Philadelphia Area Archives

Start Over Subject Medicine--History

Bradford collection of biographies of Homoeopathic Physicians, 1868-1918 (inclusive)

Extent:: 36.0 containers
Abstract:: Dr. Thomas L. Bradford (1847-1918) was a practicing homeopathic physician in Maine, Europe and Philadelphia. While practicing and teaching in Philadelphia he served as curator for the Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital of Philadelphia. From 1896 to 1916, he collected, organized and maintained material for 35 scrapbooks of biographical information about homeopathic physicians.

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

George A. Hay collection of administrative files of the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1925-1965 (bulk) 1890-1970 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.25 linear feet (8 document boxes; 1 half size document box)
Abstract:: From 1925 to 1970, the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMC) underwent significant change, adapting to both survive and prosper in a transforming society. Administrative change was brought about and explored to spark institutional growth and/or to mollify financial stress. Among the more significant events in the College’s history was the 1930 move to new and larger facilities in East Falls, and an administrative reorganization in 1942. In the 1940s and 1960s, WMC also explored the financial and administrative benefits of merging with other institutions in the Philadelphia area; Kensington Women’s Hospital and the Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Jefferson Medical College. Amidst all of the change, WMC continued to honor its traditions and celebrate milestones, especially its Centennial Anniversary in 1950. In 1970, the College made the decision to admit male students for the first time and change its name to the Medical College of Pennsylvania. The George A. Hay...(see more)

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

Bertha Van Hoosen papers, 1920-1950 (bulk) 1913-1971 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 linear feet
Abstract:: Bertha Van Hoosen (1863-1952), a doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in Chicago, IL, founded the American Medical Women's Association. Her collection includes correspondence, journal articles, plans for a Medical Women's Library at Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, teaching material, images, and bibliographic material regarding women in medicine. A large part of the collection concerns Van Hoosen's interests in the National Medical Women's Association, later the American Medical Women's Association and the Medical Women's Library. There are also photographic images, x-rays and illustrations of medical case studies conducted by Van Hoosen.

Held at: Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center [Contact Us]

E. B. Krumbhaar papers, 1899-1992 (bulk) 1899-1992 1825-1992 (inclusive)

Extent:: 24.0 linear feet and 57 containers, 4 volumes
Abstract:: Edward Bell Krumbhaar (1882-1966) was a distinguished pathologist and cardiac physician, as well as one of Philadelphia’s leading historians of medicine. A founder of both the Section on Medical History of the College of Physicians and the American Association of the History of Medicine (AAHM), Krumbhaar also served as president of the College and of the AAHM. The E.B. Krumbhaar papers covers Krumbhaar’s accomplishments and contributions to pathology and cardiac physiology from the early to mid-twentieth century. This collection contains Krumbhaar’s research files, administrative records related to organizations and institutions in which he was involved, correspondence, and medical writings. Particular strengths include documentation of Krumbhaar’s research on pathology, the founding of the American Association for the History of Medicine in 1930 and 1931, his service as President of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia from 1939 to 1942, his professorship of Pathology at the...(see more)

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Philadelphia General Hospital Committee on the Celebration at the Philadelphia General Hospital of the 200th Anniversary of the building of the Philadelphia Almshouse records, 1931-1932 (bulk) 1931-1932 1929-1939 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 containers
Abstract:: The Committee on the Celebration at the Philadelphia General Hospital of the 200th Anniversary of the Building of the Philadelphia Almshouse was established in September 1929. The committee, consisting of five members of the Medical Board of the Philadelphia General Hospital, was appointed by the President of the Medical Board. The committee was responsible for fund raising, promotion, planning the program, selecting speakers, and making out the guest list. The bicentennial celebration was initially planned for December 1931. In August 1931, due to lack of funds, the committee decided to postpone the celebration until the following year. The bicentennial was finally celebrated on 6 December 1932. The records of the Committee on the Celebration at the Philadelphia General Hospital of the 200th Anniversary of the Building of the Philadelphia Almshouse span 1929 to 1939; most of the records date from 1931 to 1932. The collection consists of the files of Robert J. Hunter, chairman of...(see more)

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Philadelphia General Hospital Osler Memorial Committee records, 1940-1941 (bulk) 1940-1941 1894-1941 (inclusive)

