Papers concerning the publications of the transactions of the College from the Office of the Secretary of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Collection
Identifier: CPP 1/005-01
Scope and Contents
These reports, letters, and proposals concerning the
publication of the College's transactions, spanning 1841 to
1879, are part of the records of the Office of the Secretary
of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The bulk of
these records date from 1851 to 1858, when D. Francis 9ondie
(1843-1854), Alfred Stille (1854-1857), and Edward
Hartshorne (1858-1861) served as secretaries of the College
of Physicians. The records concern the publication of the
journal of the College of Physicians, Summary of the
Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia,
which in 1875 was renamed Transactions of the College of
Physicians of Philadelphia.
Included in the collection is a report of 5 October 1841,
which first addresses the idea of publishing a quarterly
summary of the transactions of the College. The report,
signed by D. Francis Condie, William Pepper, Isaac Parrish,
and Henry Bond, recommends that the College publish a
journal containing abstracts of papers presented at College
meetings. The report also suggests that a Committee of
Publication be formed. Lippincott, Grambo & Co., was
selected to publish the journal.
Another important report in the collection dates from 4
March 1851. The Committee of Publication, consisting of
Isaac Hays, George Bacon Wood, D. Francis Condie, and George
N. Norris, reported that Summary of the Transactions of the
College of Physicians of Philadelphia was not bringing in
enough revenue to offset the high cost of its publication.
The committee, in an attempt to cut expenses and extend
circulation, recommended that the journal be published as a
supplement to the American Journal of the Medical Sciences.
Through this method of publication, circulation would
increase and the College would receive free copies of the
supplements, which could later be bound into volumes.
Also included in the collection is a letter, written by
Isaac Parrish, which was presented before the College on 4
March 1851. Parrish, who disagreed with the recommendation
to make Summary of Transactions a supplement to another
journal, felt that the College should publish its journal
independently. The Fellows agreed with Parrish, and no
changes were made in the journal's publication.
Three years later, the Committee of Publication again
considered changing the method of publication of Summary of
the Transactions of the College of Physicians of
Philadelphia; as before, they wished to decrease expenses
and increase circulation. Included in the collection is a
report of 1 November 1854, written and signed by Samuel
Jackson, which recommends that Summary of Transactions be
published as a supplement to an established journal with a
wider circulation. The committee invited ideas from
publishing companies and received several proposals,
including one from Lindsay & Blakiston (1 November 1854) and
one from Blanchard & Lea (15 November 1854). Also present
in the collection is the Committee of Publication's report
of 6 December 1854, written and signed by Francis Gurney
Smith, which recommends the acceptance of Lindsay &
Blakiston's proposal to publish the College journal as'a
part of the Medical Examiner. Once again, the Fellows
failed to accept the committee's recommendation.
In 1858, the Committee of Publication again attempted to
change the mode of publication of 'the journal of the
College. Included in the collection is a committee report
of 3 February 1858, in which Samuel L. Hollingsworth, Edward
Hartshorne, and R. P. Thomas recommend that the College
journal become a supplement to the American Journal of
Medical Sciences, published by Blanchard & Lea. The
Fellows of the College finally accepted this recommendation
(see letter of 6 February 1858).
Summary of Transactions was published as a supplement until
1875. At a College meeting held on 4 November 1874, the
Fellows elected to terminate their contract with the
American Journal of the Medical Sciences; at the December
meeting, it was decided that Summary of Transactions would
again be published independently, and its title changed to
Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
In addition to reports and proposals, the collection
includes correspondence from the Library of Congress (6
July 1875 to 2 August 1879) acknowledging the receipt of
Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia at
the Library of Congress, The letters are signed by
Ainsworth Rand Spofford, Librarian of Congress.
Dates
- 1841 - 1879
- Majority of material found within 1851 - 1858
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
1 folder
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.
These reports, letters, and proposals concerning the publication of the College's transactions, spanning 1841 to 1879, are part of the records of the Office of the Secretary of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The bulk of these records date from 1851 to 1858.
These reports, letters, and proposals concerning the publication of the College's transactions, spanning 1841 to 1879, are part of the records of the Office of the Secretary of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The bulk of these records date from 1851 to 1858.
Custodial History
The source of these records of the Office of the Secretary
of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia is unknown.
The collection was processed and cataloged in 1991.
Creator
- College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Office of the Secretary (Organization)
- Condie, D. Francis (David Francis) (Person)
- Hartshorne, Edward (Person)
- Stillé, Alfred (Person)
- Title
- Papers concerning the publications of the transactions of the College from 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
