with the letter that they accompanied and not in the newsclippings folder.]
Ser.
1 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher), 1885-1929
1.1 (16 items) 1885-1888 1.2 (12 items) 1889-1891 1.3 (13 items) 1892-1895 1.4 (15 items) 1896 June 25 – 1896 Oct. 22 1.5 (10 items) 1896 Oct. 25 – 1896 Dec. 12 1.6 (16 items) 1897 Jan. 9 – 1897 April 17 1.7 (10 items) 1897 April 22 – 1897 May 31 1.8 (14 items) 1897 June 4 – 1897 Sep. 18 1.9 (1 item) 1928
2 Correspondence, Dora Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (6 items) 1890-1896
3 Correspondence, Florence Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (2 items) 1890
4 Correspondence, Charles Keen to Margaret Keen (Butcher) (1 item) 1897
5 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Florence Keen (1 item) 1894
6 Correspondence, W. W. Keen to Dora Keen (2 items) 1893-1894
7 Correspondence, "La tante E." To Dora Keen (1 item) 1897
8 Miscellaneous Correspondence, To W. W. Keen (4 items) 1894-1897 [n.d.]
(1 item) From E. B. Wall 1894 June 18 " From George D. B. Darby 1897 May 27 " From Mary E. Dore [n.d.] Sept. 1 " From E. D. Gillespie [n.d.] Oct. 16
9 Miscellaneous Correspondence, To Margaret Keen (Butcher) (2 items) 1897
(1 item) From Aunt Hattie 1897 May 16 " From R. F. Smith 1897 July 26
10 Correspondence, W. W. Keen, To "Keens" (1 item) 1929
11 Newsclippings (3 items) 1899-1922 [n.d.]
(1 item) 1899 July 23 "Dr. W. W. Keen, Philadelphia's Famous Surgeon" " 1922 March 15 "Nestor of American Surgery" " [n.d.] "Free for All"
Physical Description1 Box19 folders