Committee Reports of the Office of the Secretary of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Collection
Identifier: CPP 1/006-01
Scope and Contents
The committee reports in this collection are part of the
records of the Office of the Secretary of the College of
Physicians of Philadelphia. The reports span the tenures of
six secretaries of the College of Physicians: John H.
Packard (1862-1877), William G, Porter (1877-1879), Richard
A, Cleemann (1879-1885), Isaac Norris, Jr. (1885-1890),
Charles W, Dulles (1890-1896), and Thomas R. Neilson (1896-
1914), The reports, spanning 1867 to 1911, were produced by
various ad-hoc committees appointed by the Fellows of the
College of Physicians to address issues affecting the
College and the medical profession during the late
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Many of these committees existed for only one or two months, their purpose being to prepare a public statement containing recommendations about a particular issue;in many cases, the committees prepared only one report before being discharged. The topics addressed in the reports include legislation affecting the medical profession, public health issues, the invasion of communicable diseases, and the selection of suitable memorials for deceased Fellows. Three of the reports (the Report of the Sub-committee of the Committee on Tablets [1885], the Report of the Committee appointed to Collect and Distribute Funds for the Relief of the Members of the Medical Profession who sustained losses by reason of the Floods at Johnstown [1889], and the Report of the Committee to prepare a memorial of the Late Dr. Samuel Lewis [1891]) were originally contained in the same envelope.
Many of these committees existed for only one or two months, their purpose being to prepare a public statement containing recommendations about a particular issue;in many cases, the committees prepared only one report before being discharged. The topics addressed in the reports include legislation affecting the medical profession, public health issues, the invasion of communicable diseases, and the selection of suitable memorials for deceased Fellows. Three of the reports (the Report of the Sub-committee of the Committee on Tablets [1885], the Report of the Committee appointed to Collect and Distribute Funds for the Relief of the Members of the Medical Profession who sustained losses by reason of the Floods at Johnstown [1889], and the Report of the Committee to prepare a memorial of the Late Dr. Samuel Lewis [1891]) were originally contained in the same envelope.
Dates
- 1867 - 1910
Creator
Biographical / Historical
The office of the Secretary of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia was created during the organization of the College in 1787. The Secretary is the appointed officer of record. His original duties were to record the minutes and transactions of the College and preserve its documents and correspondence. In 1834, the Secretary was also empowered to keep lists of the fellows and provide them with certificates of membership. In 1863, the responsibility for notifying officers and committee members of election or appointaent devolved upon the Secretary. An annual report on the fellowship became part of the Secretary's responsibilities in 1870. At this time, a related office, the Recorder, was created to keep the minutes of all scientific sessions. The office of Recorder was abolished in 1914, and a salaried position, the Clerk, was created under the Secretary; the Secretary devoted himself to matters of fellowship while the Clerk preserved the minutes and papers of the College. The position of Clerk was abolished in 1925, and his duties were returned to the Secretary. In 1990, the Secretary was empowered to perform "all the duties appropriate to his or her post as the elected recording officer of the College and assure the duties and powers of the President in the absence or temporary incapacity of both the President and President-Elect".
Extent
.2 Linear feet (1 half document box)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The source of this collection of committee reports from the
Office of the Secretary of the College of Physicians of
Philadelphia is unknown.
The collection was processed and catalogued in 1992.
Creator
- Title
- Committee Reports of the Office of the Secretary of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
