Faculty Meeting Minutes of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1855

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 5:24:28 AM

Added description

Description

Faculty Meeting Minutes of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1855

Overview

This is a single‑volume text record of faculty meetings held by the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania during the calendar year 1855. The minutes are presented in English, dated from February 15 to December 17, and are accompanied by scanned reproductions of the original pages (JPEG and TIFF images). The file is in the public domain and was produced by the Drexel‑Production‑Final project for the PINAX digital archive.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850, was the first institution in the United States to grant medical degrees to women. Its faculty, led by Dean Ellwood Harvey, met regularly in Philadelphia to discuss academic matters, student examinations, administrative appointments, and institutional development. The 1855 minutes reflect the college’s efforts to establish academic standards, expand its curriculum, and secure facilities such as the Preston Retreat.

Contents

The minutes chronicle 18 meetings and a resolution, detailing:
  • Thesis evaluations (e.g., Emily A. Barney, Phila O. Wilmarth, Miss Nivison).
  • Student admissions and examinations.
  • Faculty appointments (Chair of Obstetrics to Dr. Sylvester Birdsell; demonstrator positions).
  • Committee formations on Beneficiaries, Advertising, and the Preston Retreat.
  • Financial decisions (payment of bills, advertising fees).
  • Resolutions to rent the Preston Retreat, recommend faculty for the Board of Corporation, and elect board members.
  • Commencement on March 10, 1855, including the Baledictory address by Prof. Mark G. Kerr and the conferral of MD degrees to six women.
  • Administrative actions such as the resignation of Prof. Kersey G. Thomas and the appointment of Sylvester Birdsell to the vacant chair of Obstetrics.

Scope

The collection covers the full span of 1855, focusing on the internal governance of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. It includes discussions of academic policy, student progress, faculty elections, financial management, and institutional expansion. The material does not extend beyond 1855 or include external events outside the college’s faculty meetings.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

**File‑to‑event links**

@file_a092_001_082_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_15_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_15, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_082_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_19_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_19, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_083_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_20_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_20, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_083_jpg -> documents -> @resolution_feb_21_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_21, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_084_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_26_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_26, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_084_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_mar_01_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_01, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_085_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_mar_02_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_02, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_085_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_mar_06_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_06, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_086_jpg -> documents -> @commencement_mar_10_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_10, where: @college_building}
@file_a092_001_087_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_apr_24_1855:event {when: @date_1855_04_24, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_088_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_sep_27_1855:event {when: @date_1855_09_27, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_088_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_oct_03_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_03, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_089_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_oct_05_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_05, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_090_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_oct_23_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_23, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_090_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_oct_30_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_30, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_090_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_nov_08_1855:event {when: @date_1855_11_08, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_091_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_nov_19_1855:event {when: @date_1855_11_19, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_091_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_dec_03_1855:event {when: @date_1855_12_03, where: @philadelphia}
@file_a092_001_092_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_dec_17_1855:event {when: @date_1855_12_17, where: @philadelphia}

---

**Core entities**

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {type: "Medical school", location: @philadelphia}
@philadelphia:place {state: @pennsylvania, country: @united_states}
@college_building:place {description: "College Building of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania", location: @philadelphia}
@pennsylvania:place {country: @united_states}

@ellwood_harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey", role: "Dean", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@edwin_fussell:person {full_name: "Edwin Fussell", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@kerry_g_kerr:person {full_name: "Mark G. Kerr", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@kersey_g_thomas:person {full_name: "Kersey G. Thomas", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@ann_preston:person {full_name: "Ann Preston", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@clinton_gillingham:person {full_name: "Clinton Gillingham", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@dr_russell:person {full_name: "Russell", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@dr_birdsell:person {full_name: "Sylvester Birdsell", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@dr_turrell:person {full_name: "Turrell", role: "Faculty", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@charles_d_cleveland:person {full_name: "Charles D. Cleveland", role: "President (College)", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@professor_thomas:person {full_name: "Kersey G. Thomas", role: "Professor", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}

**Students (selected)**  
@emily_a_barney:person {full_name: "Emily A. Barney", role: "Student"}
@phila_o_wilmarth:person {full_name: "Phila O. Wilmarth", role: "Student"}
@miss_nivison:person {full_name: "Miss Nivison", role: "Student"}
@miss_smith:person {full_name: "Miss Smith", role: "Student"}
@mrs_cleveland:person {full_name: "Mrs. Emeline Norton Cleveland", role: "Student"}
@mrs_heala:person {full_name: "Mrs. Jane V. Heala", role: "Student"}
@mrs_arivison:person {full_name: "Mrs. Samantha S. Arivison", role: "Student"}
@mrs_mary_smith:person {full_name: "Mrs. Mary E. Smith", role: "Student"}
@mrs_eliza_thomas:person {full_name: "Mrs. Eliza L.S. Thomas", role: "Student"}
@mrs_emeline_cleveland:person {full_name: "Mrs. Emeline Horton Cleveland", role: "Student"}
@miss_samantha_nivison:person {full_name: "Miss Samantha Sabina Nivison", role: "Student"}
@miss_mary_elizabeth_smith:person {full_name: "Miss Mary Elizabeth Smith", role: "Student"}
@mrs_eliza_lucinda_thomas:person {full_name: "Mrs. Eliza Lucinda Smith Thomas", role: "Student"}
@miss_emily_ann_barney:person {full_name: "Miss Emily Ann Barney", role: "Student"}
@mrs_phila_osgood_welmarth:person {full_name: "Mrs. Phila Osgood Welmarth", role: "Student"}

