Financial records of the Committee on the Mütter Museum

Collection

Identifier: CPP 10/007-05

Scope and Contents

The collection contains cash books, checkbooks, cancelled checks and account statements, bills, receipt books and receipts, vouchers, and audit and financial reports of the Committee on the Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, documenting the financial transactions and history of the Mutter Museum and College Collections, 1863- 1972. Earlier materials in the collection, in particular, document the purchase, transport, and restoration of museum anatomical and pathological specimens and models, and curatorial salary information.

Dates

1863 - 1972

Creator

College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Committee on the Mütter Museum (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

The Committee on the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia was first appointed in January 1863. It was charged with the general supervision of the anatomical and pathological museum established by the articles of agreement made between the College and Thomas D. Mütter in 1858-1859. The chairman of the committee was to report annually on the condition of the museum and semi-annually on its financial situation and also receive the income from the Mütter Trust and make disbursements to the museum’s curator and the Mütter lecturers. In 1886, the duties of the College’s Committee on Lectures, which chose and supervised the Mütter lecturers, devolved onto the Committee on the Mütter Museum. In 1935, the College formed a Committee on College Collections to care for, exhibit, and loan any objects received by the College which were not covered by the Mütter Trust. The officers of this committee were identical to the officers of the Committee on the Mütter Museum, and the two bodies met consecutively. In 1990, the Committee on the Mütter Museum became inactive, and general oversight of the Mütter Museum was assumed by the College’s Committee on Program.

Extent

4.4 Linear feet (11 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The financial records of the Committee on the Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia were transferred to the Historical Collections of the Library by Gretchen Worden, Director of the Mutter Museum, on 29 August 1991.

The collection was processed and catalogued in 1992.