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Robley Dunglison papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2/168

Scope and Contents

This small collection of Robley Dunglison's papers contains correspondence with many individuals, 1830-1869; holograph manuscripts of three Dunglison lectures on physiology and medical jurisprudence, 1832-1856; and miscellaneous material, 1841-1868, including some financial papers, a report by Joseph Pancoast on a thoracic examination, and resolutions of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson Medical College on the retirement of Dunglison.

Principal correspondents in the collection are: William Beaumont, William Benjamin Carpenter, Sir John Forbes, Samuel D. Gross, Sir Henry Holland, Edward King, Granville Sharp Pattison, William Taylor, and the publishing firm of Gray and Bowen. Most of the letters concern the publication and reviews of Dunglison's works, medical publishing in general, and Jefferson Medical College affairs. The collection also includes Dunglison's correspondence with the accountants and other officers of the Society of Apothecaries.

Dates

  • 1830 - 1869

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Robley Dunglison, physician and educator, was born in Keswick, England, on 4 January 1798. He married Harriette Leadham (d. 1853) in 1824; they had seven children, including physician Richard James Dunglison. Robley Dunglison died in Philadelphia on 1 April 1869.

Dunglison attended the Royal College of Surgeons in 1818, received a license as surgeon apothecary from the Society of Apothecaries, and began practice in 1819. In 1823, he received an M.D. from the University of Erlangen. He then became accoucheur to the Eastern Dispensary in London and lectured on midwifery.

From 1823 to 1833, Dunglison was professor of medicine at the University of Virginia; from 1833 to 1836, he was professor of medicine at the University of Maryland. In 1836, he came to Philadelphia to become professor of the institutes of medicine at Jefferson Medical College. He held this post until 1868.

Dunglison founded and edited the American library and intelligencer (1837-1842) and published several works, including Human physiology (1832), Elements of hygiene (1835), Practice of medicine (1842), and A new dictionary of medical science and literature (1833).

Robley Dunglison became a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1838. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Extent

.4 Linear feet (1 half document box)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

The source of this collection of Robley Dunglison's papers is generally unknown, although two items were presented to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Charles Perry Fisher on 8 January 1926 and one item by Mrs. Hampton Carson on 29 October 1931.

The Robley Dunglison papers were originally housed in the Autograph Collection. The papers were removed, processed, and recatalogued in 1990.
Title
Robley Dunglison papers
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository

Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001