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Charles F. Guillou 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.

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Charles Fleury Bien aime Guillou, naval surgeon, was born in Philadelphia on 26 July 1813. He married Dinah Postlethwaite (b. 1817) in 1852; they had one daughter, Margaret A. Guillou Blackmore, and an adopted daughter, Eloise ("Polly") Thibault. Guillou died of pneumonia in New York on 1 January 1899.

In Philadelphia, Guillou studied medicine with a naval surgeon, Thomas Harris, and, in 1836, received an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He also attended courses at the Medical Institute of Philadelphia and the Therapeutic Institute of Philadelphia. In 1836, Guillou was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy. He served aboard the "Peacock" as part of the United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842) under Charles Wilkes. In 1842, he helped William P. C. Barton to organize the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. While Surgeon of the "Columbus" in 1845, he was present at the ratification of the first treaty between the United States and China. Guillou was later assigned to the U.S. Frigate "Constitution" and attended Pope Pius IX. He was assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard as Surgeon aboard the Receiving Ship "North Carolina", circa 1852. He resigned from the Navy in 1854 to assume charge of a Marine Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii.

During his sojourn in Hawaii, Guillou was Court Physician to King Kamehameha IV, the first secretary of the Hawaiian Medical Society, and Italian Consul. He left Hawaii in 1866, moving first to Petersburg, Va., then to New York City, where he became a manufacturing pharmacist.

The collection, 1818-1899, contains autobiographical reminiscences and sketchbooks documenting the naval career and voyages of surgeon Charles F. Guillou. Also included are several letters, family papers and obituaries, and photographs.

Series 1 contains several volumes of Guillou's incomplete autobiographical reminiscences, describing his childhood; education, classmates, and faculty at the American Classicaljand Military Lyceum; experiences in Cuba in 1836; courtship and marriage; and a canal boat voyage from Louisiana to Cincinnati. The reminiscences also describe several weeks in 1839 during the voyage of the U.S. Sloop of War, "Peacock", as part of the United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842). Guillou narrates the voyage from Chile to West Antarctica, then back to Tierra del Fuego, where he and several shipmates were stranded on shore. Guillou conveys distrust of the abilities of Charles Wilkes, leader of the Exploring Expedition. The series also contains a lengthy letter describing Guillou's experiences in China in 1846, including his impressions of William P. C. Barton; notes on his career and experiences in Hawaii; and an outline of reminiscences.

Two of Charles F. Guillou's sketchbooks and some unbound drawings, 1838-1872, are in Series 2. The sketchbooks function as pictorial logs of Guillou's naval voyages. The first sketchbook documents the United States Exploring Expedition's voyage from the Azores to South America (including descriptions of Guillou's experience at Tierra del Fuego), Tahiti, Hawaii, Fiji, Oregon and California, and Mexico, from September 1838 to January 1842. The "Columbus" sketchbook covers the voyage from Brooklyn, N.Y., to South America, Hong Kong, Amoy in China, Japan, Hawaii, California, and Chile, from May 1845 to October 1847. The 55 unbound sketches complement the sketchbooks and also include drawings of Egypt and Italy.

Series 3 contains several miscellaneous letters, 1845-1899, of Charles F. Guillou, including an undated holograph letter and photograph of King Kamehameha IV of Hawaii; Dinah Postlethwaite Guillou; and Margaret A. Guillou; and a letter from H. K. [...] with an accompanying 1782 letter from George Washington to General Knox.

Series 4 contains biographical and genealogical material on the Guillou family, 1861-1947, including memorials of Charles F. Guillou's father, Victor Gabriel Guillou, and brother, Constant Guillou, and family recollections of Mary Guillou Redfield. Photographs of Guillou and family members, 1859-1899, are in Series 5. Miscellaneous material, 1861-1894, including calling and business cards, a passport, newsclippings, and Charles F. Guillou's Bible are in Series 6.

The Charles F. Guillou Papers were donated to the Historical Collections of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Mrs. C. T. Blackmore, wife of Charles Thomas Blackmore, a grandson of Charles F. Guillou, in June 1974. Some additional material was donated in 1976. A large collection of family silver, medals, an instrument case, and other objects were separated from the papers during accessioning and transferred to the Mutter Museum. Several pieces of furniture apparently intended as part of the donation could not be located at the time of accessioning.

The collection was processed and catalogued in 1992.

The holograph letter from George Washington was originally separated from the collection and placed in Vault Manuscripts. It was reunited with the collection and placed in Series 3 in 2023.

