Albert Morris Eaton papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 2/005

Scope and Contents

The Eaton Papers consist of correspondence, handwritten notes, reports, and newspaper and periodical articles concerning Eaton's life, career, and professional concerns. The bulk of the collection is comprised of records from Eaton's tenure as Chairman of the Philadelphia County Medical Society(PCMS) Committee on Archives. These records include reports of the committee; correspondence files with physicians and their descendants concerning biographical information; Eaton's biographical research on individual physicians; and notes and newsclippings on historical subjects. Substantive information on the following physicians is included: William Robert Douglas Blackwood, Joseph Carson, Henry Gibbons, George Hamilton, Daniel Paul Lajus, Benjamin Lee, Isaac Remington, Winthrop Sargent Jr., Albert Holmes Smith, and James Baynes Walker.

Dates

1885 - 1919

Creator

Eaton, Albert M. (Albert Morris) (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Albert Morris Eaton was born in Philadelphia, December 21, 1849; he died on November 19, 1919.

Professionally, Eaton received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1874. He became a Resident Physician at St. Mary's Hospital, Philadelphia, from 1874 to 1875. In 1875, he was Assistant Demonstrator of Surgery at Jefferson. In 1876, Eaton was Surgeon to the Surgical Clinic at St. Mary's, and from 1877 to 1880, he was surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Kensington. In 1901, he was Surgeon to the Out Door Department at St. Mary's.

Eaton was very active in professional organizations and was a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society (PCMS); the Pennsylvania State Medical Society; the Northwestern Medical Society of Philadelphia; and the Medico Legal Society of Philadelphia. In 1908, Eaton served as President to both the PCMS and M LS.

His connection with the Philadelphia County Medical Society is particularly well documented. He campaigned in the cause of legal defense for physicians, changed the by laws of the society to admit physicians irrespective of medical school, and, in 1901, organized the North Branch, the first of the local branches of the PCMS.

In 1912, the Board of Directors of the PCMS approved the formation of a Committee on Archives to seek out and preserve the historical records of the society, its founders, and former presidents. Eaton was appointed chairman of this committee and zealously set about obtaining biographical information and photographs of the founders and early officers of the society.

Extent

2 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The Eaton Papers were donated to the College of Physicians by Samuel X Radbill, circa 1975. The collections was isolated during a survey of the Cage area in 1988 and processed in 1989.