Faculty Meetings of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1855-1856

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/13/2025, 10:54:05 PM

Added description

Description

Faculty Meetings of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1855‑1856

Overview

This archival item is a digital collection of the minutes of faculty meetings held by the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania (FMCP) during the academic years 1855‑1856. The material is presented as scanned text images (JPEG and TIFF) and is catalogued in the PINAX system under the identifier 01K9ZNTFX4PM5857AEY6PM3F6B. The documents are in English and were produced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with references to Bucks County, Acton (ME), and Utica (NY).

Background

The FMCP, founded in 1850, was the first institution in the United States to grant medical degrees to women. The faculty meetings recorded here reflect the administrative and academic governance of the college during a formative period. Key figures include Dean Ellwood Harvey, M.D.; Professors Edwin Fussell, M.D.; Mark G. Kerr, M.D.; Sylvester Birdsell, M.D.; and Kersey G. Thomas, M.D. The minutes also mention Dr. Preston, Prof. Gillingham, and other faculty and staff.

Contents

The collection contains ten meeting minutes dated from November 19, 1855 to May 28, 1856. Each entry lists attendees, resolutions, and appointments. Major actions include:
  • Leasing the Preston Retreat (20th & Hamilton Sts., Philadelphia) for a female medical college and hospital.
  • Appointment of committees to apply to the Retreat’s trustees, to fill vacant chairs in surgery and chemistry, and to prepare the Seventh Annual Announcement.
  • Resignation of Dr. Kersey G. Thomas as clinic physician and appointment of Drs. Farnell and Harvey to the clinic.
  • Conferral of M.D. degrees to four women (Miss Elizabeth Collins, Miss Debbie A. Hughes, Miss Laura J. Ross, Miss Jane L. Starr) on February 28, 1856.
  • Amendments to the college’s 1854 regulations and the publication of matriculants and graduates in the annual announcement.

Scope

The collection covers the period from November 19, 1855 to May 28, 1856, encompassing all faculty meetings of the FMCP during that time. It focuses on administrative decisions, faculty appointments, curriculum matters, and the college’s physical and financial arrangements. The documents are limited to minutes and do not include external correspondence or student records. The material is valuable for scholars of early women’s medical education, institutional governance, and 19th‑century medical practice.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

**Metadata / Core Entities**

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {full_name: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania", type: "medical school"}

@board_of_corporators:organization {affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}

@preston_retreat:place {address: "20th & Hamilton Sts, Philadelphia, PA", type: "building"}

@seventh_annual_announcement:document {title: "Seventh Annual Announcement"}

@regulations_1854:document {title: "Regulations", adopted: @date_1854_01_04}

@degree_md_confer:document {title: "Degree of M.D. conferral", date: @date_1856_02_28}

**People (specific to the collection)**  

@ellwood_harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey, M.D.", role: "Dean", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@edwin_fussell:person {full_name: "Edwin Fussell, M.D.", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@mark_g_kerr:person {full_name: "Mark G. Kerr, M.D.", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@sylvester_birdsell:person {full_name: "Sylvester Birdsell, M.D.", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@kersey_g_thomas:person {full_name: "Kersey G. Thomas, M.D.", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@dr_preston:person {full_name: "Dr. Preston", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@gillingham:person {full_name: "Prof. Gillingham", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@birdsall:person {full_name: "Dr. Birdsall", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@farnell:person {full_name: "Dr. Farnell", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@herb:person {full_name: "Dr. Herb", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}  
@eliza_l_s_thomas:person {full_name: "Mrs. Eliza L.S. Thomas, M.D.", role: "Demonstrator of Anatomy"}  
@emeline_horton_cleveland:person {full_name: "Mrs. Emeline Horton Cleveland, M.D.", role: "Demonstrator of Anatomy"}  
@c_d_cleveland:person {full_name: "Prof. C. D. Cleveland", role: "President of the Corporation"}  
@h_j_brown:person {full_name: "Dr. H.J. Brown", role: "Surgery Chair candidate"}  
@birdville:person {full_name: "Dr. Birdville", role: "Lecturer"}  
@gunderson:person {full_name: "Mr. Gunderson", role: "Lecturer"}  
@weigmer_and_brother:organization {full_name: "Weigmer & Brother", role: "Vendor"}  

