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John Shaw Billings Papers, in the Adjutant General's Office Records (RG 94) in the National Archives

 Collection
Identifier: MS Film 28

Abstract

Papers on the military career of John S. Billings, physician and librarian, found in the Adjutant General's Office.

Dates

  • Creation: 1861-1895

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

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

The Adjutant General of the Army had responsibility for matters relating to command, discipline, and administration of the military establishment, and has had the duties of recording, authenticating, and communicating the Secretary's orders, instructions,a nd regulations to troops and individuals in the Army. The Adjutant General's Office chiefly handled Army orders, correspondence, and other records, and it received final custody of virtually all records concerned with the military establishment.

Collection Summary

Within the files of the AGO's office there is much of interest concerning John Shaw Billings, Army physician and librarian. Among the records found there are Billings's initial application to join the Army Medical Corps, letters of recommendation on his behalf, and a test essay on epilepsia; copies of his reports from throughout his career; orders; his commissions, including his commission in 1894 as Deputy Surgeon General; and correspondence and petitions written to the White House and the Secretary of War in support of Billings for the post of Surgeon General.

The material is divided into four series drawn from three different attempts at filming the file. The first series on the film consists of Billings' file in the records of the Appointment, Commission, and Personal Division of the A.G.O. Here is found the correspondence relating to the efforts to have him appointed Surgeon General as well as some orders. The second series consists of his personal file (here identified as his "Surgeon's File"). Both of these were filmed in 1968. The third series consists of Billings's "Medical Officers' File." This was filmed in 1959, and was, for the most part, identical to the "Surgeon's File." Several items found on the 1959 film, including summary histories of Billings' military career, were not found on the 1958 film, and so have been included here. The duplicated material has been discarded. The fourth series consists of printed Special Orders relating to Billings pulled from the Special Orders series.

The Archives made no effort to organize or arrange the material before filming. Frequently clearly misfiled material is filed out of order; often the material is filmed in reverse chronological order. While the attached reel listing gives a rough idea of the contents of each reel, researchers are warned that it is not perfect.

Abstract

Papers on the military career of John S. Billings, physician and librarian, found in the Adjutant General's Office.

Physical Location

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

Provenance

Purchased in 1959 through Charles Roos.

Related Material

Original materials located in the National Archives, Adjutant General's Office Records, Record Group 94 (GR 94).

General

Processed by
HMD Staff
Date completed
2000
Encoded by
Dan Jenkins
Title
Finding Aid to the John Shaw Billings Papers, in the Adjutant General's Office Records (RG 94) in the National Archives 1861-1895
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff
Date
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 Collections Collecting Area

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