Minutes of the Faculty of the University of Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1856-1859

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 5:25:08 AM

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Description

Minutes of the Faculty of the University of Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1856‑1859

Overview

A transcription of faculty meeting minutes from the University of Medical College of Pennsylvania (UMCPA), covering the period 1856‑1859. The material is a single text file (ID 01KA0CNWTN83CVN1RF4ZW307A2) produced by Ellwood Harvey and the UMCPA, and is accompanied by a set of 121 scanned images (TIFF and JPEG) that provide the original pages and OCR‑extracted text. The documents are in English (US) and were sourced from the PINAX digital repository.

Background

The UMCPA was a mid‑19th‑century medical school located in Chester

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax -> documents -> @faculty_minutes:document {title: "Minutes of the Faculty of the University of Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1856‑1859", subjects: ["Medical education","Faculty meetings","Medical history","Women in medicine"], created: @date_1856_1859, place: [@chester_pa, @philadelphia_pa]}

@umcpa:organization {full_name: "University of Medical College of Pennsylvania", type: "Medical school"}

@chester_pa:place {city: "Chester", state: "PA", country: @united_states}
@philadelphia_pa:place {city: "Philadelphia", state: "PA", country: @united_states}
@musical_fund_hall:place {name: "Musical Fund Hall", city: "Philadelphia", state: "PA", country: @united_states}

#--- Persons (faculty & staff) -------------------------------------------------
@ellwood_harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey", role: "Faculty member, Dean (later)"}
@preston:person {full_name: "Dr. Preston", role: "Faculty"}
@russell:person {full_name: "Dr. Russell", role: "Faculty"}
@gillingham:person {full_name: "Dr. Gillingham", role: "Faculty"}
@kerr:person {full_name: "Dr. Kerr", role: "Faculty"}
@hl_brown:person {full_name: "H.L. Brown", role: "Faculty"}
@caroline_cleveland:person {full_name: "Caroline Horton Cleveland, M.D.", role: "Demonstrator of Anatomy"}
@birdsell:person {full_name: "Dr. Sylvester Birdsell", role: "Faculty"}
@mark_kerr:person {full_name: "Mark G. Kerr", role: "Faculty"}
@gill_bradell:person {full_name: "Rev. Gillingham Bradell", role: "Clergy, Faculty"}
@brown:person {full_name: "Dr. Brown", role: "Faculty"}
@furrell:person {full_name: "Dr. G. Furrell", role: "Dean"}
@finsell:person {full_name: "Dr. E. Finsell", role: "Dean"}
@cleveland:person {full_name: "Dr. Emeline H. Cleveland", role: "Faculty"}
@semple:person {full_name: "Matthew Semple, Esq.", role: "Professor of Chemistry & Toxicology"}
@rothing:person {full_name: "Frederick Louis Otto Rothing, M.D.", role: "Professor of Materia Medica & Therapeutics"}
@gorminge:person {full_name: "Dr. Wm. Gorminge", role: "Lecturer on Surgery"}
@rockey:person {full_name: "Prof. Rockey", role: "Faculty"}
@temple:person {full_name: "Prof. Temple", role: "Faculty"}
@sample:person {full_name: "Prof. Sample", role: "Faculty"}
@turrell:person {full_name: "E. Turrell", role: "Dean"}

#--- Women who submitted inaugural theses --------------------------------------
@r_moon:person {full_name: "Miss R. Moon", gender: "female"}
@dinanna_taghault:person {full_name: "Miss Dinanna Taghault", gender: "female"}
@philbe_wilton:person {full_name: "Miss Philbe Wilton", gender: "female"}
@hannia_preston:person {full_name: "Miss Hannia Preston", gender: "female"}
@lucy_peterschilin:person {full_name: "Mrs. Lucy M. Peterschilin", gender: "female"}
@mary_scarlett:person {full_name: "Miss Mary J. Scarlett", gender: "female"}
@susan_parry:person {full_name: "Miss Susan Parry", gender: "female"}
@henrietta_buckel:person {full_name: "C. Henrietta Buckel", gender: "female"}
@hannah_jones:person {full_name: "Mrs. Hannah W. Jones", gender: "female"}
@rebecca_finselle:person {full_name: "Mrs. Rebecca Finselle", gender: "female"}
@eliza_gatchell:person {full_name: "Eliza Gatchell, M.D.", gender: "female"}
@lizzie_mellen:person {full_name: "Lizzie S. Mellen", gender: "female"}
@mary_malyn_bailey:person {full_name: "Mary Malin Bailey", gender: "female"}
@st_winona_stratton:person {full_name: "St. Winona Stratton", gender: "female"}
@harriet_adams:person {full_name: "Harriet Adams", gender: "female"}
@maria_porter:person {full_name: "Maria W. Porter", gender: "female"}
@sutherland_underwood:person {full_name: "Sutherland S. Underwood", gender: "female"}

