Call Number:

MSS 419

Repository:

Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Extent:

0.8 linear feet (2 pamphlet boxes and 1 half-document box )

Language:

English

Date:

1917-1972 (inclusive)

Creator:

Murphy, Douglas P. (Douglas Power )

Form:

Account books and Scrapbooks

Abstract:

Douglas P. Murphy (1893-1971) served as a surgeon in the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) with the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I. During his military service, Murphy worked in several medical hospitals in France from 1917 until the war's end in 1918. Surviving the war intact, and even managing to get married during his time overseas, Murphy returned home to Philadelphia and opened his own obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) practice. His clinical experience eventually branched into a teaching position as the Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Research Associate at University of Pennsylvania Gynecean Hospital Institute of Gynecologic Research. The Douglas P. Murphy Papers span from 1917 until 1972. The collection includes several account books from Murphy's medical practice, which document patient visits, notes on their health, and any accrued fees. Murphy's paper-bound scrapbook contains four pages and numerous loose documents pertaining to his military service in France during World War I. Military documents include Murphy's AEF identification card, memos, special orders, telegrams, and health records. The Murphy Papers are an invaluable resource for researchers interested in MRC and AEF's involvement in World War I, as well as the management of small OB/GYN practices during the 1940-1950s.

Douglas P. Murphy was born March 3, 1893 near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as a surgeon in the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) with the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) during World War I. During his military service, Murphy worked in several medical hospitals in France from 1917 until the war's end in 1918. Surviving the war intact, and even managing to get married during his time overseas, Murphy returned home to Philadelphia and opened his own obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) practice. His clinical experience eventually branched into a teaching position as the Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Research Associate at University of Pennsylvania Gynecean Hospital Institute of Gynecologic Research. Murphy died in 1971.

The Douglas P. Murphy Papers span from 1917 until 1972. The collection includes several account books from Murphy's medical practice, which document patient visits, notes on their health, and any accrued fees. Murphy's paper-bound scrapbook contains four pages and numerous loose documents pertaining to his military service in France during World War I. Military documents include Murphy's AEF identification card, memos, special orders, telegrams, and health records. The Murphy Papers are an invaluable resource for researchers interested in MRC and AEF's involvement in World War I, as well as the management of small OB/GYN practices during the 1940-1950s.

The Murphy Papers collection contains two series: Account books and Scrapbook.

Series I: Account books date from 1946 to 1959. The series includes eight account books from Murphy's medical practice. The books entail patient visits, including names, owed fees, and any prescribed recommendations to or observations about their health.

Series II: Scrapbook dates from 1917 to 1972. The series contains Murphy's AEF identification card and various memos, special orders, telegrams, and health records related to his service in World War I. The series also includes an English language newspaper circulating in Europe ca. 1918 (Kaiser Wilhelm II's exile is front page news) and a condolence letter sent to Mrs. Murphy after her husband's death. Due to its fragile state, the scrapbook was disbound and each page (including loose documents) was transferred to its own folder.