An account of the Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia 1788-1906.

  • Charles Perry Fisher
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: An account of the Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia 1788-1906. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    10/14 (page 8)
    Dispensatory.” Some years before the death of Dr. Samuel Lewis, Dr. Stills had presented, practically, his entire collection of medical books to the Lewis Library of the College, numbering more than 1000 volumes. The largest and most valuable purchase made for the Library, since its foundation, was that accomplished by the Library Committee in April, 1901, when, with the aid of subseriptions from Drs. George Pales Baker, John K. Mitchell, and S. Weir Mitchell, they acquired the library of the late Dr. J. Stockton Hough; a unique collection numbering 3247 volumes and 2070 pamj)hlets. 1500 volumes and 1039 pamphlets were retained, and the duplicates and non-medical books of the collection were disposed of to the Library of the University of Pennsylvania for SI500. Work on the revision of the catalogue was commenced during the latter part of this year, the number of cards revised and type-written for four months Ijeing 7G90. In 1902 the library of the late Dr. William F. Norris, 1177 volumes, one of the most valuable collections of works on ophthalmology in this country, was presented by his family. A little more shelf room was obtained this year by dividing the toilet-room into an upper and lower part and using the ujjper half for the storage of books. The annual report on “Revision of Catalogue” showed that the character of this work would require greater attention than had been at first given to it, and that a much longer time and more funds would be required to coni])lete it. A gift worthy of special mention was nuule to the Library in October, 1903, by Dr. George W. Norris, consisting of three volumes containing the collection of colored eye-grounds made up of the original drawings and notes of Prof. Edward .laeger, of'Vienna, from which the well-known “Jaeger Atlas” was produced. The drawings were all made by Jaeger himself. This collection was sold after Dr. Jaeger’s death by order of his executors and was purchased by the la'te Dr. William Fi.sher Norris for !52400; and also one volume containing the collection of ophthalmological drawings from ca.ses seen in the practice of the late Dr. William F. Norris from 1873 to 1901. More than $1000 was paid by Dr. Norris to the artists in preparing these plates. In 1904 the library of the late Dr. Thomas M. Drysdale, 958 volumes, was received. In 1905 two large gifts of books are recorded: From the Board of Managers of the Episcopal Hospital of Philadelphia, 1982 volumes, and from Dr. James V. Ingham, 548 volumes. Toward the end of this year the College authorized the Librarian to obtain, by subscription, sufficient funds to complete the “Revision of Catalogue.” That this work is appreciated is evidenced by the fact that in less than eight weeks’ time the Librarian has obtained, from the Fellows of the College, sub- scriptions amounting to about 84000, sufficient to complete the work. 82,931