Records of the Committee on the Centennial Celebration

The Committee on the Centennial Celebration was established 1 October 1884 and held its first meeting on 3 January 1885. The Committee’s task was to “consider and report upon an appropriate plan to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the College in 1887.”

It held sixteen meetings in total, ande made the following recommendations: 1) To form a collection of portraits of past Fellows to be exhibited during the celebration; 2) That the celebration should be held January 3 and 4, 1887, including an address by the President, a reception, a special meeting for conferring diplomas on Associate Fellows, and a dinner at the Union League; and 3) Invitations should be sent to all Fellows of the College as well as presidents of other medical societies, including the Medical Society of Pennsylvania and the American Medical Association.

The Committee presented its final report on 2 February 1887 and was disbanded.

The Records of the Committee on the Centennial Celebration date from 1886 and 1887 and document the activities of the Committee. The correspondence concerns catering menu options, portrait loans, and a floorplan. The Committee kept detailed records of its expenses as well as record of Fellows who sent subscriptions (donations) to fund the celebration. This collection also includes invitations and table cards printed for the event. Of note are two writings, one a poem read by Henry Hartshorne, and one entitled “An Old Story.” A final report, dated 2 February 1887, provides a summary of the Committee’s activities. The scrapbook includes some correspondence, ephemera, printed addresses read at the celebration, and newspaper clippings about the event.

Previously catalogued as 10c 12.