Correspondence file of James C. Wilson

Collection

Identifier: CPP 2/005-01

Scope and Contents

Collection, 1912-1916, containing original incoming letters with copies of outgoing letters of James Cornelius Wilson (1847-1934), President of the College of Physicians from 1913 to 1915. Letters are arranged chronologically. Addressed in the letters are general matters of the presidency, such as appointing committee members and chairmen; planning the College lecture schedule; and corresponding with Treasurer John B. Roberts about finances. Also included is correspondence with Secretary Thomas R. Neilson and letters from Librarian Charles Perry Fisher concerning the acquisition of rare books for the College Library.

The correspondence provides information about artwork belonging to the College, including John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Sir William Osler, donated in 1914. Also of interest are letters from Robert William Vonnoh concerning his 1897 portrait of S. Weir Mitchell. The collection documents the College’s involvement in controversial political issues affecting the medical community, including opposition to the "anti-vivisectionists" and laws that would limit access to cadavers or restrict medical research. The collection also contains letters from notable Fellows of the College of Physicians, including past-president G. E. De Schweinitz, George Fales Baker, H. A. Hare, William W. Keen, John K. Mitchell, S. Weir Mitchell, Sir William Osler, Francis R. Packard, William Pepper, George Morris Piersol, and Alfred Stengel.

Dates

1913 - 1916

Creator

College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Office of the President (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

The Office of the President of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia is first described in the 1787 constitution. The constitution states that the President "shall have power to call extraordinary Meetings whenever important, or unexpected Business shall require, of which he shall be the Judge", The constitution also states that the president was authorized to call a special session when requested by at least six Fellows. According to the 1834 by-laws, the president was responsible for presiding at College meetings and signing orders from the treasurer, but he could not discuss any questions while in the chair except when necessary to coae to a decision. This latter regulation was dropped from the 1863 by-laws, and new responsibilities were added in 1882, when the president was given "general supervision of the affairs of the College" and was required to present an annual address.

In 1886, due to the influence of president S, Weir Mitchell, the by-laws were again amended. Mitchell secured the right to be informed of all committee meetings and to attend them if he wished, Another of Mitchell's requests, for a five year presidential term, was never approved. The responsibilities of the president re•ained •uch the saae until 1914. In the by-laws of this year, the president's duty of "sign[ing] all warrants on the Treasurer" was omitted. 1925 marked a major change in the Office of the President; in this year, he was granted ex-officio membership in all standing committees and had the power to elect most committee members. The first regulation concerning the president's term was instituted in the 1935 by-laws, which state that no president aay serve more than three years in a row. Additional changes in the Office of the President did not occur until 1972. The by-laws of this year state that the president must publish his annual address, subait a yearly summary of ·the activities of the College, and "appoint all standing committees and designate the Chairmen", with the exception of the Noainating committee, The president's term was again restricted in the 1984 bylaws, which state that the president is liaited to one two year term. As of 1991, the president presides at meetings, appoints coaaittees and defines their duties, serves as an ex-officio meaber of all coaaittees, and has "all other duties and powers usually pertaining to the office".