Correspondence of the Office of the Secretary of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Collection
Identifier: CPP 1/003-01
Scope and Contents
The collection contains letterbooks of outgoing correspondence and files of incoming correspondence of the
Office of the Secretary of the College of Physicians of
Philadelphia, 1890-1926. The bulk of the correspondence is
derived from the tenures of Charles W. Dulles (1890-1896),
Thomas R, Neilson (1896-1914), Francis R, Packard (1914-
1919), and John H. Girvin (Acting Secretary, 1917-1919;
Secretary, 1919-1934). The collection gives a
comprehensive view of the duties of the office and provides
information to supplement the minutes of the College and
Council,
Material in the letterbooks in Series 1 is arranged
chronologically. Complete indices to correspondents for the
. . . . .;
1890-1899 and 1899-1920 volumes are included; the 1920-1926
volume contains an incomplete index. The letters in Series
2 are divided into five subseries, following the arrangement
of the box files which originally housed the material. The
correspondence of Thomas R, Neilson, 1895-1897 and 1898-
1901, and Francis R. Packard, 1910-1917, is filed in a
strict chronological order within each alphabeticallyarranged
folder. The letters of John H, Girvin, 1914-1920
and 1915-1924, are arranged alphabetically by correspondent
within each folder. Although occasional copies of outgoing
letters are found in Series 2, letters received comprise the
bulk of the material.
Most of the correspondence concerns College officers and
Fellows, principally Robert Abbe, J, M, Da Costa, G. E.
DeSchweinitz, H, A, Hare, William W. Keen, John B. Roberts,
William J, Taylor, and J, C. Wilson. Major subjects in the
correspondence are: fellowship propositions,
recommendations, forfeitures, resignations, and
notifications of deaths; reports of committees, secretaries,
censors, and sections; proposed amendments to the by-laws;
organizational and administrative matters and procedural
inquiries; appointments to committees and offices;
biographical information on Fellows; inquiries and
correspondence concerning the annual Alvarenga Prize
competition; gifts and bequests; and resolutions of the
College on matters of general concern, particularly public
health.
The collection includes biographical and professional
information and fellowship propositions with supporting
letters of recommendation for Herman B. Allyn, William M,
Angney, Henry D. Beyea, John A, Boger, William C. Braisted,
John H, W, Chestnut, Charles Claxton, Arthur H, Cleveland,
Charles N, Davis, S. Naudain Duer, Thomas C. Ely, William
Marshall Hinkle, Aloysius O. J, Kelly, G. Hudson Makuen,
Samuel W, Morton, T. D, Myers, F, Savary Pearce, William
Campbell Posey, John H, W, Rhein, Joseph Sailer, William T,
Shoemaker, Lawrence S. Smith, James Thorington, Clarence A,
Veasey, William Hughes Wells, W, Reynolds Wilson, and George
Woodward.
Dates
- 1890 - 1926
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
2.8 Linear feet (7 document boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Overview
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.
The collection contains letterbooks of outgoing correspondence and files of incoming correspondence of the Office of the Secretary of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 1890-1926.
The collection contains letterbooks of outgoing correspondence and files of incoming correspondence of the Office of the Secretary of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 1890-1926.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The provenance of this collection is unknown. It was
processed and catalogued in 1991.
Creator
- College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Office of the Secretary (Organization)
- Dulles, Charles W. (Charles Winslow) (Person)
- Girvin, John H. (John Harper) (Person)
- Neilson, Thomas R. (Thomas Rundle) (Person)
- Title
- Correspondence 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
