College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Overview Edward Bell Krumbhaar (1882-1966) was a distinguished pathologist and cardiac physician, as well as one of Philadelphia’s leading historians of medicine. A founder of both the Section on Medical History of the College of Physicians and the American Association of the History of Medicine (AAHM), Krumbhaar also served as president of the College and of the AAHM. The E.B. Krumbhaar papers covers Krumbhaar’s accomplishments and contributions to pathology and cardiac physiology from the early to...

Scope and Contents This collection is the larger of two collections of Francis C. Wood's papers, the other being MSS 2/0228-02. This extensive collection (1892-1989) chronicles the life and career of a 20th century physician, scientist, soldier, administrator, and teacher. The collection is divided roughly evenly among the different phases of his life and career. Because Dr. Wood was a leader in both his community and profession, the collection documents the activities and functioning of many institutions and...

Overview The George Bacon Wood Papers collection documents George Bacon Wood’s professional and personal life from 1813 to 1870. Dr. George Bacon Wood was an accomplished physician and author, and also lectured at several medical institutions in the Philadelphia region. Materials located in the collection include correspondence, manuscript drafts, lecture notes, financial material, and some graphic material. The collection contains six series arranged by their relative size: “Correspondence,”...

Overview The John Ashhurst Papers collection documents the life and professional career of Dr. John Ashhurst from 1846 to 1901. John Ashhurst was a prominent Philadelphia surgeon who worked at the Hospital of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as well as the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. He also wrote extensively on the subject of surgery, writing the book The Principles and Practice of Surgery, which was published in several editions. Located in the collection are...

Overview Katharine Rosenbaum Guest Boucot Sturgis was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1903. She received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and entered the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1935. She was forced to leave school when she contracted tuberculosis, but later resumed her studies and earned her medical degree in 1940. Sturgis became a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1951 and was elected its first female president in 1972. The Katharine R....

Overview In 2010, the Office of Operations was organized to oversee hospitality, front of house and receptionist, visitor services, hall and grounds, renovations, security, and the parking lot. Previously, at least as far back as 1991, the management of facilities and special events fell under the responsibilities of the Office of Institutional Advancement (as of 2015, merged with Office of Development and External Affairs and Office of Communications into the Office of Advancement). While the Office...

Scope and Contents Letter, 1790 July 18, opening communications with College of Physicians of Philadelphia in response to letter of April 1789 and expressing support for an American pharmacopoeia and need for pharmaceutical standards. Signed by Committee of Correspondence, Ebenezer Beardsley, Elnathan Beach, Leverett Hubbard, Eneas Munson, and Samuel Nesbitt.

Overview The College of Physicians was founded in 1787 as a private medical society devoted to the advancement of medical education, research, and guidance of the medical profession itself. In order to help fulfill these goals, the College’s Fellowship have garnered impressive resources including a biomedical library in 1788, a medical museum in 1858, an institute for the history of medicine in 1976, and museum education programs in 2006. These resources are housed in a building constructed in 1909 at...

Overview During the 1970s, there was an emphasis on continuing medical education (CME) for practicing licensed medical doctors. Lifetime licenses to practice medicine were being replaced by limited time licenses that required renewal. In order to renew their state issued medical licenses, doctors were required to obtain continuing education credits. Beginning in 1974, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia offered symposiums, distance education programs, courses in Philadelphia, and additional...

Overview The Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine (Wood Institute) was established in 1976 to promote to the scholarly community the rich historical resources of the College's historical library and the Mütter Museum. From its founding, the Wood Institute also took over printing and editorial duties of the College’s journal, Transactions and Studies, which was published in 1793 and from 1844 to 2002. As of 2018, the Wood Institute sponsors conferences, occasional seminars, and...