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.

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    o room formerly occupied by the Lewis Library. The library of the late Dr. H. Lenox Hodge, known as the “Hodge Collection,” 10G5 volumes, was also accepted as a deposit during 1884, and ultimately became the property of the College as a gift from Dr. Hodge’s son. In 1885 the balance of the wall-space in the meeting-room of the College was filled with bookcases. 901 volumes were presented by Dr. I. jMinis Hays during this year. The Library Committee reported that the card catalogue of the entire library had liecn completed with the exeeption of the periodieals, unbound reports, transactions, and the pamphlets. In 1886 Mrs. Weightman presented the Library of her husband, the late Dr. John F. Weightman, 512 volumes, and the sum of $1000. The money to be invested and the income used for the purchase of books relating to ophthalmolog)'. The Library of the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia was accepted as a “permanent deposit.” This year the Library Committee reported to the College that for lack of shelf- room about 1500 volumes were tied in bundles and packed on top of the cases. In 1887 the library of the late Dr. N. Archer Randolph, 466 volumes, was presented to the College. During this year, in pursuance with an agi-eeraent, all books of the S. D. Gross Library other than anatomical, surgical, and special works indicated, that duplicated the books in the Library of the College; and all the books that were duplicates in the collection received from the Obstetrical Society of Philadel])hia were thrown out; these, together with the duplicates lielonging to the College, were catalogued and jiriced. This catalogue was printed and distributed, and the entire collection disposed of. The S. D. Gross Library received 8640.75 and the Obstetrical Library $145.90. This money was used for the purchase of new books with the exception of a small portion expended for bookcases for the S. D. Gross Library. Phe question of classification was considered and the plan of the Librarian of the Surgeon-General’s Office was, with certain modifications, adopted. In 1888 bookcases were built in the lower west meeting-room. In 1889 a gallery was erected in the lower west meeting-room; this was filled with bookcases and an iron spiral stairway built from the ground floor to the reading-room, in the second .story. By resolution of the College the books belonging to the late Dr. S. W. Gross were deposited in the S. D. Gross Library. The Librarian obtained subscriptions to form a “New Book Fund,” with authority to purchase books at the recjuest of three of the subscribers. This fund has been continued, and between 30 and 50 new books added to the library each year. In 1890 Dr. Frederick P. Henry was elected Honorary Librarian to succeed the late Dr. James H. Hutchinson.