a092_001_122.jpg

Faculty Meetings of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1859

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 4:15:48 PM

Added description

Description

Faculty Meetings of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1859

Overview

This archival item is a digital collection of scanned images and accompanying OCR text of the minutes from faculty meetings held in 1859 at the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The material is catalogued as a single “Text” record in the PINAX database (ID 01KA1HFNJVR4J453K28QX8QZ21) and is held by the final‑drexel‑university repository. The documents are in English and cover the calendar year 1859.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania was an early institution dedicated to the medical education of women. In 1859, the college’s faculty, led by Dean Edwin Russell Dean and Professor Edwin Birdsell, met regularly to discuss academic appointments, curriculum, and administrative matters. The minutes reflect the college’s efforts to maintain a professional faculty, secure resources, and organize public events such as the eighth annual commencement.

Contents

The collection comprises six scanned images (JPEG/TIFF) of meeting minutes, each with OCR‑extracted text. Key events documented include:
  • The eighth annual commencement (March 5, 1859) and a reunion evening (March 5, 1859).
  • Faculty meetings on April 2, August, October 7, October 15, November 15, and December 7, 1859.
  • Decisions on appointments (e.g., Reynell Coates and Requell Foates as Professors of Surgery), committee assignments (banquet, lecture, beneficiaries, clinic physicians), and budgetary matters (purchase of a skeleton, allocation for surgery articles).
  • A change in voting rules requiring a majority of white votes and an open ballot.
  • Official announcements and notices of elections.

The OCR text provides a readable transcription of the minutes, while the original images preserve the layout and any marginalia.

Scope

The item covers the year 1859, the Philadelphia campus of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, and topics related to faculty governance, medical education, administrative decisions, and college events. It does not include records from other years, other institutions, or non‑faculty meetings. The material is useful for researchers studying early women’s medical education, faculty governance, and the administrative history of the college.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:document {title: "Faculty Meetings of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1859"}

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {location: @philadelphia}
@philadelphia:place {state: @pennsylvania, country: @united_states}
@pennsylvania:place {country: @united_states}

@edwin_russell_dean:person {full_name: "Edwin Russell Dean", role: "Dean"}
@edwin_birdsell:person {full_name: "Edwin Birdsell", role: "Professor"}
@prof_cleveland:person {full_name: "Prof. Cleveland", role: "Professor"}
@prof_birdsell:person {full_name: "Prof. Birdsell", role: "Professor"}
@dr_russell:person {full_name: "Dr. Russell", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_temple:person {full_name: "Dr. Temple", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_fessell:person {full_name: "Dr. Fessell", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_rockey:person {full_name: "Dr. Rockey", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_thorell:person {full_name: "Dr. Thorell", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_preston:person {full_name: "Dr. Preston", role: "Faculty"}
@t_fawcett:person {full_name: "T. Fawcett", role: "Faculty"}
@senator_birchell_cleveland:person {full_name: "Senator Birchell Cleveland", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_birchell_cleveland:person {full_name: "Dr. Birchell Cleveland", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_reynell_coates:person {full_name: "Dr. Reynell Coates", role: "Professor of Surgery"}
@dr_hilda:person {full_name: "Dr. Hilda", role: "Physician"}
@dr_francis_l_evans:person {full_name: "Dr. Francis L. Evans", role: "Physician"}
@mrs_m_c_redmond:person {full_name: "Mrs. M.C. Redmond", role: "Physician"}
@dr_roebuck:person {full_name: "Dr. Roebuck", role: "Faculty"}
@dr_requell_foates:person {full_name: "Dr. Requell Foates", role: "Professor of Surgery"}
@wm_s_peirce:person {full_name: "Wm S. Peirce", role: "Secretary"}

@albany_new_york:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@new_york:place {country: @united_states}
@washington_dc:place {country: @united_states}

@concert_hall:place {location: @philadelphia}
@house_of_prof_preston:place {location: @philadelphia}
@lecture_card:document {type: "Lecture order card"}
@essay_10th_anniversary:document {title: "Essay of the 10th Annual Anniversary"}
@general_introductory_lecture:document {type: "General introductory lecture"}
@skeleton_purchase:transaction {amount: 35, purpose: "skeleton for faculty use"}
@budget_for_surgery_articles:transaction {max_amount: 10, purpose: "articles for Chair of Surgery"}
@chair_of_surgery:position {title: "Chair of Surgery"}

@banquet_committee_1859:organization {purpose: "Committee on banqueting"}
@committee_preston_lecture:organization {members: [@dr_birchell_cleveland, @dr_rockey]}
@committee_on_beneficiaries:organization {}
@clinic_physicians_1859:organization {}

