Faculty Meeting Minutes of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1852-1853

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 4:14:22 PM

Added description

Description

Faculty Meeting Minutes of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1852‑1853

Overview

This collection consists of handwritten and printed minutes of faculty meetings held by the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania during the academic year 1852‑1853. The documents are dated from October 28, 1852 to May 6, 1853, and are presented in sequential order (No. 10 through No. 22). The minutes record elections, committee appointments, curriculum decisions, examinations, and commencement arrangements. The material is in English and is in the public domain.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850 in Philadelphia, was one of the first institutions to grant medical degrees to women. The faculty, led by Dean David I. Johnson and Secretary William S. Peirce, met regularly to govern academic affairs. The minutes reflect the college’s efforts to establish a comprehensive curriculum, secure funding, and maintain academic standards amid a rapidly expanding student body from across the United States.

Contents

  • Faculty elections and appointments: Elections of professors of Anatomy, Surgery, Obstetrics, Physiology, and other chairs; appointments of committees for funds, medicines, museum, and endowment.
  • Curricular decisions: Scheduling of introductory and regular lectures, selection of lecture topics, and adjustments to course structure.
  • Examinations and graduations: Balloting of candidates for the MD degree, recording of examination results, and conferral of degrees, including honorary MDs to Harriet K. Hunt, Martha Browry, and Martha H. Moory.
  • Administrative matters: Hiring of a janitor, procurement of a dissecting subject, and financial arrangements for the college’s operations.
  • Commencement planning: Venue selection, band engagement, and scheduling of the second annual commencement (January 27, 1853) and the third (March 2, 1854).

The minutes also include brief reports from various committees and notes on the admission of beneficiaries and special cases.

Scope

The collection covers the period from the first faculty meeting of the 1852‑1853 session (October 28, 1852) to the last recorded meeting before the end of the academic year (May 6, 1853). It focuses on the internal governance of the college, with particular emphasis on faculty elections, curriculum management, student examinations, and commencement logistics. The material does not include external correspondence or student records, but it does reference student names and residences in the context of examinations and graduations. The documents provide a detailed view of the operational and academic life of an early women’s medical school in the mid‑19th century.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

**College & Core Organization**

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

**Key Persons (first definition only)**  

@david_i_johnson:person {full_name: "David I. Johnson", role: "Dean"}  
@w_s_peirce:person {full_name: "William S. Peirce", role: "Secretary"}  
@seth_pancoast:person {full_name: "Seth Pancoast", title: "Professor of Anatomy"}  
@ellwood_harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey", title: "Professor of Therap & Materia Medica"}  
@joseph_longshore:person {full_name: "Joseph S. Longshore", title: "Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women & Children"}  
@abraham_livezey:person {full_name: "Abraham Livezey", title: "Professor of Practice"}  
@william_cornell:person {full_name: "William M. Cornell", title: "Professor of Physiology"}  
@enoch_rolfe:person {full_name: "Enoch C. Rolfe", title: "Professor of Surgery"}  
@henrietta_w_johnson:person {full_name: "Henrietta W. Johnson", residence: @new_york}  
@almira_l_fowler:person {full_name: "Almira L. Fowler", residence: @new_york}  
@maria_mckinnis:person {full_name: "Maria McKinnis", residence: @pennsylvania}  
@charlotte_g_adams:person {full_name: "Charlotte G. Adams", residence: @boston}  
@hannah_w_ellis:person {full_name: "Hannah W. Ellis", residence: @philadelphia}  
@augusta_r_montgomery:person {full_name: "Augusta R. Montgomery", title: "M.D."}  
@ann_preston:person {full_name: "Ann Preston", title: "M.D."}  
@hilbern_darlington:person {full_name: "Hilbern Darlington", title: "M.D."}  
@edwin_russell:person {full_name: "Edwin Russell", title: "M.D."}  
@ellwood_hawey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Hawey", title: "M.D."}  
@mark_g_kerr:person {full_name: "Mark G. Kerr", title: "M.D."}  
@martha_browry:person {full_name: "Martha B. Browry", residence: @providence_ri}  
@martha_h_moory:person {full_name: "Martha H. Moory", residence: @providence_ri}  
@lucinda_r_brown:person {full_name: "Lucinda R. Brown", residence: @galveston_tx}  
@harriet_k_hunt:person {full_name: "Harriet K. Hunt", residence: @boston}  
@william_elder:person {full_name: "William Elder", title: "M.D."}  
@h_g_thomas:person {full_name: "H. G. Thomas", residence: @marlboro_oh}  
@lidia_p_jacobs:person {full_name: "Lydia P. Jacobs", residence: @philadelphia}  
@minerva_t_hoes:person {full_name: "Minerva T. Hoes", residence: @oswego_ny}  
@jemsha_b_merritt:person {full_name: "Jemsha B. Merritt", residence: @somerset_ny}  
@jane_s_heald:person {full_name: "Jane S. Heald", residence: @lincoln_me}  
@minna_elliger:person {full_name: "Minna Elliger", residence: @allentown_pa}  
@elizabeth_g_shattuck:person {full_name: "Elizabeth G. Shattuck", residence: @philadelphia}  
@elizabeth_h_bates:person {full_name: "Elizabeth H. Bates", residence: @morris_ny}  