Publisher
Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Collection Inventory

1. Reminiscences no. 1, 1818 to 1830, 1818-1830.
Box 1 Volume 1
2. 1836, 1836.
Box 1 Volume 2
3. 1839 reminiscences no.: an experience in Terra do Fogo, circa 1890.
Box 1 Folder 3
4. Guillou, Charles F. Autograph letter signed: New York, N.Y., to Emma Brewster Guillou, Hueneme, California (20 pages) Includes partial typescript, 1894.
Box 1 Folder 4
5. Autobiographical notes, 1879-1893.
Box 1 Folder 5
6. Obituary, 1899.
Box 1 Folder 6

1. Memorials of travel, being sketches taken during Exploring Expedition, in the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841: by Charles F. Guillou, M.D., Assistant Surgeon, United States Navy, 1838-1842.
Box 2 Volume 1
2. Sketch book no. 2: cruize of the Columbus to China, Japan, and around the world in 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848: Charles F. Guillou, 1845-1847.
Box 2 Volume 2
1. 1842 January, 1842 January. 2 item.
Box 3 Folder 1
Physical Description

2 item

2. 1849 January, 1849 January. 12 items.
Box 3 Folders 2-3
Physical Description

12 items

3. 1849 February, 1849 February. 2 items.
Box 3 Folder 4
Physical Description

2 items

4. 1849 March, March 1849. 6 items.
Box 3 Folder 5
Physical Description

6 items

5. 1849 April, April 1849. 4 items.
Box 3 Folder 6
Physical Description

4 items

6. 1850 October, October 1850. 1 item.
Box 3 Folder 7
Physical Description

1 item

7. 1851 March, March 1851. 2 items.
Box 3 Folder 8
Physical Description

2 items

8. 1852 July, July 1852. 1 item.
Box 3 Folder 9
Physical Description

1 item

9. 1853, 1853. 1 item.
Box 3 Folder 10
Physical Description

1 item

10. 1854 October, October 1854. 8 items.
Box 3 Folder 11
Physical Description

8 items

11. 1855 October, October 1855. 1 item.
Box 3 Folder 12
Physical Description

1 item

12. 1855 November, November 1855. 1 items.
Box 3 Folder 13
Physical Description

1 items

13. 1860, 1860. 1 item.
Box 3 Folder 14
Physical Description

1 item

14. 1872, 1872. 1 item.
Box 3 Item 15
Physical Description

1 itemMISSING as of 10/2018

15. Undated, 1842-1872. 12 items.
Box 3 Folders 16-17
Physical Description

12 items

1. Cape St. Lucas, southernmost extremity of California, bearing north true, Brig Peabody, 14 January 1842.
2. Mazatlan, the town and anchorage, from Christon grande to Christon chico, taken from naval anchorage, Brig Joseph Peabody, 17 January 1842.
3. Gibraltar, distant about 12 or 15 miles, bearing per compass East by S., U.S.S. Constitution, 11 a.m, 2 January 1849.
4. Coast of Africa: Mount Abyla bearing S.E. by E. per compass: distant about 8 miles, 1 pagesm., 2 January 1849.
5. Rock of Gibraltar at early dusk: distant about 10 miles, bearing per compass ENE, 2 January 1849.
6. Maretemo, bearing per compass E.S.E.: distant about 15 miles, 8 January 1849.
7. Pantelleria: W. by S. about 15 miles, 8 January 1849.
8. Linosa Island bearing S.W. by W.: distant 25 miles: U.S.S. Constitution, 9 January 1849.
9. Tripoli bearing S.S.W. per compass: distant about 3 miles, 19 January 1849.
10. Triumphal arch of Aurelius Antoninus Lucius Verus: erected 164 A.D.: now a wine shop in Tripoli: from memory, 20 January 1849.
11. Gateway or principal entrance to Tripoli, 20 January 1849.
12. La Valetta from anchorage of U.S.S. Constitution, 29 January 1849.
13. Senglia, 29 January 1849.
14. The quarantine ground and "parlatorio" in the grand harbour at La Valetta, Malta, 30 January 1849.
15. Victoriosa and St. Angelo: Senglia isola: day of St. Paul's landing in Malta, 10 February 1849.
16. La Valetta, 10 February 1849.
17. The citadel and memlook tombs, Cairo, Egypt: March 5th, 1849, 5 March 1849.
18. Pyramids of Ghizeh or Memphis, Egypt: Micerinus: Cephron: Cheops, 450 ft. high, 750 ft. side of base, 6 March 1849.
19. Sphynx near Ghizeh, Egypt, 6 March 1849.
20. The Sphynx near the Pyramids of Ghizeh, Egypt, 6 March 1849.
21. Tree of the Holy Family or of the Madonna, Heliopolis, Egypt, 7 March 1849.
22. Tomb of a santon near Cairo, Egypt, at the forking of Suez Syria roads, 7 March 1849.
23. Giglio Island: N. by W. per compass: N.N.E. per compass: Monte Argentaro: Gianutti Island: N.E. per compass: coast of Italy, distant about 30 miles: at 12 meridian: U.S.S. Constitution, 11 April 1849.
24. Island of Monte Christo: coast of Italy: bearing per compass S. by W.: distant about 10 miles: U.S.S. Constitution, 11 April 1849.
25. N.E. by E. per compass: E. by N. per compass: N.E. by E.: North per compass: Island of Elba, coast of Italy: distant from 10 to 20 miles: at 5 1/2 pagesm, 11 April 1849.
26. Arcola from the Magna River, 25 April 1849.
27. From? on board the U.S. Frigate Constitution: C.F.G, 20 October 1850.
28. Field of Waterloo: sketch taken on spot: Guillou, 8 March 1851.
29. Field of Waterloo: taken on spot by Guillou, 8 March 1851.
30. Landing "camel" and rope ferry to Receiving Ship "North Carolina", off Brooklyn, N.Y, 5 July 1852.
31. Landing camel, Brooklyn Navy Yard, and tow line to U.S. Receiving Ship North Carolina: Naval Lyceum in the distance, 1853.
32. S. by E.: distant 2 miles: point of harbour, Panama, and singular rock off point marked bearing S. by E., distant 2 miles: Harbour of Panama, 17 October 1854.
33. "Panama" Church bearing N.N.W.: distant 1 1/2 miles and Panama Church bearing N.N.W.: distant 1 1/2 miles: on board steamer "Senora", 17 October 1854.
34. Coaling Cove bearing S.W.: beach distant 1/2 mile: Acapulco and "Coaling Cove" bearing S.W.: beach distant 1/2 mile: Acapulco, 24 October 1854.
35. Flag staff of fort on point bearing N.N.E.: 1 mile: Acapulco: west coast of Mexico and "Fort Point" at Acapulco: flag staff on fort bearing N.N.E.: distant 1 mile: Acapulco, 24 October 1854.
36. Long lowly shed and improvements: Honolulu, Sandwich Island: kitchen servants' shanty house of boards: "adobe house": illegible Street: our first home in Hawaii, 27 October 1855.
37. My first office at Honolulu: N.E. corner, Kaahumanu Queen Sts.: Honolulu, 25 November 1855.
38. Hula hula in 1860: a flower dance whose movement seems to say "don't": the dance is performed to meles banjos and tambourine: folklore ditties and legendary narratives of the original islanders chanted by musicians with accompaniment, 1860.
39. Bovine or genissary (heifer) vaccinarium: Dellwood Farm, Virginia, 1872.
40. Folder of unidentified and undated pencil sketches, chalk sketches, and watercolor, undated.

