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Rene La Roche 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 2/186
Repository:
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Extent:
3 boxes
Language:
English
Date:
1818-1867 (inclusive)
Creator:
La Roche, René
Form:
Correspondence and Manuscripts (documents)
Abstract:

Rene La Roche, son of a French physician of the same name, was born in Philadelphia on 23 September 1795. He married Mary Jane Ellis in 1824; they had at least two daughters and one son. La Roche died of prostration in Philadelphia on 9 December 1872.

La Roche received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1820. He was an active member of the Kappa Lambda Association of Philadelphia, edited the North American medical and surgical journal, and wrote extensively on yellow fever. His best known work was Yellow fever, considered in its historical, pathological, etiological, and therapeutical relations (1855).

He was also a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, American Medical Association, American Philosophical Society, Pathological Society of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Prison Society, and the Philadelphia Medical Society. From 1827 to 1861, La Roche was a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

The Rene La Roche papers consist of two collections: one of correspondence, and one of manuscripts. For a more detailed description of the materials, please see the "Scope and Contents" note for each series.

The Rene La Roche papers consist of two collections. For the provenances of each, please see the "Custodial History" note for each series.

People
Subject

Publisher
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of letters, 1818-1867, received by Rene La Roche, generally from American or European physicians. Major correspondents are: E. H. Barton, Samuel Brown, D. J. Cain, Thomas L. Caldwell, Sir James Clark, Daniel Drake, E. D. Fenner, Samuel D. Gross, Charles D. Meigs, James Moultrie, Louis Valentin, and William T. Wragg.

The letters concern yellow fever, particularly discussions of epidemics in Southern cities, La Roche's sojourn in Europe, personal or family matters, and reactions to La Roche's publications. One notable item is William T. Wragg's account of an 1856 yellow fever epidemic in Charleston, South Carolina.

1. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 19 January 1827.
Box 1
2. Arnold, Richard D., Savannah, Ga.?, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 16 April 1855.
Box 1
3. Atkins, Dudley?, Kingston, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 26 August 1825.
Box 1
4. Barton, E. H., New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, 26 October 1853.
Box 1
5. Barton, E. H., New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, 03 December 1853.
Box 1
6. Barton, E. H., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, 07 December 1853.
Box 1
7. Barton, E. H., New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, 01 January 1855.
Box 1
8. Bayle, Antoine Laurent Jesse?, (in French), to R. La Roche, Paris, France, undated.
Box 1
9. Beecher, J. S. W., Brooklyn, N.Y., to Brown and Son, 15 October 1858.
Box 1
10. Bell, J., Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 02 July 1828.
Box 1
11. Bemiss, S. M., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 13 July 1858.
Box 1
12. Bertola, Francois, (in French), New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche?, 16 September 1832.
Box 1
13. Bertoloni, Antoine, (in French), Bologne, Italy?, to R. De la Roche sic, Philadelphia, Pa., 26 April 1830.
Box 1
14. Bertoloni, Antoine, (in French), Bologna, Italy, to R. De la Roche sic, Philadelphia, Pa., 1834 Apt. 18.
Box 1
15. Biddle, Charles J., Washington, D.C., to R. La Roche, undated.
Box 1
16. Bonaparte, Joseph, Comte de Survilliers, (in French), Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, 12 June 1820.
Box 1
17. Bouffey, L. D. A., (in French), to Dupuytren, Guillaume, Paris, France, undated.
Box 1
18. Brera, V. L., (in French), Vincenza, Italy, to R. La Roche, Padua, Italy, 17 June 1828.
Box 1
19. Broussais, Casimir, (in French), Paris, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 11 August 1827.
Box 1
20. Brown, James, Ballston, N.Y., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 04 August 1830.
Box 1
21. Brown, S., Paris, France, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 08 July 1824.
Box 1
22. Brown, S., Huntsville, Ala., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 26 July 1826.
Box 1
23. Brown, S., Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 26 September 1827.
Box 1
24. Brown Sequard, C. E., London, England, to R. La Roche, 26 March 1863.
Box 1
25. Brown Sequard, C. E., London, England, to R. La Roche, 28 March 1863.
Box 1
26. Brugiere, Antoinette, partly in French, Wilderness, Va.?, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 16 September 1823.
Box 1
27. Cain, D. J.?, Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 15 January 1853.
Box 1
28. Cain, D. J., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa.?, 08 March 1853.
Box 1
29. Cain, D. J., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa.?, 31 August 1853.
Box 1
30. Cain, D. J., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa.?, 13 September 1853.
Box 1
31. Caizergues, Fulcrand Cesar, (in French), Marseille, France, to R. La Roche?, 28 August 1828.
Box 1
32. Caldwell, Charles, Philadelphia, Pa., to Thomas L. Caldwell, Louisville, Ky., 16 August 1837.
Box 1
33. Caldwell, Thomas L., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 30 March 1850.
Box 1
34. Caldwell, Thomas L., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 15 October 1853.
Box 1
35. Caldwell, Thomas L., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 20 November 1853.
Box 1
36. Carlander, Christopher, Stockholm, Sweden, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 September 1827.
Box 1
37. Carson, P., to R. La Roche, 24 March 1860.
Box 1
38. Casaradoffy de Choet, (in French), Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, Nice, France, 29 November 1827.
Box 1
39. Charles, L., Memphis, Tenn., to R. La Roche, 13 February 1855.
Box 1
40. Chatard, F., Baltimore, Md., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 09 August 1832.
Box 1
41. Chatard, P., (in French), Baltimore, Md., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 20 October 1829.
Box 1
42. Chervin, Nicholas, (in French), Paris, France, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 26 June 1826.
Box 1
43. Chervin, Nicholas, (in French), Paris, France, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 25 June 1829.
Box 1
44. Cicognani, F., (in French), to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 26 April 1828.
Box 1
45. Civiale, Jean, signed (in French), Paris, France, to R. La Roche?, 08 March 1830.
Box 1
46. Civiale, Jean, (in French), Paris, France, to R. La Roche, 23 February 1833.
Box 1
47. Clark, A., New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche?, 23 April 1855.
Box 1
48. Clark, A., at sea, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., undated.
Box 1
49. Clark, C. J., Jacksonville, Ala., to R. La Roche, 12 January 1853.
Box 1
50. Clark, James, London, England, to R. La Roche, Edinburgh, Scotland, 08 April 1829.
Box 1
51. Clark, James, London, England, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 16 October 1829.
Box 1
52. Clark, James, London, England, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 30 May 1830.
Box 1
53. Clark, James, London, England, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 October 1831.
Box 1
54. Clark, James, London, England, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 12 November 1834.
Box 1
55. Clark, R. J., New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 05 May 1830.
Box 1
56. Combe, Andrew, Edinburgh, Scotland, to R. La Roche?, 18 March 1833.
Box 1
57. Combe, Andrew, to R. La Roche, undated.
Box 1
58. Condie, D. Francis, Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, 13 May 1854.
Box 1
59. Cox, S. S., Washington, D.C., to R. La Roche, 12 March 1864.
Box 1
60. Davis, N. S., Chicago, Ill., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 05 December 1852.
Box 1
61. Davis, N. S., Chicago, Ill., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 09 February 1853.
Box 1
62. De Renzi, Salavatore, in Italian, Naples, Italy, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 21 December 1833.
Box 1
63. De Renzi, Salvatore, in Italian, Naples, Italy, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 12 October 1835.
Box 1
64. De Saussure, H. W., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, 20 January 1853.
Box 1
65. Drake, Daniel, Cincinnati, Ohio, to Robert sic La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 12 September 1830.
Box 1
66. Drake, Daniel, Cincinnati, Ohio, to Robert sic La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 15 March 1831.
Box 1
67. Drake, Daniel, Cincinnati, Ohio, to R. La Roche?, 12 July 1852.
Box 1
68. Dugas, L. A., Augusta, Ga., to R. La Roche?, 02 January 1850.
Box 1
69. Dukes, John R., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 24 October 1854.
Box 1
70. Dunn, F. C., Newport, R.I,?, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 25 February 1867.
Box 1
71. Evans, W. J., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 30 March 1848.
Box 1
72. Faget, Jean Charles, (in French), New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche?, 20 April 1859.
Box 1
73. Faget, Jean Charles, (in French), to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., undated.
Box 1
74. Faraut, Petrus Joannes, (in French), Nice, France, to R. La Roche, Turin, Italy, 17 July 1828.
Box 1
75. Fenner, E. D., New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 18 July 1846.
Box 1
76. Fenner, E. D., New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 December 1851.
Box 1
77. Fenner, E. D., Petersburg, Va., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 17 September 1855.
Box 1
78. Flint, Austin, New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, 14 February 1860.
Box 1
79. Flint, Austin, New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, 01 March 1860.
Box 1
80. Flint, Austin, New York, N.Y.?, to R. La Roche?, 17 April 1860.
Box 1
81. Folchi, Giacomo, in Italian, Rome, Italy, to R. La Roche?, 12 May 1829.
Box 1
82. Folchi, Giacomo, in Italian, Rome, Italy, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 January 1834.
Box 1
83. Foree, E. D., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche?, 16 November 1866.
Box 1
84. Foree, E. D., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche?, undated.
Box 1