**Meeting Events (chronological)**  

@meeting_1855_11_19:event {when: @date_1855_11_19, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1855_12_03:event {when: @date_1855_12_03, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1855_12_17:event {when: @date_1855_12_17, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1855_12_31:event {when: @date_1855_12_31, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_01_17:event {when: @date_1856_01_17, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_01_18:event {when: @date_1856_01_18, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_01_25:event {when: @date_1856_01_25, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_02_28:event {when: @date_1856_02_28, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_03_26:event {when: @date_1856_03_26, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_04_28:event {when: @date_1856_04_28, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_05_05:event {when: @date_1856_05_05, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  
@meeting_1856_05_28:event {when: @date_1856_05_28, where: @philadelphia, type: "faculty meeting"}  

**File → Document Relationships**  

@file_pinax -> documents -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {description: "Metadata for faculty meetings 1855‑1856"}  

@file_a092_001_091_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1855_11_19:event  
@file_a092_001_092_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1855_12_17:event  
@file_a092_001_093_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1855_12_31:event  
@file_a092_001_093_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_01_17:event  
@file_a092_001_094_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_01_18:event  
@file_a092_001_094_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_01_25:event  
@file_a092_001_097_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_02_28:event  
@file_a092_001_098_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_03_26:event  
@file_a092_001_099_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_04_28:event  
@file_a092_001_099_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_05_05:event  
@file_a092_001_100_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1856_05_28:event  

**Key Relationships Extracted from Minutes**

*Nov 19 1855 – Lease of Preston Retreat*  

@meeting_1855_11_19:event -> present -> [@edwin_fussell, @mark_g_kerr, @kersey_g_thomas, @dr_preston, @sylvester_birdsell]  
@meeting_1855_11_19:event -> resolved -> @preston_retreat:place {action: "lease"}  
@meeting_1855_11_19:event -> appointed committee -> [@edwin_fussell, @kersey_g_thomas] {task: "apply to President and Managers of Preston Retreat"}  
@ellwood_harvey:person -> absent -> @meeting_1855_11_19:event  

*Dec 3 1855 – Follow‑up on Preston Retreat*  

@meeting_1855_12_03:event -> present -> [@dr_preston, @edwin_fussell, @mark_g_kerr, @kersey_g_thomas, @gillingham, @sylvester_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey]  
@meeting_1855_12_03:event -> reported -> @preston_retreat:place {status: "no response from President/Managers"}  

*Dec 17 1855 – Election to Board of Corporation*  

@meeting_1855_12_17:event -> resolved -> @board_of_corporators:organization {elected_members: [@ellwood_harvey, @edwin_fussell, @mark_g_kerr, @sylvester_birdsell, @kersey_g_thomas]}  
@meeting_1855_12_17:event -> appointed committee -> [@ellwood_harvey, @edwin_fussell] {task: "present resolution to Corporators"}  
@meeting_1855_12_17:event -> resolution -> {no_lectures_between: [@date_1855_12_22, @date_1855_12_31]}  
@meeting_1855_12_17:event -> recommended -> [@edwin_fussell, @ellwood_harvey] {to: @board_of_corporators}  

*Dec 31 1855 – Clinic leadership change*  

@meeting_1855_12_31:event -> present -> [@farnell, @mark_g_kerr, @kersey_g_thomas, @gillingham, @ellwood_harvey]  
@meeting_1855_12_31:event -> resolved -> {pay_bill: "Harry's", amount: "$??"}  
@meeting_1855_12_31:event -> resignation -> @kersey_g_thomas:person {position: "Clinic Physician"}  
@meeting_1855_12_31:event -> appointed -> [@farnell, @ellwood_harvey] {role: "Clinic charge"}  

*Jan 17 1856 – Diploma printing & building use*  

@meeting_1856_01_17:event -> present -> [@mark_g_kerr, @kersey_g_thomas, @gillingham, @birdsall, @ellwood_harvey]  
@meeting_1856_01_17:event -> appointed treasurer -> @ellwood_harvey:person {task: "print diplomas"}  
@meeting_1856_01_17:event -> agreement -> @gunderson:person {use: "lecture room", rate: "$1 per night"}  
@meeting_1856_01_17:event -> appointed committee -> [@birdsall, @farnell] {task: "find new property location"}  
@meeting_1856_01_17:event -> appointed committee -> [@mark_g_kerr, @farnell] {task: "prepare @seventh_annual_announcement"}  

