William Beaumont Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS C 131

Abstract

Beaumont is known as the father of gastric physiology. Photocopies of originals held at University of Washington (St. Louis) School of Medicine, Library--letters, notebooks, certificates, and related papers.

Dates

Creation: 1812-1959

Extent

0.21 Linear Feet (1 box)

Creator

Beaumont, William, 1785-1853 (Person)

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access.

Copyright and Re-use Information

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Biographical Note

A native of Lebanon, Connecticut, Beaumont was certified to practice medicine by the Third Medical Society of Vermont in 1812. He served in the army during the War of 1812 and from 1819 to 1839 was an army medical officer. During that time he served at posts in the midwest including Fort Mackinac, Michigan; Fort Niagara; Fort Howard in Green Bay; Fort Crawford, Wisconsin; and Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis. On several occasions from 1825 to 1833, Beaumont studied the digestive process through a gunshot-wound patient he had treated in 1822 and whose wound had never fully healed, leaving Dr. Beaumont with unique access to the patient's stomach. Beaumont is known as the father of gastric physiology. He wrote Experiments and observations on the gastric juice and the physiology of digestion (1833).

Collection Summary

Photocopies of originals held at University of Washington (St. Louis) School of Medicine, Library--letters, notebooks, certificates, and related papers. Correspondents include William G. Eliot, W.W. Matthews, Benjamin Silliman, and Alexis St. Martin. Includes letters from Beaumont to Joseph Lovell and a petition pertaining to Beaumont from Edward Everett to Lewis Cass and containing 200 signatures including those of John Q. Adams, Franklin Pierce and Millard Fillmore. Contains typescript of proceedings on the acquisition of Beaumont material at the University of Chicago (1936).