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Joseph Leidy 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 2/170-01
Repository:
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Extent:
3.2 linear feet (8 document boxes)
Language:
English
Date:
1845-1933 (inclusive)
Creator:
Leidy, Joseph
Form:
Clippings, Correspondence, and Sketches
Abstract:

Joseph Leidy, Philadelphia anatomist and naturalist, was born on 9 Sept. 1823. He married Anna Harden in 1864; they had one adoptive daughter, Alwinia. Leidy died on 29 Apr. 1891. Leidy received an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1844. From 1846 to 1853, he was a lecturer at the Franklin Medical College. In 1853, he succeeded William E. Horner as professor of anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania; Leidy held this post until his death. During the Civil War, he served as a surgeon at Satterlee General Hospital in Philadelphia. From 1870 to 1885, Leidy was professor of natural history at Swarthmore College. From 1881 to 1891, he was president of the Academy of Natural Sciences; he was also president of the Wagner Free Institute of Science. He made many contributions to anatomy, vertebrate paleontology, and parasitology. Leidy became a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1851.

Letters received: Organized into five series: I. Correspondence, 1847-1890. II. University of Pennsylvania, 1853-1891. III. Notes and Drawings, 1874-1882. IV. Newsclippings, 1876-1933. V. Leidy Biography, 1845-1933. arranged alphabetically by correspondent, then chronologically.

Letters, notes, and drawings, newsclippings, and unpublished biography written by Joseph Leidy II. Bulk of collection consists of letters received by Joseph Leidy, 1852-1890, concerning anatomy, fossils, mineralogy, natural history, zoology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and personal, financial, and property affairs. Many letters describe and convey specimens to Leidy for his examination, identification, and consideration. Major correspondents are: Charles C. Abbott, Alexander Agassiz, Harrison Allen, Colin Arrott, T. S. Arthur, Jr., Spencer Fullerton Baird, E. R. Beadle, Clarence S. Bement, C. S. Boutcher, H. W. Boyd, J. Van Allen Carter, George Hammell Cook, Thomas S. Foulke, William Parker Foulke, Albert Fricke, Augustus C. Hamlin, Joseph Henry, Hugh L. Hodge, F. V. Hayden, Joseph P. Hazard, F. S. Holmes, William H. Jones, George Frederick Kunz, George W. Lawrence, Isaac Lea, Philip Leidy, J. H. McQuillen, Edward H. Magill, F. B. Meek, William A. B. Norcom, Josiah Clark Nott, Thomas C. Porter, Samuel Powel, H. D. Schmidt, Aubrey H. Smith, Charles E. Smith, S. C. Thornton, James Tyson, Samuel Tyson, William S. Vaux, Henry A. Ward, and Joseph Willcox. Includes examples of letters sent by Leidy, 1847-1885, to various correspondents.

Also includes material concerning Leidy's association with the University of Pennsylvania, 1853-1891; four examples of annotations and drawings, 1874-1882; newsclippings concerning Leidy's life, death, and related subjects, 1876-1933; and undated manuscript, typescript copy, and reference material assembled for unpublished biography of Leidy by his nephew, Joseph Leidy II.

Organization
Subject

Publisher
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Collection Inventory

