MSS 2/135-02: Correspondence and records of the American Surgical Association, 1851-1889

Series

Scope and Contents

This small collection of material, originally housed in the Samuel D. Gross Library at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, contains letters from surgeons to Gross and other materials, records of the American Surgical Association, photographs, and newsclippings, 1851-1889.

The letters to Samuel D. Gross in Series 1 include items from James L. Little on the treatment of fractures, 1882; G. R. Patton, conveying to Gross a new surgical instrument, 1870; Alan P. Smith on lithotomy, 1882; and Horatio R. Storer on surgical matters, 1882.

Series 2 contains records of the American Surgical Association, including files of printed material on its early annual meetings, 1882-1889; letters of acknowledgement to the Committee of Publication and certificates of copyright for the Association's Transactions, 1884-1889; and an autograph letter of Thomas Annandale, expressing pleasure at his election to foreign and honorary fellowship, 1885.

The collection also includes five photographs of surgical cases, including a fibrocellular tumor of the arm, circa 1879; an amputation of both legs and an arm, circa 1881; and two photographs of an aneurism, undated.

A small collection of newsclippings of items of medical or surgical interest, 1851-1881, is preserved in Series 4.

Dates

1851-1889

Extent

From the Collection: 10 items (1 box and 9 folders)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The Samuel D. Gross Library Manuscript Collection was deposited at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery, probably on 16 December 1893. The collection was processed and catalogued in 1990. During processing, some duplicate and ephemeral material was discarded and nine reprints of E. H. Pratt were removed.