#--- Faculty meetings (selected) ----------------------------------------------

@meeting_1856_05_28:event {when: @date_1856_05_28, where: @chester_pa, description: "Faculty meeting, May 28 1856"}
@meeting_1856_05_28 -> present -> [@preston, @russell, @gillingham, @kerr]
@meeting_1856_05_28 -> appointed -> @hl_brown:person {position: "Chair of Surgery", proposer: @russell}
@meeting_1856_05_28 -> appointed -> @caroline_cleveland:person {position: "Demonstrator of Anatomy", proposer: @russell}
@meeting_1856_05_28 -> elected -> @kerr:person {position: "Dean", predecessor: @ellwood_harvey}
@meeting_1856_05_28 -> appointed -> @gillingham:person {position: "Treasurer"}

@meeting_1856_09_11:event {when: @date_1856_09_11, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1856_09_11 -> present -> [@gill_bradell, @brown, @furrell]
@meeting_1856_09_11 -> appointed -> @ellwood_harvey:person {position: "Dean (unanimously)"}

@meeting_1856_09_27:event {when: @date_1856_09_27, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1856_09_27 -> present -> [@preston, @harvey, @gillingham, @furrell]
@meeting_1856_09_27 -> resolved -> {detail: "Postpone session meeting for one week due to building repairs"}

@meeting_1856_10_27:event {when: @date_1856_10_27, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1856_10_27 -> present -> [@harvey, @birdsell, @finsell]
@meeting_1856_10_27 -> resolved -> {detail: "Abolish matriculation fee; set graduation fee $25", voted: "unanimous"}
@meeting_1856_10_27 -> resolved -> {detail: "Mrs. Sanders permitted to attend half session at half cost"}

@meeting_1856_12_11:event {when: @date_1856_12_11, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1856_12_11 -> present -> [@harvey, @birdsell, @brown, @finsell]
@meeting_1856_12_11 -> resolved -> {detail: "Suspend lectures from Christmas to New Year’s Day inclusive"}

@meeting_1857_02_06:event {when: @date_1857_02_06, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_02_06 -> present -> [@harvey, @preston, @bindell, @kerr, @russell]
@meeting_1857_02_06 -> received theses from -> [@r_moon, @dinanna_taghault, @philbe_wilton, @hannia_preston, @lucy_peterschilin, @mary_scarlett] {referred_to: [@pickett, @brown, @harvey, @bindell, @kerr, @preston, @russell]}

@meeting_1857_02_17:event {when: @date_1857_02_17, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> present -> [@harvey, @preston, @victor, @bradlee_brown, @fursell]
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @lucy_peterschilin:person {votes_white: 66, votes_black: 4}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @elizabeth_bangl:person {votes_white: 65, votes_black: 5}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @susanna_hayhurst:person {votes_white: 64, votes_black: 6}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @mary_g_scarlet:person {votes_white: 62, votes_black: 8}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @phebe_wilson:person {votes_white: 61, votes_black: 9}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @orie_r_noon:person {votes_white: 55, votes_black: 15}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @hannah_w_brinton:person {votes_white: 54, votes_black: 16}
@meeting_1857_02_17 -> elected -> @elizabeth_d_cohen:person {votes_white: 31, votes_black: 39, status: "not elected"}

@meeting_1857_02_19:event {when: @date_1857_02_19, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_02_19 -> present -> [@harvey, @preston, @birdsell, @furness]
@meeting_1857_02_19 -> vote -> {detail: "Unanimous rejection of L.A. Cohen’s examination"}