@voting_rule_change:event {when: @date_1859_04_02, description: "Change voting rules to require 55 white votes out of 70 and at least 5 white votes per tribe"}

@faculty_meetings_1859:event {description: "Series of faculty meetings at the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1859"}

@eighth_annual_commencement:event {type: "Commencement", when: @date_1859_03_05, where: @concert_hall, description: "Eight Annual Commencement"}
@reunion_evening_meeting:event {when: @date_1859_03_05, where: @house_of_prof_preston, description: "Evening reunion and farewell"}

@meeting_april_2_1859:event {when: @date_1859_04_02, description: "Faculty meeting", present: [@prof_cleveland, @prof_birdsell, @dr_rockey, @dr_thorell]}
@meeting_august_1859:event {when: @date_1859_08, description: "Faculty meeting"}
@meeting_oct_7_1859:event {when: @date_1859_10_07, description: "Faculty meeting", present: [@senator_birchell_cleveland, @prof_cleveland, @dr_rockey, @t_fawcett]}
@meeting_oct_15_1859:event {when: @date_1859_10_15, description: "Faculty meeting", present: "All Professors"}
@meeting_nov_15_1859:event {when: @date_1859_11_15, description: "Fourth Annual Session"}
@meeting_dec_7_1859:event {when: @date_1859_12_07, description: "Faculty meeting"}

# File‑to‑event links
@file_pinax -> documents -> @faculty_meetings_1859
@file_a092_001_122_jpg -> documents -> @eighth_annual_commencement
@file_a092_001_123_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_april_2_1859
@file_a092_001_124_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_august_1859
@file_a092_001_125_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_oct_15_1859
@file_a092_001_126_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_dec_7_1859

# Event details and relationships
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @eighth_annual_commencement
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @reunion_evening_meeting
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_april_2_1859
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_august_1859
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_oct_7_1859
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_oct_15_1859
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_nov_15_1859
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_dec_7_1859

@prof_cleveland -> conferred degree at -> @eighth_annual_commencement
@prof_birdsell -> delivered valedictory at -> @eighth_annual_commencement
@edwin_russell_dean -> presided over -> @eighth_annual_commencement

@dr_temple -> appointed to committee with -> @dr_russell {purpose: "Obtain hall and arrange public commencement"} {when: @date_1859_03_05}
@dr_temple -> declined delivery of -> @general_introductory_lecture {when: @date_1859_08}
@dr_preston -> appointed to deliver -> @general_introductory_lecture {when: @date_1859_08}
@t_fawcett -> presided over -> @meeting_august_1859

@meeting_april_2_1859 -> produced -> @essay_10th_anniversary
@dr_fessell -> member of -> @banquet_committee_1859
@dr_rockey -> member of -> @banquet_committee_1859
@prof_cleveland -> member of -> @banquet_committee_1859
@dr_temple -> appointed to deliver next -> @general_introductory_lecture {role: "next general introductory"} 
@prof_cleveland -> appointed to deliver next -> @general_introductory_lecture {role: "next valedictory"}

@meeting_april_2_1859 -> enacted -> @voting_rule_change

@meeting_august_1859 -> noted -> @dr_temple {action: "declined introductory lecture"}
@meeting_august_1859 -> noted -> @dr_preston {action: "appointed to introductory lecture"}

@meeting_oct_7_1859 -> received report of -> @preston_lecture_report:document {type: "Lecture report"}
@preston_lecture_report -> referred to -> @committee_preston_lecture
@meeting_oct_7_1859 -> arranged -> @lecture_card

@meeting_oct_15_1859 -> motion by -> @edwin_birdsell {action: "recommend"}
@dr_reynell_coates -> recommended for -> @chair_of_surgery
@committee_on_beneficiaries -> reported admissions of -> [@dr_hilda, @dr_francis_l_evans, @mrs_m_c_redmond]
@dr_birdsell -> appointed as -> @clinic_physicians_1859
@dr_cleveland_evans:person {full_name: "Dr. Cleveland Evans"} -> appointed as -> @clinic_physicians_1859

@meeting_nov_15_1859 -> recorded -> @official_notice_election_coates:document {content: "Election of Reynell Coates as Professor of Surgery"}
@dr_preston -> delivered -> @general_introductory_lecture {audience: "both sexes"}
@edwin_russell_dean -> authorized -> @skeleton_purchase