85. Gaillard, P. C., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 13 August 1849.
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86. Gilpin, Henry D., Philadelphia, Pa.?, to R. La Roche, undated.
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87. Girard, Jean, (in French), Alfort, France, to R. La Roche, 09 March 1829.
Box 1
88. Gordini, Guiseppe, in Italian, Livorno, Italy, to R. La Roche, Florence, Italy, 16 May 1828.
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89. Graham, Robert, to R. La Roche, 15 April 1829.
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90. Grant, George R., Memphis, Tenn., to R. La Roche, 30 April 1855.
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91. Graves, Robert J., Dublin, Ireland?, to R. La Roche, Dublin, Ireland?, undated.
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92. Grillo, Antoine, Naples, Italy, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 16 October 1835.
Box 1
93. Gross, Samuel D., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 13 February 1854.
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94. Gross, Samuel D., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 06 July 1854.
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95. Gross, Samuel D., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, 12 May 1855.
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96. Grottanelli, Stanislao, in Italian, Siena, Italy, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 16 February 1829.
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97. Guillou, Charles F. B., to R. La Roche, 10 July 1862.
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98. Harold, William V., Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, 31 October 1828.
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99. Harold, William V., Philadelphia, Pa, to R. La Roche, 29 November 1828.
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100. Harris, E., Staten Island, N.Y., to R. La Roche, 12 May 1857.
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101. Harris, S. N., Savannah, Ga., to R. La Roche?, 05 September 1854.
Box 1
102. Harris, Thomas, Neill, Henry, and Meigs, Charles D., Philadelphia, Pa, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa.?, 08 May 1827.
Box 1
103. Harrison, John P., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 03 October 1825.
Box 1
104. Hayward, George, Boston, Mass., to R. La Roche, 23 December 1861.
Box 1
105. Hodge, Hugh L.?, Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 29 August 1828.
Box 1
106. Hodge, Hugh L.?, New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 15 November 1828.
Box 1
107. Hopkinson, J. J., Philadelphia, Pa., to the Editors of the North American Journal, 21 January 1830.
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108. Hosack, David, New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 18 September 1825.
Box 1
109. Hosack, David, New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 24 September 1825.
Box 1
110. Howard, W. T., Warrenton, N.C., to R. La Roche, 12 February 1858.
Box 1
111. Jackson, W., Rome, Italy, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 15 May 1829.
Box 2
112. Johnston, V. W., Louisville, Ky., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 25 October 1825.
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113. Keating, John, Philadelphia, Pa.?, to R. La Roche, 20 January 1832.
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114. Kemp, William M., Baltimore, Md., to R. La Roche?, 17 May 1858.
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115. Key, C. Aston, to R. La Roche, London, England?, 31 March 1829.
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116. Kollock, P. M., Savannah, Ga., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 February 1855.
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117. Koreff, J. F., (in French), Paris, France, to R. La Roche?, 21 September 1829.
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118. Kouker, L., to R. La Roche?, 05 April 1829.
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119. Lafayette, Marquis de, Paris, France?, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 20 June 1827.
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120. Lajus, D. Paul?, Philadelphia, Pa.?, to R. La Roche, 13 November 1860.
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121. Lebby, R., to D. J. Cain, undated.
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122. Lee, Charles A., Brunswick, Me., to R. La Roche, 24 April 1854.
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123. Lefort, Pierre?, Port Royal, Martinique, to R. La Roche, 10 May 1836.
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124. Leidy, Joseph, Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, 19 November 1852.
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125. Leidy, Joseph, to R. La Roche, 14 December 1852.
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126. Levrat Perroton, J. F., (in French), Lyon, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France?, 17 December 1828.
Box 2
127. Levrat Perroton, J. F., (in French), Lyon, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 13 January 1829.
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128. Levrat Perroton, J. F., (in French), Lyon, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 02 March 1829.
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129. Lippi, Regolo, in Italian, to R. La Roche, Florence, Italy?, 07 May 1828.
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130. Littell, John S., Germatown, Pa., to R. La Roche, 16 March 1864.
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131. Lobstein, Johann Friedrich Daniel?, (in French), Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 08 March 1820.
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132. Macauley, J. C.?, Baltimore, Md., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 January 1825.
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133. Macleod, Roderick, London, England?, to R. La Roche?, 1830.
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134. Martin, C., to R. La Roche, Nice, France, 21 February 1828.
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135. March, Alden, Albany, N.Y., to R. La Roche, 22 September 1858.
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136. McKinley, S. E., McDonald, Ga., to R. La Roche?, undated.
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137. Meigs, Charles D., Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, Natchez, Miss., 17 January 1838.
Box 2
138. Meigs, Charles D., London, England, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 15 May 1845.
Box 2
139. Meigs, Charles D.?, London, England, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 25 May 1845.
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140. Mercer, W. N., Laurel Hill, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 26 March 1839.
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141. Mojon, B., (in French), Paris, France, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 30 January 1834.
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142. Moultrie, James, Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 07 August 1849.
Box 2
143. Moultrie, James, Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 21 August 1849.
Box 2
144. Moultrie, James, Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche?, 25 June 1851.
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145. Moultrie, James, Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche?, 27 October 1855.
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146. Ordronaux, John, Roslyn, N.Y., to R. La Roche, 03 December 1860.
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147. Otto, C., Copenhagen, Denmark, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 April 1830.
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148. Otto, C., Copenhagen, Denmark, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 18 November 1831.
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149. Otto, C., Copenhagen, Denmark, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 04 October 1832.
Box 2
150. Palloni, Gaetano?, to R. La Roche, 20 March 1828.
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151. Pascalis, Felix, New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 28 November 1825.