Extent:: 4.0 containers
Abstract:: The Osler Memorial Committee was formed in October 1939. The committee was appointed by David Riesman, President of the Medical Board of the Philadelphia General Hospital. The objective of the committee was to create a museum and memorial to Sir William Osler in the old autopsy house of the Philadelphia General Hospital and to organize a ceremony marking the dedication of the building. After the completion of its duties, the Osler Memorial Committee was discharged in December 1940. At this time, it was decided that a new committee, the Osler Memorial and Blockley Historical Museum Committee, would be appointed to oversee the daily administration of the museum. The records of the Osler Memorial Committee span 1894 to 1941; the bulk of the records date from 1940 to 1941. The collection consists of the files of Robert J. Hunter, chairman of the committee. Included in Hunter's files is material relating to the restoration of the old autopsy house at the Philadelphia General Hospital and...(see more)

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Philadelphia General Hospital Osler Memorial and Blockley Historical Museum Committee museum collection records, 1730-1960 (inclusive)

Extent:: 2.0 containers
Abstract:: The Osler Memorial and Blockley Historical Museum Committee was established in December 1940. The committee was responsible for the daily administration of the Osler Memorial and Blockley Historical Museum of the Philadelphia General Hospital. The committee attended to the maintenance of the museum building, oversaw the care and cataloging of museum pieces, and acknowledged donations to the museum. This committee reported to the Medical Board of the Philadelphia General Hospital. This collection consists of items, dating from 1730 to 1960, from the museum collection of the Osler Memorial and Blockley Historical Museum of the Philadelphia General Hospital. Present are letters, invitations, programs, reprints, photographs, a diary, and miscellaneous material relating to the history of the Philadelphia General Hospital. Also included are the papers of individuals who were important to the history of the hospital, including Daniel J. McCarthy, Arthur A. Stevens, and Sir William Osler....(see more)

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Samuel X Radbill papers, 1800-1987 (bulk) 1800-1987 1635-1987 (inclusive)

Extent:: 47.8 linear feet and 52 containers, 64 volumes
Abstract:: Samuel X Radbill (1901-1987) began his medical career as a general practitioner in 1926 and became a pediatrician in 1938, when he was certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Radbill was perhaps better known as a medical historian, and collector of bookplates and old and rare medical texts than as a pediatrician. He believed that the study of medicine’s past was useful to its practice, and he encouraged many of his professional colleagues to examine the history of their specialties. The Samuel X Radbill papers evidences Radbill’s deep and unrelenting interest in the history of medicine, particularly the history of pediatrics and dermatology, folklore, ancient medicine, medical art and medical bookplates. Of note, in the collection are three of Radbill’s personal collections related to the history of medicine: collections of pamphlets, brochures and articles; medical art and other pictorial works; and medical journals and texts--all dating from the eighteenth to the twentieth...(see more)

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

College of Physicians Early Records, 1788-1847, 1889, 2001

Extent:: 1.05 linear feet
Abstract:: The College of Physicians Early Records collection documents some of the College of Physician’s earliest activities, including attempts by Fellows to diagnose and treat the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. The collection, which was discovered by chance in 2001 by College foreman Leroy Green, contains letters, manuscripts, and committee reports. Founded in 1787, the College assembled prominent Philadelphia physicians “to advance the science of medicine and to thereby lessen human misery." The first Fellows of the College included Abraham Chouvet, Gerard Clarkson, Samuel Duffield, James Hutchinson, George Glentworth, Adam Kuhn, John Morgan, Thomas Parke, Benjamin Rush, and William Shippen Jr., almost all of whom are represented in this collection. The collection contains four series: “Descriptive Material,” “Correspondence,” “Writings,” and “Administrative Material,” and dates from 1788 to 1847, 1889, and 2001. Researchers interested in the history of the College of...(see more)

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]

Children's Seashore House Records, 1965-1995 (bulk) 1965-1995 bulk, 1965-1995 1872-1998 (inclusive)

Extent:: 20.0 linear feet
Abstract:: The Children's Seashore House (CSH) was established Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1872 as a rehabilitation center for children. Founded on the belief in the restorative powers of the ocean and fresh seashore air, CSH was the first pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the nation, and the fourth oldest pediatric hospital in the United States. Today, CSH is located in Philadelphia, on the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) campus, after having been acquired by CHOP in 1998. Remarkable aspects of this collection include correspondence from the early 20th century, a number of bound volumes from the late 19th to the 20th centuries, and an extensive collection of photographs portraying the pediatric patients of CSH throughout its existence.

Held at: Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia [Contact Us]