@meeting_dec_7_1859 -> discussed -> @faculty_fund {topic: "state of the Faculty fund"}
@edwin_russell_dean -> instructed -> @treasurer {action: "provide statement of pecuniary condition"}
@wm_s_peirce -> authored -> @official_announcement_foates:document {content: "Election of Dr. Requell Foates as Professor of Surgery"}
@dr_requell_foates -> elected as -> @chair_of_surgery
@edwin_russell_dean -> authorized -> @budget_for_surgery_articles

# Additional notes
@official_announcement_foates -> dated -> @date_1859_12_07
@official_notice_election_coates -> dated -> @date_1859_11_15

# End of knowledge graph extraction.

Metadata

Files (10)

a092_001_122.jpgJPEG
357.94 KB
OCR Text

to some other place where they may obtain a fuller practical knowledge of pharmacy and disease. Moreover, that Dr. Russell & Temple be a committee to act with a similar one appointed by the corporators, to obtain a hall and make all other needful arrangements for holding the public commencement. Adjourned Edwin Russell Dean The Eight Annual Commencement was held in Concert Hall on the fifth of March 1859. Prof Cleveland conferred the degree and Prof Birdsell delivered its valedictory. The hall was crowded by an attentive audience. On the evening of the same day a pleasant meeting of reunion and farewell was held at the house of Prof Preston and attended by the students, faculty, corporators, & friends of the College.

a092_001_123.jpgJPEG
365.01 KB
OCR Text

April 2nd, 1859 Present: Cleveland, Birdsell, Rockey and Thorell. An essay of the 10th Annual Anniversary was presented and agreed to and the committee continued as part of a joint committee with the corporation for its publication. Voted that Dr. Fessell, Rockey and Cleveland be the committee on banqueting for the ensuing year. On motion Dr Temple was appointed to deliver the next general introductory and Dr Cleveland the next valedictory address. It was voted unanimously to change the rules of voting for candidates so as to require fifty five white votes out of seventy, and not less than five white votes in every tribe to elect and that in order to know this, that the voting be by open ballot. Adjourneled Edwin Birdsell pres.

a092_001_124.jpgJPEG
352.25 KB
OCR Text

August 1859 In consequence of other engagements, Dr Temple was obliged to decline the delivery of the general Introductory Lecture, and Dr Preston was therefore appointed to that office. T. Fawcett pres Oct 7th 1859 Present: Senator Birchell Cleveland & Rockey & Fawcett The report of Dr Preston's lecture was presented & after being partially read was accepted & referred to a committee of Dr Birchell Cleveland & Rockey for further examination. Moved that the general introductory be delivered at 3 1/2 o'clock Measure was taken to arrange a card for the order of lectures Noted that the Janitor must keep the halls yard and all parts of the premises clean and in perfect order. Adjourned.

a092_001_125.jpgJPEG
389.97 KB
OCR Text

Saturday Oct 15th 1859 Present—All the Professors—A lecturing card was agreed upon. On motion of Dr Birdsell it was voted unanimously that Dr Reynell Coates be recommended to the Corporation as a proper person to fill the chair of Surgery now vacant. The Committee on Beneficiaries reported the admissions as students, on this foundation: Drs. Hilda of Albany of N.York, Dr. Francis L. Evans of N.York and Mrs. M.C. Redmond of Washington, D.C. Dr. Birdsell & Cleveland Evans appointed clinic physicians for the ensuing year. Adjourned Nov 15th 1859 Official notice was given to the Faculty of the election of Reynell Coates, M.D., as Professor of Surgery. The Fourth Annual Session was commenced by the delivery of the general introductory lecture by Prof. Preston to a crowded & attentive audience of both sexes. The Dean was unanimously authorized to expend $35 for the purchase of a skeleton for the use of the Faculty.

a092_001_126.jpgJPEG
372.47 KB
OCR Text

Dec. 7th, 1859 All present except Dr. Roebuck—Conversation on a variety of subjects relative to the welfare of the College. Moved that the Dean make a report of the state of the Faculty fund, & that a statement of the pecuniary condition of the College be requested of the treasurer. The following official announcement of the election of Prof. Foates was received previously from the Secretary— "Phila Decr 14th, 1859 To the Faculty of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Gentlemen—At a meeting of the corporators of the college held this day, Dr. Requell Foates was unanimously elected Professor of Surgery of the College. Yours truly, Wm S. Peirce—Secretary" On motion, a sum not exceeding ten dollars was authorized to be expended for such articles as may be needed by the Chair of Surgery for the purpose of illustration. Such articles to be the property of the Faculty. Adjourned Edwin Russell Foote

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 4:15:48 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 4:08:12 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 3:59:29 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 3:57:02 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Faculty_Meetings_1859"

Parent

01KA1H9EEN033D4WXF3G0WH8VS

No children (leaf entity)