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152. Pascalis, Felix, (in French), New York, N.Y., to Petit de Villers, Savannah, Ga., 01 August 1829.
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153. Penington, John, Philadelphia, Pa.?, to R. La Roche, 05 November 1860.
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154. Petry, (in French), Vaucouleurs, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 18 September 1828.
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155. Phillips, Emily, Hartford, Conn., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 20 May 1824.
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156. Pickett, Edward, Huntsville, Ala., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 09 February 1830.
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157. Pitcher, Z., Detroit, Mich., to R. La Roche, 12 March 1859.
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158. Pitcher, Z., Detroit, Mich., to R. La Roche, 06 April 1859.
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159. Porter, J. B., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, 29 May 1854.
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160. Pullino?, (in French), Turin, Italy, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 August 1832.
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161. Purple, S. S., New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, 04 November 1857.
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162. Purple, S. S., New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, 29 December 1866.
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163. Quadri, Giovanni Battista, in Italian, to Jondi, undated.
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164. Ramsay, H. A., Atlanta, Ga., to R. La Roche, 09 March 1854.
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165. Ramsay, H. A., Thompson, Ga., to R. La Roche?, 02 November 1854.
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166. Rigoni, C. A., in Italian, Pavia, Italy, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 01 May 1830.
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167. Rivardi, M., Aix, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 26 September 1828.
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168. Robertson, F. M., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 10 March 1855.
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169. Roux, Pierre Martin?, (in French), Marseille, France, to R. La Roche, Nice, France, 29 February 1828.
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170. Roux, Pierre Martin?, (in French), Marseille, France, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 30 August 1831.
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171. Ruschenberger, W. S. W., Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, 12 February 1852.
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172. Savaresi, Antonio M. T.?, (in French), Naples, Italy, to R. La Roche?, 14 May 1828.
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173. Serene, (in French), Toulon, France, to R. La Roche, Nice, France, 07 February 1828.
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174. Simons, Thomas Y., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche?, 28 November 1851.
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175. Smith, Alban G., Louisville, Ky.?, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 06 May 1833.
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176. Smith, Alban G., Louisville, Ky.?, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 24 May 1833.
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177. Smith, Stephen?, New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, 07 April 1862.
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178. Societe Medicale de la Nouvelle Orleans, (in French), New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa.?, 07 May 1818.
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179. Societe Medicale de la Nouvelle Orleans, New Orleans, La., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 27 October 1820.
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180. Societe de Medecine de Lyon, (in French), Lyon, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France?, 10 July 1828.
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181. Societe des Sciences, (in French), Toulon, France, to R. La Roche, Nice, France?, 07 February 1828.
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182. Speranza, C., (in French), Parma, Italy, to R. La Roche, Milan, Italy, 19 July 1828.
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183. Speranza, C., (in French), Parma, Italy, to R. La Roche?, 05 August 1829.
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184. Speranza, C., (in French), Parma, Italy, to R. La Roche?, 19 July 1832.
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185. Stille, Alfred, Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, 12 May 1860.
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186. Storer, D. H., to R. La Roche?, 11 April 1866.
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187. Thaxall, Robert W., to John Bell, Philadelphia, Pa., 26 April 1852.
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188. University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees, Philadelphia, Pa., to R. La Roche, 05 October 1852.
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189. Valentin, Louis, (in French), Plombieres, France, to R. La Roche?, 06 August 1827.
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190. Valentin, Louis, (in French), Nancy, France, to R. La Roche, Nice, France, 12 December 1827.
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191. Valentin, Louis, signed (in French), Nancy, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 06 August 1828.
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192. Valentin, Louis, signed (in French), Nancy, France, to R. La Roche, Paris, France, 28 January 1829.
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193. Van Bibber, W. C., Baltimore, Md., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 21 June 1858.
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194. Van Buren, William N., New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche?, 06 October 1854.
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195. Warden, D. B., Paris, France, to Jackson, John, 20 October 1827.
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196. Warden, D. B., Paris, France, to R. La Roche, Rome, Italy, 21 October 1827.
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197. Waring, William R., Savannah, Ga., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 March 1827.
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198. Weigel, Christian Ehrenfried von, Stockholm, Sweden, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 14 September 1827.
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199. Whillden, John S., New Castle, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 20 November 1820.
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200. Whillden, John S.?, New Orleans, La.?, to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 09 January 1824.
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201. Wood, James R., signed, New York, N.Y., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa.?, 12 March 1858.
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202. Wragg, William T., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche?, 18 October 1855.
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203. Wragg, William T., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche?, 02 September 1856.
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204. Wragg, William T., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche?, 10 May 1859.
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205. Wragg, William T., Charleston, S.C., to R. La Roche?, 27 November 1860.
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206. Wright, Daniel F., Memphis, Tenn., to R. La Roche, Philadelphia, Pa., 22 May 1858.
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207. Wright, Daniel F., Nashville, Tenn., to R. La Roche, 02 March 1860.
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Scope and Contents

