Records of the Anderson Hospital

Collection

Identifier: MSS 2/278

Scope and Contents

This collection of materials concerning the Anderson Hospital spans 1917 to 1943. Included are photographs of the hospital's facilities, form letters with information about the opening of the hospital (ca. 1917), a clipping describing a fire at the hospital (1924), and an illustrated brochure (ca. 1943).

Series 1 includes photographs of the Anderson Hospital taken sometime between 1917 and 1921, when it was still called the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Hospital and School of Mechanotherapy. Most of the photographs illustrate the unique facilities in the Department of Mechano therapy, including three photographs of the Zander mechanical gymnasium, a photograph of the hydriatic room, and a photograph of a man receiving an electrical treatment from the hospital's electrostatic generator. Also present in series 1 is a photograph of Joseph W. Anderson.

Series 2 contains printed material; included are form letters describing the hospital's facilities which were distributed to alumni and area physicians when the hospital first opened in 1917, and an article describing a fire at the hospital in 1924. The most recent item in the collection (ca. 1943) is an illustrated brochure which describes the hospital's facilities and history.

Dates

1917 - circa 1943

Creator

Anderson Hospital (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

The Anderson Hospital was established in 1917, when physician Joseph W. Anderson (1877-1957) purchased the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Institute and School of MechanoTherapy (established in 1898) and its Bushhill Sanatorium (established ca. 1914), located at 1709-11 Green Street in Philadelphia. Anderson opened the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Hospital and School of Mechano therapy in October 1917 and served as director of the institution.

The hospital was perhaps best known for its Department of Mechano therapy, which included hydriatic rooms for hydrotherapeutic treatments; rooms for massage, baking, and electrical treatments; and a Zander Mechanical Gymnasium (the only one in Philadelphia). In the years following World War I, these facilities were used for the rehabilitation of disabled veterans. In 1920, the name of the hospital was changed to the Anderson Hospital and College of Physio therapy. In 1921, the College and Department of Physio therapy were closed, and the institution became known as the Anderson Hospital. Anderson then purchased property at 1707 Green Street and began renovating and expanding the hospital's facilities to include additional rooms for patients, an X ray department, a laboratory, and a maternity department and delivery room.

Physician Frederick E. Keller came to the Anderson Hospital in 1937 to serve as Associate Medical Director, and later as Director. Keller was involved in reorganizing the institutional structure of the hospital; in 1938, a new charter was granted, and the Anderson Hospital became a nonprofit, non sectarian institution. The Anderson Hospital probably closed sometime between 1950 and 1958.

Extent

1 Box

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

These items pertaining to the Anderson Hospital were collected by Elizabeth A. Katzenbach, the daughter of Joseph W. Anderson. Katzenbach donated the collection to the Historical Collections of the Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia on 10 April 1978. The photograph of the facade of building and the blank prescription form were added to the collection on 24 July 1981.