@meeting_1857_02_23:event {when: @date_1857_02_23, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_02_23 -> present -> [@harvey, @birdsell, @vern_cleveland]
@meeting_1857_02_23 -> appointment -> {detail: "Professors appointed by Corporators", appointees: [
  {@person: @ellwood_harvey, position: "Professor of Chemistry & Toxicology"},
  {@person: @edwin_furness, position: "Professor of Obstetrics & Diseases of Women & Children"},
  {@person: @birdsell, position: "Professor of Theory & Practice of Medicine"},
  {@person: @emeline_h_cleveland, position: "Professor of Anatomy & Histology"}
]}

@meeting_1857_04_24:event {when: @date_1857_04_24, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_04_24 -> present -> [@harvey, @preston, @birdsell, @brown, @fennell]
@meeting_1857_04_24 -> appointed -> @preston:person {position: "Valedictory Lecturer"}
@meeting_1857_04_24 -> appointed -> @birdsell:person {position: "General Introductory Lecturer"}
@meeting_1857_04_24 -> appointed -> @brown:person {position: "Auditor of Accounts"}
@meeting_1857_04_24 -> appointed -> @fennell:person {position: "Settlement with former Treasurer"}

@meeting_1857_09_22:event {when: @date_1857_09_22, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_09_22 -> present -> [@beresell, @preston, @finsell]
@meeting_1857_09_22 -> resolved -> {detail: "Limit lectures to three per week for Physiology, Obstetrics, Materia Medica & Surgery"}

@meeting_1857_09_25:event {when: @date_1857_09_25, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_09_25 -> present -> [@cleveland, @birasell, @brown, @finsell]
@meeting_1857_09_25 -> appointed -> @eliza_gatchell:person {position: "Adjunct Professor of Chemistry"}
@meeting_1857_09_25 -> admitted -> @susan_parry:person {status: "admitted"}

@meeting_1857_10_25:event {when: @date_1857_10_25, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_10_25 -> present -> [@preston, @binsale, @furrell, @cleveland]
@meeting_1857_10_25 -> resolved -> {detail: "Dr. Furrell to complete Dr. Kerr’s Materia Medica lectures"}

@meeting_1857_12_20:event {when: @date_1857_12_20, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1857_12_20 -> present -> [@preston, @binsale, @cleveland]
@meeting_1857_12_20 -> resolved -> {detail: "No lectures from Christmas to New Year inclusive"}

@meeting_1858_02_09:event {when: @date_1858_02_09, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_02_09 -> present -> [@preston, @cleveland, @bradell, @finselle]
@meeting_1858_02_09 -> received theses from -> [@susan_parry, @henrietta_buckel, @hannah_jones, @rebecca_finselle] {referred_to: [@preston, @bradell, @finselle, @cleveland]}

@meeting_1858_02_20:event {when: @date_1858_02_20, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_02_20 -> present -> [@preston, @cleveland, @bradell, @temple, @harvey_adjunct, @brown]
@meeting_1858_02_20 -> election -> {candidates: [
  {@person: @rebecca_finselle, votes_white: 69, votes_black: 1},
  {@person: @hannah_jones, votes_white: 66, votes_black: 4},
  {@person: @henrietta_buckel, votes_white: 60, votes_black: 10},
  {@person: @susan_parry, votes_white: 54, votes_black: 16}
], result: "All declared duly elected"}

@meeting_1858_02_27:event {when: @date_1858_02_27, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_02_27 -> resolved -> {detail: "Award M.D. degrees at public commencement at Musical Fund Hall (Saturday, Feb 27)", recipients: [@rebecca_finselle, @hannah_jones, @henrietta_buckel, @susan_parry]}

@meeting_1858_06_20:event {when: @date_1858_06_20, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_06_20 -> present -> [@cleveland]
@meeting_1858_06_20 -> appointed -> @cleveland:person {position: "General Introductory Lecturer"}

@meeting_1858_09_15:event {when: @date_1858_09_15, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_09_15 -> resolved -> {detail: "Postpone opening of session to Oct 16; resume regular lectures Monday after"}

