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John Shaw Billings Correspondence with Libraries of the American Philosophical Society and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia Microfilm Copies

 Collection
Identifier: MS Film 27

Abstract

Included among the manuscript collections of the libraries of the American Philosophical Society and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia are several collections containing correspondence to or from John Shaw Billings.

Dates

  • 1878-1916

Extent

1 Microfilm Reels

Creator

Physical Location

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

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Restrictions

Portions of the collection are restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access. Material from the American Philosophical Society Library and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia Library may be cited, quoted, reproduced or published only with the permission of the respective institution. The film may be borrowed on interlibrary loan only with the written permission of the American Philosophical Society Library.

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.

Collection Summary

Included among the manuscript collections of the libraries of the American Philosophical Society and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia are several collections containing correspondence to or from John Shaw Billings.

The material on the film from the American Philosophical Society Library is drawn from many collections, but the but the bulk of the material consists of correspondence with Simon Flexner and I. Minis Hays. The correspondence with Hays concerns primarily the International Medical Congress of 1887 held in Washington, D.C., and the controversies about its composition which eventually led to Billings's resignation from its organizing committee. The correspondence with Simon Flexner is primarily about the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, there is extensive correspondence between Flexner and John Sedgwick Billings, son of John Shaw Billings, concerning some of the former's studies on the poliomyelitis epidemic of 1916 in New York. The remainder of the correspondence consists of letters to Sir James Paget and J. L. LeConte.

In 1983 additional material in the American Philosophical Society Library relating to Billings was identified. This material is not found on the microfilm; it must be consulted in Philadelphia. The items include a letter acknowledging Billings's election to the Society; a letter to Henry Phillips dated 14 March 1887 thanking him for his publication; a letter to J. Grant Bey dated April 10, 1893 with information on the Pan American Congress in Chicago; and unspecified correspondence in the Stephen Bowers papers and the Franz Boas papers.

The material from the College of Physicians of Philadelphia consists primarily of correspondence with John B. Roberts and John Ashhurst on library business, and with S. Weir Mitchell on the International Medical Congress of 1887. An item listing of the material from both libraries included on the film follows.

Note: ALS="Autograph Letter Signed;" TLS="Typed Letter Signed;" TL="Typed Letter"

Abstract

Included among the manuscript collections of the libraries of the American Philosophical Society and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia are several collections containing correspondence to or from John Shaw Billings.

Physical Location

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

Provenance

In 1969 the National Library of Medicine acquired on one reel microfilm copies of the Billings's correspondence.

Location of Originals

Originals located at the American Philosophical Society Library and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia Library

General

Processed by
HMD Staff
Date completed
January 25, 1991
Encoded by
Dan Jenkins

Additional Materials

In 1983 additional material in the American Philosophical Society Library relating to Billings was identified. This material is not found on the microfilm; it must be consulted in Philadelphia. The items include a letter acknowledging Billings's election to the Society; a letter to Henry Phillips dated 14 March 1887 thanking him for his publication; a letter to J. Grant Bey dated April 10, 1893 with information on the Pan American Congress in Chicago; and unspecified correspondence in the Stephen Bowers papers and the Franz Boas papers.

Title
Finding Aid to the John Shaw Billings Correspondence with Libraries of the American Philosophical Society and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia Microfilm Copies, 1878-1916
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff
Date
January 25, 1991; 2000
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
Version 1.0

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collection Collecting Area

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