1. Abbott, Charles C., 1860-1878.
Box 1
2. Ac-Als, 1859-1884.
Box 1
3. Agassiz, Alexander, 1862-1882.
Box 1
4. Allen, Harrison, 1860-1882.
Box 1
5. Am-Arm, 1859-1886.
Box 1
6. Arrott, Colin, 1864-1869.
Box 1
7. Arthur, T. S. Jr., 1875-1879.
Box 1
8. Ash-At, 1859-1889.
Box 1
9. Ba-Bai, 1858-1885.
Box 1
10. Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1862-1885.
Box 1
11. Bal-Bax, 1856-1885.
Box 1
12. Beadle, E, R., 1867-1878.
Box 1
13. Bean-Bel, 1856-1882.
Box 1
14. Bem-Bic, 1860-1881.
Box 1
15. Bement, Clarence S., 1870-1882.
Box 1
16. Bid-Bil, 1862-1889.
Box 1
17. Bin-Bl, 1858-1884.
Box 1
18. Bok-Bow, 1854-1883.
Box 1
19. Boutcher, C. S., 1878-1881.
Box 1
20. Boyd, H. W., 1869-1879.
Box 1
21. Br, 1863-1882.
Box 1
22. Bu-By, 1860-1885.
Box 1
23. Cal-Car, 1860-1883.
Box 1
24. Carter, J. Van Allen, 1863-1886.
Box 1
25. Cas-Cav, 1859-1885.
Box 1
26. Cha-Chr, 1860-1882.
Box 2
27. Cl-Coe, 1856-1882.
Box 2
28. Coh-Cop, 1858-1882.
Box 2
29. Cook, George Hammell, 1860-1882.
Box 2
30. Cor-Cox, 1856-1886.
Box 2
31. Cr-Cu, 1864-1883.
Box 2
32. Da-Dar, 1853-1881.
Box 2
33. Dav-Di, 1854-1886.
Box 2
34. Do-Dw, 1866-1885.
Box 2
35. E, 1855-1884.
Box 2
36. Fa-For, 1868-1882.
Box 2
37. Fos-Fu, 1860-1888.
Box 2
38. Foulke, Thomas S., 1871-1882.
Box 2
39. Foulke, W. Parker, 1860-1864.
Box 2
40. M. Fox and Co., 1872-1874.
Box 2
41. Fricke, Albert, 1860-1887.
Box 2
42. Ga-Go, 1861-1884.
Box 2
43. Gr-Gu, 1855-1885.
Box 2
44. Hae-Han, 1860-1884.
Box 3
45. Hamlin, Augustus C., 1866-1879.
Box 3
46. Har-Hen, 1852-1886.
Box 3
47. Hayden, F. V., 1861-1887.
Box 3
48. Hazard, Joseph P., 1863-1884.
Box 3
49. Henry, Joseph, 1854-1877.
Box 3
50. Her-Hol, 1860-1885.
Box 3
51. Hodge, Hugh L., 1863-1880.
Box 3
52. Holmes, F. S., 1853-1877.
Box 3
53. Hoo-Hy, 1852-1889.
Box 3
54. I, 1868-1882.
Box 3
55. J, 1856-1887.
Box 3
56. Jones, William H., 1873-1882.
Box 3
57. K-Ke, 1860-1881.
Box 3
58. Ki-Ku, 1859-1884.
Box 3
59. Kunz, George Frederick, 1878-1884.
Box 3
60. Lab-Law, 1852-1881.
Box 4
61. Lawrence, George w., 1867-1882.
Box 4
62. Lea-Leh, 1862-1885.
Box 4
63. Lea, Isaac, 1861-1884.
Box 4
64. Lei-Ley, 1859-1884.
Box 4
65. Leidy, Philip, 1863-1876.
Box 4
66. Lin-Ly, 1859-1884.
Box 4
67, Ma-Mar, 1859-1884.
Box 4
68. Magill, Edward H., 1871-1886.
Box 4
69. Mas-Mc, 1859-1882.
Box 4
70. McQuillen, J. H., 1864-1878.
Box 4
71. Mea-Mit, 1857-1886.
Box 4
72. Meek, F. B., 1856-1871.
Box 4
73. Mo-My, 1858-1890.
Box 4
74. N, 1858-1884.
Box 5
75. Norcom, William A. B., 1858-1871.
Box 5
76. Nott, Josiah Clark, 1856-1871.
Box 5
77. O, 1857-1885.
Box 5
78. Pa-Pei, 1853-1890.
Box 5
79. Pen-Phi, 1863-1882.
Box 5
80. Pi-Pu, 1857-1890.
Box 5
8l. Porter, Thomas c., 1867-1884.
Box 5
82. Powel, Samuel, 1856-1872.
Box 5
83. Q, 1860-1880.
Box 5
84. Ra-Ric, 1859-1889.
Box 5
85. Rid-Rus, 1859-1885.
Box 5
86. Sa-Schm, 1857-1879.
Box 5
87. Schmidt, H. D., 1860-1885.
Box 5
88. Scho-She, 1859-1886.
Box 5
89. Shi-Sle, 1856-1881.
Box 5
90. Sm-Soz, 1859-1886.
Box 6
91. Smith, Aubrey H., 1861-1870.
Box 6
92. Smith, Charles E., 1862-1888.
Box 6
93. Sp-Step, 1861-1881.
Box 6
94. Stev-Sw, 1857-1889.
Box 6
95. Ta-Th, 1856-1883.
Box 6
96. Thornton, S. C., 1869-1874.
Box 6
97. Ti-Tr, 1855-1885.
Box 6
98. Tu-Ty, 1866-1882.
Box 6
99. Tyson, James, 1871-1882.
Box 6
100. Tyson, Samuel, 1869-1871.
Box 6
101. U, 1858-1884.
Box 6
102. V, 1866-1883.
Box 6
103. Vaux, William S., 1863-1879.
Box 6
104. Wa-Wee, 1853-1885.
Box 6
105. Ward, Henry A,, 1862-1882.
Box 6
106. Wei-Whe, 1860-1885.
Box 6
107. B, Westermann and Co., 1866-1869.
Box 6
108. Whi-Wilh, 1859-1885.
Box 6
109. Will-Wit, 1855-1882.
Box 7
110. Willcox, Joseph, 1872-1885.
Box 7
111. Wo-Wy, 1856-1884.
Box 7
112. Y, 1862-1876.
Box 7
113. Z, 1870-1882.
Box 7
114. Fragments, 1870; undated.
Box 7
115. Miscellaneous printed material, 1878-1882.
Box 7
1. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to Dr. Gould., 01 February 1847.
Box 7
2. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to G. W. Bailey., 04 October 1851.
Box 7
3. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to Dr. Gould., 09 February 1852.
Box 7
4. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Samuel Powell [sic], Newport. R.I., 28 August 1856.
Box 7
5. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [F. B.] Meek., 18 November 1856.
Box 7
6. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to J. J. Woodward. Washington. D.C., 07 June 1863.
Box 7
7. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [O. C.] Marsh., 18 January 1867.
Box 7
8. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to O. C. Marsh., 20 May 1867.
Box 7
9. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to 0. C. Marsh., 08 February 1869.
Box 7
10. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [O. C.] Marsh., 14 September 1869.
Box 7
11. Autograph letter [fragment], Philadelphia. Pa. to A. C. Hamlin., 14 January 1871.
Box 7
12. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [F. V. Hayden., 14 January 1871.
Box 7
13. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Spencer Fullerton Baird., 05 May 1871.
Box 7
14. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Spencer Fullerton Baird., 18 May 1871.
Box 7
15. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to Joseph K. Corson., 18 May 1871.
Box 7
16. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Joseph Henry., 18 May 1871.
Box 7
17. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [Spencer Fullerton] Baird., 30 May 1871.
Box 7
18. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Joseph Henry., 07 June 1871.
Box 7
19. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to F. V. Hayden., 14 June 1871.
Box 7
20. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to F. V. Hayden., 19 July 1871.
Box 7
21. Letter, [includes typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to A. C. Hamlin., 03 August 1871.
Box 7
22. Letter, [includes typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to A. C. Hamlin., 22 August 1871.
Box 7
23. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to W. J. Rhees. [Washington. D.C.?],, 26 August 1871.
Box 7
24. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to W. Boyd Dawkins., 31 August 1871.
Box 7
25. Letter, [includes typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Joseph K. Corson., 23 September 1871.
Box 7
26. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to James Hall., 23 September 1871.
Box 7
27. Letter, [includes typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to J. D. Whitney., 28 September 1871.
Box 7
28. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Prof. Gill., 05 October 1871.
Box 7
29. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Joseph Henry., 30 October 1871.
Box 7
30. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Spencer Fullerton Baird., 04 December 1871.
Box 7
31. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to Spencer Fullerton Baird., 08 December 1871.
Box 7
32. Letter, [includes typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to A. C. Hamlin., 23 December 1871.
Box 7
33. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to George W. Lawrence., 07 December 1875.
Box 7
34. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [F. V.] Hayden., 08 December 1871.
Box 7
35. Letter, [Philadelphia. Pa.], to an unknown correspondent., 09 May 1877.
Box 7
36. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [O. C.] Marsh., 05 April 1878.
Box 7
37. Letter, Philadelphia. Pa. to [James?] Hall., 11 January 1882.
Box 7
38. Letter, [Philadelphia. Pa.], to John B. Roberts. [Philadelphia. Pa.],, 30 January 1882.
Box 7
39. Letter, [Philadelphia. Pa.], to [S. Weir] Mitchell., 12 January 1884.
Box 7
40. Letter, [Philadelphia. Pa.], to Edward Ogden., 23 February 1884.
Box 7
41. Autograph letter. [Philadelphia. Pa.?], to Thomas L. Casey. San Francisco. Calif., circa 22 October 1885.
Box 7
42. Autograph note signed. [Philadelphia. Pa.], to [John B.?] Roberts., 10 November 1888.
Box 7
43. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to O. C. Marsh., 13 April 1889.
Box 7
44. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [O. C.] Marsh., 05 December 1889.
Box 7
45. Letter [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to [O. C.] Marsh., 28 February 1890.
Box 7
46. Note [typescript copy], Philadelphia. Pa. to an unknown correspondent., 23 March 1890.
Box 7
Series 2 UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, 1853-1891.
Box 7
Series 3 NOTES AND DRAWINGS, 1874-1882.
Box 7
Series 4 NEWSCLIPPINGS [photocopies], 1876-1933.
Box 8

1. Correspondence, 1912; 1933.
Box 8
2. Biography [manuscript], undated.
Box 8
3. Biography [typescript], undated.
Box 8
4. Biography--short version, undated.
Box 8
5. Reference material, 1845-1924.
Box 8

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