@meeting_1858_10_13:event {when: @date_1858_10_13, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_10_13 -> present -> [@preston, @birdwell, @cleveland, @rodney, @temple, @furrell]
@meeting_1858_10_13 -> appointed -> @cleveland:person {position: "Clinic Physician"}

@meeting_1858_10_15:event {when: @date_1858_10_15, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_10_15 -> resolved -> {detail: "Recommend lecture on chemistry at the Temple"}

@meeting_1858_10_25:event {when: @date_1858_10_25, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_10_25 -> resolved -> {detail: "Dr. Furrell to complete Dr. Kerr’s Materia Medica lectures"}

@meeting_1858_12_20:event {when: @date_1858_12_20, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1858_12_20 -> resolved -> {detail: "No lecture from Christmas to New Year; recommend traveling lecturing agents"}

@meeting_1859_02_03:event {when: @date_1859_02_03, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1859_02_03 -> present -> [@preston, @birdsell, @cleveland, @sample, @furrell]
@meeting_1859_02_03 -> resolved -> {detail: "Session to close March 15; admit Mary M. Bailey for M.P. degree"}

@meeting_1859_02_10:event {when: @date_1859_02_10, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1859_02_10 -> present -> [@preston, @birdsell, @cleveland, @temple, @furrell]
@meeting_1859_02_10 -> resolved -> {detail: "Preliminary examinations for all candidates"}

@meeting_1859_02_14:event {when: @date_1859_02_14, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1859_02_14 -> present -> [@preston, @cleveland, @bradell, @temple, @semple, @rochey, @preston, @furrell]
@meeting_1859_02_14 -> received theses from -> [@boyle, @stratton, @underwood, @shelley, @adams, @porter] {referred_to: [@birdsell, @semple, @cleveland, @rochey, @preston, @furrell]}

@meeting_1859_02_17:event {when: @date_1859_02_17, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1859_02_17 -> present -> [@preston, @birdsell, @cleveland, @furness]
@meeting_1859_02_17 -> reported -> {detail: "Theses of Mrs. McClean, Mrs. Stratton, Mrs. Barkey, Mrs. Underwood, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Parker examined; all women admitted to examination"}

@meeting_1859_02_25:event {when: @date_1859_02_25, where: @chester_pa}
@meeting_1859_02_25 -> present -> [@birdsell, @gorminge]
@meeting_1859_02_25 -> election -> {candidates: [
  {@person: @sutherland_underwood, votes_white: 66, votes_black: 4},
  {@person: @mary_malyn_bailey, votes_white: 60, votes_black: 10},
  {@person: @st_winona_stratton, votes_white: 58, votes_black: 12},
  {@person: @harriet_adams, votes_white: 56, votes_black: 14},
  {@person: @maria_porter, votes_white: 55, votes_black: 15},
  {@person: @lizzie_mellen, votes_white: 53, votes_black: 17}
], result: "All declared duly elected; Dean to recommend M.P. degrees"}

#--- Additional entities -------------------------------------------------------
@edwin_furness:person {full_name: "Edwin Furness, M.D.", role: "Dean (later)"}
@emeline_h_cleveland:person {full_name: "Emeline H. Cleveland", role: "Professor of Anatomy & Histology"}
@birdwell:person {full_name: "Dr. Birdwell", role: "Faculty"}
@binsale:person {full_name: "Dr. Binsale", role: "Faculty"}
@bradell:person {full_name: "Dr. Bradell", role: "Faculty"}
@harvey_adjunct:person {full_name: "Dr. Harvey (adjunct)", role: "Faculty"}
@rochey:person {full_name: "Prof. Rochey", role: "Faculty"}
@boyle:person {full_name: "Miss Boyle", role: "Thesis author"}
@stratton:person {full_name: "Miss Stratton", role: "Thesis author"}
@underwood:person {full_name: "Mrs. Underwood", role: "Thesis author"}
@shelley:person {full_name: "Miss Shelley", role: "Thesis author"}
@adams:person {full_name: "Miss Adams", role: "Thesis author"}
@porter:person {full_name: "Miss Porter", role: "Thesis author"}

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 5:25:08 AM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 5:22:59 AM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 5:16:16 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 5:12:30 AM · View this version
    "Alphabetical chunk 6/11 (40 files)"

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01KA0BWKKC0W9GGC7SSXZ2526K

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