Michael O'Hara, Jr. papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 2/009

Scope and Contents

This collection of Michael O'Hara's correspondence documents his professional career as a surgeon. The collection is divided into three series. Series 1 contains manuscript and typescript

correspondence, 1898-1899, principally addressed to George M. Sternberg, Surgeon General of the United States, from Philadelphia physicians and other influential figures, such as Senator Boies Penrose. These letters are testimonials to O'Hara's background, conduct, and fitness for military service and form supporting documentation for hisjapplication to be an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Army.

Series 2 consists of manuscript and typescript correspondence received, 1889-1898, primarily from Charles Bingham Penrose, which documents aspects of O'Hara's professional career.

Series 3 consists of manuscript and typescript correspondence received (26 items), 1900-1903, from physicians expressing interest in O'Hara's anatomosis forceps. Also included in Series 3 are printed notices of the meetings of the Section on Gynecology and the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery where O'Hara demonstrated the anatomosis forceps as well as related typescript correspondence (4 items), 1900.

Dates

1889 - 1903

Creator

O'Hara, Michael, Jr. (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Michael O'Hara, Jr., Philadelphia surgeon, was born on 21 July 1869. He was the son of physician Michael O'Hara (18321905). O'Hara died of heart disease on 9 June 1926; he was survived by his wife, Mary Frances O'Hara, and a daughter, Constance Marie.

O'Hara graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an M.D. in 1890; some of his course work had been done with John B. Deaver. In 1890, he became resident physician at St. Agnes' Hospital, Philadelphia. From 1892 to 1898, he served as instructor, then lecturer on minor surgery at the MedicoChirurgical College. In 1894, O'Hara became assistant surgeon at the Gynecean Hospital and, in 1898, the gynecologist at St. Agnes' Hospital. He became attached to the medical departments at the House of the Good Shepherd, circa 1896, and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, circa 1906. He became chief of the surgical staff at St. Agnes in 1900. DeForest Willard, in an 1898 letter, referred to O'Hara as "the best anesthetizer in Philadelphia".

In 1900, O'Hara stirred interest among American and British surgeons by developing a new surgical instrument, the anastomosis forceps, which aided in the application of sutures and decreased the possibility of infection from intestinal contents. The instrument was demonstrated at the Section on Gynecology of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia on 19 April 1900 and at the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery on 7 May 1900. O'Hara's presentation to the College of Physicians was subsequently printed in the American journal of obstetrics (1900), vol. 42, pp. 81-90, and this article generated a great deal of favorable response.

Extent

.5 Box (4 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The Michael O'Hara correspondence was donated to the Historical Collections of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by O'Hara's daughter, Constance O'Hara of Philadelphia, on 3 June 1960. The correspondence was part of a larger gift of O'Hara material and was integrated with the Autograph Collection.

The collection was processed and catalogued in 1989.