1. Charles F. Guillou, 1845-1860.
Box 3 Folder 18
2. Dinah Postlethwaithe Mrs. Charles F. Guillou, 1861.
Box 3 Folder 19
3. Margaret A. Guillou Mrs. George A. Blackmore, 1883-1899.
Box 3 Folder 20

1. Financial papers, 1861-1868.
Box 3 Folder 21
2. In memoriam: Constant Guillou, Philadelphia: Edward Stern, 25 pages, 1872.
Box 3 Folder 22
3. In memoriam: Victor Gabriel Guillou: holograph, 10 pages, 1880.
Box 3 Folder 23
4. Milhau and Thibault family obituaries, 1891-1899.
Box 3 Folder 24
5. Redfield, Mary Guillou. Recollections, 16 pages, 1947.
Box 3 Folder 25

1. House built by Dr. Robert William Wood in 1847 on Hotel St., Honolulu, part of site of Alexander Young Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1859: ambrotype (copy) mounted, 4.5" x 6, 1859.
Box 3 Folder 26
2. Margaret A. Guillou, Charles F. Guillou, and Dinah P. Guillou, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1864: albumen print mounted, 4" x 2.5, 1864.
Box 3 Folder 26
3. Dinah P. Guillou, Petersburg, Va.?: albumen print mounted, 5.5" x 4" (oval, 1870.
Box 3 Folder 26
4. Eloise (Polly) Thibault and Margaret A. Guillou?, Petersburg, Va.: tintype, 3. 25" x 2, 1880.
Box 3 Folder 26
5. Margaret A. Guillou?, Petersburg, Va., ca. 1880: albumen prints mounted, 4" x 2.5, circa 1880.
Box 3 Folder 26
6. The water tower for "Dell Wood", the residence of Dr. Charles Guillou, near Petersburg, Va., Petersburg, Va., ca. 1880: albumen print mounted, 7" x 4.75, circa 1880.
Box 3 Folder 26
7. Margaret A. Guillou Blackmore, Charles Thomas Blackmore, Charles F. Guillou, Eloise (Polly) Thibault, and Philip Guillou Blackmore, New York: silver prints mounted, 4.25" x 6.5" and 5.5" x 4.25, circa 1899.
Box 3 Folder 26
8. Three unidentified women, n.pages, n.d.: tintypes, 3.75" x 2.5" and 4" x 2.5, undated.
Box 3 Folder 26

1. Passport in Spanish, 21 March 1867.
Box 3 Folder 27
2. Newsclippings and autobiographical reminiscence, 1861.
Box 3 Folder 28
3. Business and calling cards, undated.
Box 3 Folder 29
4. Holy Bible. Includes annual reading notes by Charles F. Guillou, New York: American Bible Society, 1868-1869.
Box 4 Item 30
5. Printed material, 1875-1894.
Box 3 Folder 31

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