Records of the Trustees of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize and Scholarship
Collection
Identifier: CPP 10/005-01
Scope and Contents
The records of the Trustees of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield
Prize and Lectureship, spanning 1898 to 1930, consist of the
original deed of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize,
correspondence, and financial records, including ledgers,
checks, checkbooks, receipts, and bank statements.
Much of the correspondence relates to the trustees' investment of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Fund. Some of the letters document the trustees' first major investment, their 1901 purchase of four houses on Gratz Street in Philadelphia. In a letter of 1907 July 27, trustee Robert G. Le Conte expresses concern about the depreciation of the properties; he admits that the trustees were "rather nervous over the investment" and that they "feared trouble". After the 1907 liquidation of these properties, the trustees purchased bonds from the Canton Electric Company and the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Also included in the correspondence are two letters from H. F. Harris, the first recipient of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Priie, and a letter from Martin Fischer, the 1909 recipient of the award. Other significant correspondents include trustee Robert G. Le Conte and lawyer Charles Francis Gummey, who provided legal counsel for the trustees.
Monthly bank statements from 1910 to 1917, checks from 1898 to 1925, and a ledger from 1898 to 1902 have been discarded; the information they contained is recorded elsewhere in the collection.
Much of the correspondence relates to the trustees' investment of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Fund. Some of the letters document the trustees' first major investment, their 1901 purchase of four houses on Gratz Street in Philadelphia. In a letter of 1907 July 27, trustee Robert G. Le Conte expresses concern about the depreciation of the properties; he admits that the trustees were "rather nervous over the investment" and that they "feared trouble". After the 1907 liquidation of these properties, the trustees purchased bonds from the Canton Electric Company and the Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Also included in the correspondence are two letters from H. F. Harris, the first recipient of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Priie, and a letter from Martin Fischer, the 1909 recipient of the award. Other significant correspondents include trustee Robert G. Le Conte and lawyer Charles Francis Gummey, who provided legal counsel for the trustees.
Monthly bank statements from 1910 to 1917, checks from 1898 to 1925, and a ledger from 1898 to 1902 have been discarded; the information they contained is recorded elsewhere in the collection.
Dates
- 1898 - 1930
Creator
- College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Trustees of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize and Scholarship (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
The Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize was established by the
College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1898. Nathan Lewis
Hatfield (1804-1887), a Philadelphia physician, was a
graduate of Jefferson Medical College and a Fellow of the
College of Physicians of Philadelphia from 1855 until his
death in 1887. At a meeting of the College on 1 December
1897, president J. M. Da Costa announced that Walter and
Henry Reed Hatfield wished lo establish a prize in memory of
their father. During a Council meeting on 28 December 1897,
it was decided that the object of this award would be to
further original medical research.
As indicated in the deed of trust of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize, drafted in January 1898, three trustees were responsible for administering the Hatfield Prize Fund. In addition, a Committee on the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize, consisting of three Fellows appointed by the President, was established to select the recipient of this triennial award. The deed also stated that the prize would take the form of an essay contest and was open to all members of the scientific and medical professions in the United States.
The first Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize was awarded in 1901 to Professor H. F. Harris of Atlanta, Georgia. Due to inadequate submissions, the next prize was not awarded until 1909. In 1913, the rules governing the prize were amended, and the award was converted to a lectureship. The Hatfield Lectures were discontinued in 1972, but reinstated i11 1984 by Brooke Roberts, president of the College, who selected new trustees for the fund. At this time, the trustees elected to combine the Hatfield Lecture Fund with the College's Common Discretionary Fund, thereby eliminating the trusteeship. As of 1991, the Hatfield Lectureship is administered through the College's Committee on Program.
As indicated in the deed of trust of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize, drafted in January 1898, three trustees were responsible for administering the Hatfield Prize Fund. In addition, a Committee on the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize, consisting of three Fellows appointed by the President, was established to select the recipient of this triennial award. The deed also stated that the prize would take the form of an essay contest and was open to all members of the scientific and medical professions in the United States.
The first Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize was awarded in 1901 to Professor H. F. Harris of Atlanta, Georgia. Due to inadequate submissions, the next prize was not awarded until 1909. In 1913, the rules governing the prize were amended, and the award was converted to a lectureship. The Hatfield Lectures were discontinued in 1972, but reinstated i11 1984 by Brooke Roberts, president of the College, who selected new trustees for the fund. At this time, the trustees elected to combine the Hatfield Lecture Fund with the College's Common Discretionary Fund, thereby eliminating the trusteeship. As of 1991, the Hatfield Lectureship is administered through the College's Committee on Program.
Extent
.8 Linear feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
This collection of records of the Trustees of the Nathan
Lewis Hatfield Prize and Lectureship was donated to the
College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Onille Horwitz,
circa 24 January 1984.
The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.
The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.
- Title
- Records of the Trustees of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize and Scholarship
- 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