**Theses (selected)**  
@thesis_barney:document {title: "Secreting Glands", author: @emily_a_barney}
@thesis_wilmarth:document {title: "Untitled", author: @phila_o_wilmarth}
@thesis_nivison:document {title: "Untitled", author: @miss_nivison}
@thesis_smith:document {title: "Untitled", author: @miss_smith}

**Committees**  
@committee_beneficiaries:organization {type: "Committee", purpose: "Beneficiaries", members: [@edwin_fussell, @kersey_g_thomas, @clinton_gillingham]}
@committee_advertising:organization {type: "Committee", purpose: "Advertising", members: [@kersey_g_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey]}
@committee_preston_retreat:organization {type: "Committee", purpose: "Preston Retreat", members: [@edwin_fussell, @kersey_g_thomas]}

**Events (selected)**  

@meeting_feb_15_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_15, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@ellwood_harvey, @edwin_fussell, @kersey_g_thomas, @dr_fussell, @dr_thomas, @dr_harvey]}
@meeting_feb_19_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_19, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@ellwood_harvey, @edwin_fussell, @dr_preston, @kersey_g_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @dr_thomas, @dr_harvey], actions: [{admitted: [@emily_a_barney, @phila_o_wilmarth]}, {reported_favourably: [@thesis_barney, @thesis_wilmarth]}]}
@meeting_feb_20_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_20, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@edwin_fussell, @dr_preston, @kersey_g_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{resolution: "Examinations to commence on 21 Feb"}]}
@resolution_feb_21_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_21, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@edwin_fussell, @dr_preston, @kersey_g_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{payment_order: {to: "Ziegenfus & Carver", amount: 55}}]}
@meeting_feb_26_1855:event {when: @date_1855_02_26, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@edwin_fussell, @kersey_g_kerr, @dr_thomas, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{letter_read: @ellwood_harvey, subject: "Accepting office of Demonstrator of Anatomy"}]}
@meeting_mar_01_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_01, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @kersey_g_kerr, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{letter_read: @charles_d_cleveland, subject: "Commencement"}, {admitted: @mrs_jane_neals}, {commencement_scheduled: {date: @date_1855_03_10, time: "11:00", location: @college_building}}]
@meeting_mar_02_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_02, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @kersey_g_kerr, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{announcement_adopted: true}]}
@meeting_mar_06_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_06, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @kersey_g_kerr, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{ballot_results: [{candidate: @mrs_emeline_norton_cleveland, white: 66, black: 4}, {candidate: @mrs_jane_heala, white: 45, black: 25}, {candidate: @mrs_samantha_arivison, white: 57, black: 13}, {candidate: @mrs_mary_smith, white: 59, black: 11}, {candidate: @mrs_emily_barney, white: 56, black: 14}, {candidate: @phila_o_wilmarth, white: 54, black: 16}, {candidate: @mrs_eliza_thomas, white: 67, black: 3}]}]}
@commencement_mar_10_1855:event {when: @date_1855_03_10, where: @college_building, attendees: [@ellwood_harvey, @charles_d_cleveland, @mrs_emeline_cleveland, @miss_samantha_nivison, @miss_mary_elizabeth_smith, @mrs_eliza_lucinda_thomas, @miss_emily_ann_barney, @mrs_phila_osgood_welmarth], actions: [{degree_conferred: true}, {baledictory_address_delivered_by: @mark_g_kerr}]}
@meeting_apr_24_1855:event {when: @date_1855_04_24, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@edwin_fussell, @kersey_g_kerr, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{committee_appointed: @committee_beneficiaries}, {committee_appointed: @committee_advertising}, {lecture_assigned: [{speaker: @ann_preston, date: @date_1855_10_03, time: "17:00"}]}, {address_assigned: [{speaker: @edwin_fussell, year: 1856}]}]}
@meeting_sep_27_1855:event {when: @date_1855_09_27, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @dr_turrell, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{intro_lecture_schedule: [{speaker: @dr_turrell, day: "Thursday", time: "16:00"}, {speaker: @dr_thomas, day: "Thursday", time: "17:00"}, {speaker: @kersey_g_kerr, day: "Friday", time: "16:00"}, {speaker: @clinton_gillingham, day: "Friday", time: "17:00"}, {speaker: @dr_preston, day: "Saturday", time: "16:00"}, {speaker: @ellwood_harvey, day: "Saturday", time: "17:00"}]}, {advertisement_assigned: @dr_turrell}]}
@meeting_oct_03_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_03, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_turrell, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{appointment: {person: @dr_sylvester_birdsell, position: "Corporation member for Chair of Obstetrics & Diseases of Women and Children"}}]}
@meeting_oct_05_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_05, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @dr_russell, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @dr_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{payment_made: {to: @ellwood_harvey, amount: 1.5, purpose: "advertising introductory lectures"}}, {lecture_schedule_adopted: true}]}
@meeting_oct_23_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_23, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@edwin_fussell, @dr_thomas, @dr_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{resignation_received: @kersey_g_thomas}, {discussion: "no action taken"}]}
@meeting_oct_30_1855:event {when: @date_1855_10_30, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @dr_russell, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{no_business: true}]}
@meeting_nov_08_1855:event {when: @date_1855_11_08, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@edwin_fussell, @dr_thomas, @dr_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{bills_paid: [{payee: "Gas Company", amount: 2.35}, {payee: "Stationery", amount: 2.21}]}]}
@meeting_nov_19_1855:event {when: @date_1855_11_19, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_fussell, @dr_thomas, @dr_preston, @dr_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{resolution: "Rent Preston Retreat (20th & Hamilton Sts., Philadelphia)"}, {resolution: "Form committee (Fussell & Thomas) to apply to Preston Retreat trustees"}]}
@meeting_dec_03_1855:event {when: @date_1855_12_03, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @edwin_fussell, @kersey_g_kerr, @dr_thomas, @clinton_gillingham, @dr_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{report: "No response from Preston Retreat trustees"} , {resolution: "Suggest to Board of Cooperators"}]}
@meeting_dec_17_1855:event {when: @date_1855_12_17, where: @philadelphia, attendees: [@dr_preston, @kersey_g_kerr, @clinton_gillingham, @dr_birdsell, @ellwood_harvey], actions: [{resolution: "No lectures after 22 Dec until 31 Dec"}, {election_recommendation: [@edwin_fussell, @ellwood_harvey]}, {minutes_correction: {person: @dr_preston, reason: "absence"}}]}