*Jan 18 1856 – Regular meeting schedule*  

@meeting_1856_01_18:event -> resolved -> {faculty_meetings: "every Friday at 1:30 PM"}  
@meeting_1856_01_18:event -> present -> [@edwin_fussell, @mark_g_kerr, @kersey_g_thomas, @sylvester_birdsell]  
@meeting_1856_01_18:event -> report -> @kersey_g_thomas:person {diplomas_printed: 12, cost: "$8.00"}  
@meeting_1856_01_18:event -> appointed committee -> [@edwin_fussell, @ellwood_harvey] {task: "fill vacant chairs of Surgery and Chemistry"}  

*Jan 25 1856 – Vacant chairs & property storage*  

@meeting_1856_01_25:event -> present -> [@edwin_fussell, @mark_g_kerr, @kersey_g_thomas, @sylvester_birdsell]  
@meeting_1856_01_25:event -> report -> {building_use_until: @date_1856_03_07}  
@meeting_1856_01_25:event -> report -> {store_property: "summer in building"}  
@meeting_1856_01_25:event -> appointed auditors -> [@sylvester_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey] {target: "Treasurer accounts"}  

*Feb 28 1856 – Degree conferral & Treasurer change*  

@degree_md_confer:document -> conferred_by -> @c_d_cleveland:person  
@degree_md_confer:document -> recipients -> ["Miss Elizabeth Collins", "Miss Debbie A. Hughes", "Miss Laura J. Ross", "Miss Jane L. Starr"]  
@meeting_1856_02_28:event -> present -> "all faculty members"  
@meeting_1856_02_28:event -> resignation -> @kersey_g_thomas:person {position: "Treasurer"}  
@meeting_1856_02_28:event -> resolution -> {acknowledge: @kersey_g_thomas, copy_presented_to: @kersey_g_thomas}  
@meeting_1856_02_28:event -> appointed treasurer_pro_tempore -> @gillingham:person  

*Mar 26 1856 – Publication & Regulation amendment*  

@meeting_1856_03_26:event -> present -> [@dr_preston, @farnell, @herb, @gillingham, @ellwood_harvey]  
@meeting_1856_03_26:event -> resolved -> {publish_names_in: @seventh_annual_announcement}  
@meeting_1856_03_26:event -> amendment -> @regulations_1854:document {article: 17, text: "\"...shall be under the supervision of the Professor of Anatomy... recapitulations twice each week.\""}  
@meeting_1856_03_26:event -> appointed committee -> [@herb, @gillingham] {task: "inquire Mrs. Eliza L.S. Thomas about Demonstrator duties"}  
@meeting_1856_03_26:event -> payment -> {janitor_wages: "$20.25", stove_work: "$2.25", vendor: @weigmer_and_brother}  

*Apr 28 1856 – Demonstrator of Anatomy status*  

@meeting_1856_04_28:event -> present -> [@dr_preston, @farnell, @mark_g_kerr, @gillingham, @sylvester_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey]  
@meeting_1856_04_28:event -> committee_report -> {demonstrator: @eliza_l_s_thomas, status: "willing to remain"}  
@meeting_1856_04_28:event -> committee_report -> {seventh_annual_announcement: "adopted, to be sent to Committee on Publication"}  

*May 5 1856 – Scheduling*  

@meeting_1856_05_05:event -> scheduled -> {next_meeting: @date_1856_05_05, time: "12:00"}  

*May 28 1856 – Dean election, appointments, and new Demonstrator*  

@meeting_1856_05_28:event -> present -> [@dr_preston, @edwin_fussell, @gillingham, @mark_g_kerr]  
@meeting_1856_05_28:event -> proxy -> {@edwin_fussell:person} {for: @birdville:person}  
@meeting_1856_05_28:event -> recommendation -> {@h_j_brown:person} {to: @board_of_corporators, position: "Chair of Surgery"}  
@meeting_1856_05_28:event -> appointment -> @emeline_horton_cleveland:person {role: "Demonstrator of Anatomy", term: "one year"}  
@meeting_1856_05_28:event -> election -> @edwin_fussell:person {new_role: "Dean", replacing: "Dr. Hawley"}  
@meeting_1856_05_28:event -> appointment -> @birdville:person {role: "Lecturer"}  

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/13/2025, 10:54:05 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/13/2025, 10:42:47 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/13/2025, 10:36:49 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/13/2025, 10:31:46 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Faculty_Meetings_1856"

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Parent

01K9ZNDK7P1FMGX9MSMK8DSEK1

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