Skip to main content

Govt building

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure access Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Cornelius Rea Agnew Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 272

Abstract

Correspondence and biographical information about New York-based ophthalmologist Dr. Cornelius R. Agnew.

Dates

  • Creation: 1857-1888

Extent

0.84 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Creator

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

NLM does not possess copyright to the collection. Archival collections often contain mixed copyrights; while NLM is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. It is the user's responsibility to research and understand any applicable copyright and re-publication rights not allowed by fair use. NLM does not grant permissions to publish.

Privacy Information

Archives and manuscript collections may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in any collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications for which the National Library of Medicine assumes no responsibility.

Biographical Note

Cornelius Rea Agnew was born on 8 August 1830 in New York City. Francis R. Packard, in his History of Medicine in the United States, provides a brief overview of Agnew's life: "He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York in 1852, having as his preceptor John Kearny Rodgers. Agnew went out to Michigan to practice but shortly afterwards returned to New York, having received, probably through the influence of Rodgers, the appointment of surgeon to the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in which his preceptor had great authority. Before assuming the duties of the position Agnew went abroad for post-graduate study, which he carried out under Sir William Wilde in Dublin, William Bowman in London, and Sichel and Desmarres in Paris. Returning to New York he entered upon a most successful career."

"Agnew was a born organizer. He was one of the founders of the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital, and of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Infirmary, also of the American Ophthalmological and the American Otological Societies. In 1866 he established the eye clinic in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, and from 1869 until his death he was Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Otology in that institution." He died in New York in 1888.

Collection Summary

The Agnew papers in the National Library of Medicine are arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent; an index to the correspondents in the collection is attached. The correspondence is of a general medical and professional nature. While no particular group of correspondence is particularly extensive, there are several interesting groups of material. Special mention may be made of the correspondence with leaders in ophthalmology such as Henry Willard Williams, with John Shaw Billings on cholera research and the Index Medicus, with Grover Cleveland on the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the correspondence relating to the creation of a Code of Ethics for the State of New York Medical Society. Some foreign consultation correspondence is also found in the collection, as are several letters from Agnew sent to others.

Abstract

Correspondence and biographical information about New York-based ophthalmologist Dr. Cornelius R. Agnew.

Physical Location

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

General

Processed by
HMD Staff; Jim Labosier
Processing Completed
March 5, 1989; 2004
Encoded by
Jim Labosier
Title
Finding Aid to the Cornelius Rea Agnew Papers, 1857-1888
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff; Jim Labosier
Date
March 5, 1989; 2004
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
2.0

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
8600 Rockville Pike
Bldg 38/1E-21, MSC 3819
Bethesda MD 20894 US
1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656)