---

**Key relationships (selected)**  

@ellwood_harvey -> dean_of -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania  
@edwin_fussell -> faculty_of -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania  
@kersey_g_thomas -> faculty_of -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania  
@ann_preston -> faculty_of -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania  
@charles_d_cleveland -> president_of -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania  

@edwin_fussell -> reported_favourably_on -> @thesis_barney {when: @date_1855_02_19}  
@ellwood_harvey -> reported_favourably_on -> @thesis_wilmarth {when: @date_1855_02_19}  

@ellwood_harvey -> admitted -> @emily_a_barney {when: @date_1855_02_19}  
@ellwood_harvey -> admitted -> @phila_o_wilmarth {when: @date_1855_02_19}  

@ellwood_harvey -> elected -> @mrs_eliza_thomas:person {position: "Demonstrator of Anatomy", when: @date_1855_02_26}  

@charles_d_cleveland -> sent_letter_about -> @commencement_mar_10_1855:event  

@mark_g_kerr -> delivered -> @baledictory_address:document {when: @date_1855_03_10}  

@committee_beneficiaries -> reported_beneficiaries -> [@annette_buckel, @ruth_m_angel, @catharine_j_underwood, @louisa_d_campbell]  

@committee_advertising -> assigned -> @dr_turrell:person {task: "Insert advertisement in Public Ledger"}  

@dr_sylvester_birdsell -> appointed_to -> @chair_obstetrics:position {when: @date_1855_10_03}  

@edwin_fussell -> paid -> @zigenfuss_and_carver:organization {amount: 55, when: @date_1855_02_20}  

@ellwood_harvey -> paid -> @ellwood_harvey:person {amount: 1.5, purpose: "advertising", when: @date_1855_10_05}  

@committee_preston_retreat -> applied_to -> @preston_retreat:place {when: @date_1855_11_19}  

@preston_retreat:place {address: "20th & Hamilton Sts., Philadelphia"}  

@ellwood_harvey -> recommended_for_board -> [@edwin_fussell, @ellwood_harvey] {when: @date_1855_12_17}  

---  

**Notes**

* All dates are auto‑created entities (e.g., @date_1855_02_15).  
* Common‑knowledge places such as @philadelphia, @pennsylvania, @united_states are referenced, not defined.  
* The file codes are linked to the specific meeting events they contain.  
* Only entities that appear uniquely in these minutes are defined; well‑known figures (e.g., @charles_d_cleveland) are referenced as persons without a separate definition.  

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 5:24:28 AM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 5:18:54 AM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 5:15:37 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 5:13:16 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Faculty_Meetings_1855"

Additional Components (22)

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Parent

01KA0CEZSHQ9AQ2C2MYDDVQ3JP

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