This collection consists of three holograph manuscripts on music and numerous holograph notes that were used in preparing the manuscripts. The unpublished manuscripts might have been written as three separate essays or as chapters for a book. Topics addressed in the manuscripts include ancient Chinese music, music in religious ceremonies, and music in different nations.

The first manuscript is housed in a folder on which La Roche has written "Music in China Egypt". The manuscript, titled "Observations on the Ancient Music of the Chinese", is based on Abbe Arnault's French translation of a work by Ly Kuang ty. Arnault proposes that Chinese music is based on the music of the ancient Egyptians. Although La Roche agrees that both the Egyptians and the Chinese used music to calm the passions, enlighten the mind, and inspire a love for virtue, he ultimately disagrees with Arnault's assumption. After a thorough examination of ancient Chinese music, musicians, instruments, and ceremonies, La Roche examines other theories about the origins of Chinese music. La Roche concludes that the differences between Chinese andjEgyptian music suggest that neither influenced the other, but that both were derived from the music of the Greeks.

In his second manuscript, La Roche examines "the effect of music in inspiring and fostering religious feelings". La Roche describes how music elevates the soul and sublimes the thoughts, allowing for the contemplation of the Divine. According to La Roche, "hymns and harmonies of devotion are as effective as sermons in leading the heart from sin". The manuscript then discusses the use of music in religious ceremonies, using examples from the Bible and from ancient cultures.

The final manuscript, which does not have a title, begins on page twenty two. In the text, La Roche argues that the music produced by a nation reflects the emotions and feelings of the people in that nation. Thus, a lively and gay population will enjoy lively and gay music, while a melancholy population produces melancholy music. La Roche describes the instruments and "national airs" of various countries, and then discusses the music of different nations in terms of rhythm, tempo, and harmony. La Roche concludes his essay by assigning a "degree of musical feeling" to each country; Germany, Italy, and Spain are given the highest rankings.

La Roche's manuscripts on music are very rough drafts with numerous additions and deletions. La Roche frequently wrote only on the right half of the page in order to leave room on the left side for quotations and insertions. In many cases, small pieces of paper and clippings are attached to the manuscripts. Included with the manuscripts are numerous pages of notes and quotations, some of which are in French.

1. "Observations on the Ancient Music of the Chinese", undated.
Box 2
2. Notes on the music of the Chinese, undated.
Box 2
3. Manuscript on "the effect of music in inspiring and fostering religious feelings", undated.
Box 2
4. Notes on music and religion, undated.
Box 2
5. Untitled manuscript on music of different nations, undated.
Box 2
6. Miscellaneous notes on the music of different nations, undated.
Box 2
7. Notes on the music of different nations, divided according to nation, circa 1839.
Box 2

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