Robert Blake Cruice papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS 2/274
Scope and Contents
The papers of Robert Blake Cruice, spanning 1861 to 1899, consist
of a biographical sketch, correspondence and general business
papers from his tenure as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Army
during the Civil War, papers pertaining to his military pension
claim, and miscellaneous material concerning various societies
and institutions with which Cruice was associated.
Series 1 contains a biographical sketch on the life of Robert Blake Cruice; the author of this undated manuscript is unknown. The biography contains detailed information about Cruice's background and family. Correspondence and general business papers from the Civil War period are contained in Series 2. Present are records of Cruice's commission into the Army, documentation of his transport to Camp Crosman in Huntington, Pennsylvania, and special orders requesting him to report to Major General McClellan. Also present are letters and medical reports concerning an injury suffered by Cruice when he fell from his horse in May 1863. Other letters document Cruice's leave of absence and eventual resignation from the Army due to the death of his brother in 1863. Series 1 also includes a letter from William A. Hammond, Surgeon General of the U.S. Army from 1862 to 1864. Included in the correspondence are manuscript copies of Cruice's outgoing letters. In addition to correspondence, Series 2 contains detailed administrative records of the field hospitals where Cruice was stationed. Included are reports of the sick and wounded, muster rolls, invoices of medical and hospital property, and quarterly returns of clothing, camp and garrison equipage. These records are from field hospitals in northern Virginia located near Harrison Landing, Bolivar Heights, Alexandria, Falmouth, and Harper's Ferry. Also present in Series 2 is a manuscript map of a battlefield somewhere near Chancellorsville, Virginia.
Series 3 contains correspondence with representatives of the Pension Office of the Department of the Interior; the letters in this series concern Cruice's attempt to secure a pension from the U.S. Government. In order to receive his pension, Cruice had to prove that he had been injured in the line of duty; thus, this series contains letters and affidavits from witnesses testifying to the extent of Cruice's injuries when he fell from his horse in 1863. Also present is a "Proof of Disability" form and Cruice's "Declaration for Original Invalid Pension". Cruice's pension claim, which he submitted in 1886, was finally approved in 1889.
Miscellaneous papers are contained in Series 4. Present are letters of recommendation (1872-1873) that were included in Cruice's application for attending surgeon at Girard College; Cruice received recommendations from F.A. Drexel, Alfred Stille, Edward A. Page, Edward Hartshorne, James Aitken Meigs, William V. Keating, John H. Brinton, and William A. Porter. Apparently, Cruice was not selected for the position. Also present in Series 4 are papers documenting Cruice's appointment as an Examining Surgeon of the Bureau of Pensions (1893), and papers pertaining to his membership in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and his employment at St. Joseph's Hospital.
Series 1 contains a biographical sketch on the life of Robert Blake Cruice; the author of this undated manuscript is unknown. The biography contains detailed information about Cruice's background and family. Correspondence and general business papers from the Civil War period are contained in Series 2. Present are records of Cruice's commission into the Army, documentation of his transport to Camp Crosman in Huntington, Pennsylvania, and special orders requesting him to report to Major General McClellan. Also present are letters and medical reports concerning an injury suffered by Cruice when he fell from his horse in May 1863. Other letters document Cruice's leave of absence and eventual resignation from the Army due to the death of his brother in 1863. Series 1 also includes a letter from William A. Hammond, Surgeon General of the U.S. Army from 1862 to 1864. Included in the correspondence are manuscript copies of Cruice's outgoing letters. In addition to correspondence, Series 2 contains detailed administrative records of the field hospitals where Cruice was stationed. Included are reports of the sick and wounded, muster rolls, invoices of medical and hospital property, and quarterly returns of clothing, camp and garrison equipage. These records are from field hospitals in northern Virginia located near Harrison Landing, Bolivar Heights, Alexandria, Falmouth, and Harper's Ferry. Also present in Series 2 is a manuscript map of a battlefield somewhere near Chancellorsville, Virginia.
Series 3 contains correspondence with representatives of the Pension Office of the Department of the Interior; the letters in this series concern Cruice's attempt to secure a pension from the U.S. Government. In order to receive his pension, Cruice had to prove that he had been injured in the line of duty; thus, this series contains letters and affidavits from witnesses testifying to the extent of Cruice's injuries when he fell from his horse in 1863. Also present is a "Proof of Disability" form and Cruice's "Declaration for Original Invalid Pension". Cruice's pension claim, which he submitted in 1886, was finally approved in 1889.
Miscellaneous papers are contained in Series 4. Present are letters of recommendation (1872-1873) that were included in Cruice's application for attending surgeon at Girard College; Cruice received recommendations from F.A. Drexel, Alfred Stille, Edward A. Page, Edward Hartshorne, James Aitken Meigs, William V. Keating, John H. Brinton, and William A. Porter. Apparently, Cruice was not selected for the position. Also present in Series 4 are papers documenting Cruice's appointment as an Examining Surgeon of the Bureau of Pensions (1893), and papers pertaining to his membership in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and his employment at St. Joseph's Hospital.
Dates
- 1861 - 1899
Creator
- Cruice, Robert Blake (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Robert Blake Cruice, Philadelphia surgeon, was born on 29 September
1838. Cruice, the son of James P. and Mary Blake Cruice, received
his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1859.
He married his cousin, Alice Mulchinock, in October 1868.
Robert Blake Cruice died in 1899.
In July 1861, Cruice volunteered his services as Assistant Surgeon of the 38th regiment of Pennsylvania. Cruice was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in the regular army in June 1862. He was assigned to the 113th regiment and served in several field hospitals in Virginia. After receiving a serious injury to his knee when he fell from his horse, Cruice resigned from the Army in August 1863.
Cruice returned to Philadelphia in September 1863 and was appointed surgeon to St. Joseph's Hospital. In 1867, he was appointed physician and surgeon in charge. Cruice was appointed to the Medical Staff of St. Joseph's Hospital in 1875 and became President of the Medical Staff in 1894.
Cruice was elected a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1866. He was also a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Academy of Natural Sciences. In January 1882, Cruice was elected a Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
In July 1861, Cruice volunteered his services as Assistant Surgeon of the 38th regiment of Pennsylvania. Cruice was appointed an Assistant Surgeon in the regular army in June 1862. He was assigned to the 113th regiment and served in several field hospitals in Virginia. After receiving a serious injury to his knee when he fell from his horse, Cruice resigned from the Army in August 1863.
Cruice returned to Philadelphia in September 1863 and was appointed surgeon to St. Joseph's Hospital. In 1867, he was appointed physician and surgeon in charge. Cruice was appointed to the Medical Staff of St. Joseph's Hospital in 1875 and became President of the Medical Staff in 1894.
Cruice was elected a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1866. He was also a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Academy of Natural Sciences. In January 1882, Cruice was elected a Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Extent
.4 Linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The papers of Robert Blake Cruice were donated to the Historical
Collections of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia as
part of a larger gift of Cruice family material from the estate
of John M. Cruice in February 1956.
The papers were processed and cataloged in 1992.
The papers were processed and cataloged in 1992.
Creator
- Cruice, Robert Blake (Person)
- Title
- Robert Blake Cruice papers
- 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