**Key Places (common‑knowledge references used where appropriate)**  

@philadelphia:place {state: @pennsylvania, country: @united_states}  
@musical_fund_hall:place {city: @philadelphia, type: "lecture hall"}  
@musical_nona_hall:place {city: @philadelphia, type: "hall"}  
@breiter_band:organization {type: "Band"}  

**Committees (created as organizations)**  

@committee_funds:organization {purpose: "raise funds"}  
@committee_medicines:organization {purpose: "obtain medicines for dispensary"}  
@committee_museum:organization {purpose: "procure preparations for museum"}  
@committee_endowment:organization {purpose: "raise endowment fund"}  
@committee_society:organization {purpose: "defray annual expenses"}  
@committee_audit:organization {purpose: "audit Dean's accounts"}  
@committee_announcement:organization {purpose: "prepare Fourth Annual Announcement"}  
@committee_advertising:organization {purpose: "advertise Fourth Annual Session"}  
@committee_beneficiaries:organization {purpose: "admit Beneficiaries"}  
@committee_dissecting_room:organization {purpose: "fit up Dissecting Room and Anatomical Museum"}  
@committee_dispensary:organization {purpose: "fit up College Dispensary"}  
@committee_apparatus:organization {purpose: "procure additional apparatus"}  
@committee_hall:organization {purpose: "select Hall for Commencement"}  

**Positions / Chairs (created as concepts)**  

@chair_anatomy:position {title: "Chair of Anatomy"}  
@chair_obstetrics:position {title: "Chair of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women & Children"}  
@chair_general_therapeutics:position {title: "Chair of General Therapeutics and Materia Medica"}  
@chair_principles_practice:position {title: "Chair of Principles and Practice of Medicine"}  
@chair_physiology_medical_institutes:position {title: "Chair of Physiology and Medical Institutes"}  
@chair_surgery:position {title: "Chair of Surgery"}  
@demonstrator_anatomy:position {title: "Demonstrator of Anatomy"}  

**Events (Faculty Meetings, Commencements, Lectures)**  

@meeting_1852_10_28:event {when: @date_1852_10_28, where: @philadelphia, number: 10}  
@meeting_1853_01_12:event {when: @date_1853_01_12, where: @philadelphia, number: 11}  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event {when: @date_1853_01_19, where: @philadelphia, number: 12}  
@meeting_1853_01_26:event {when: @date_1853_01_26, where: @philadelphia, number: 13}  
@meeting_1853_02_07:event {when: @date_1853_02_07, where: @philadelphia, number: 14}  
@meeting_1853_02_15:event {when: @date_1853_02_15, where: @philadelphia, number: 16}  
@meeting_1853_03_11:event {when: @date_1853_03_11, where: @philadelphia, number: 18}  
@meeting_1853_04_23:event {when: @date_1853_04_23, where: @philadelphia, number: 20}  
@meeting_1853_05_06:event {when: @date_1853_05_06, where: @philadelphia, number: 21}  
@meeting_1853_05_12:event {when: @date_1853_05_12, where: @philadelphia, number: 22}  
@meeting_1853_05_27:event {when: @date_1853_05_27, where: @philadelphia, number: 23}  
@meeting_1853_10_01:event {when: @date_1853_10_01, where: @philadelphia, number: 24}  
@meeting_1853_10_17:event {when: @date_1853_10_17, where: @philadelphia, number: 25}  
@meeting_1853_10_28:event {when: @date_1853_10_28, where: @philadelphia, number: 26}  
@meeting_1854_01_02:event {when: @date_1854_01_02, where: @philadelphia, number: 27}  
@meeting_1854_01_27:event {when: @date_1854_01_27, where: @philadelphia, number: 28}  
@meeting_1854_02_13:event {when: @date_1854_02_13, where: @philadelphia, number: 29}  
@meeting_1854_02_21:event {when: @date_1854_02_21, where: @philadelphia, number: 30}  

@commencement_1853_01_27:event {when: @date_1853_01_27, where: @musical_fund_hall, type: "Commencement"}  
@commencement_1854_03_02:event {when: @date_1854_03_02, where: @musical_fund_hall, type: "Commencement"}  
@commencement_1854_02_25:event {when: @date_1854_02_25, where: @musical_fund_hall, type: "Commencement"}  

**Documents**  

@honorary_degree_md:document {type: "Honorary MD degree"}  

**Relationships (selected key facts)**  

@file_a092_001_042_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1852_10_28:event  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> chaired by -> @david_i_johnson  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> secretary -> @w_s_peirce  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> elected -> @seth_pancoast {position: "Professor of Anatomy"}  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> appointed -> @committee_funds {members: [@ellwood_harvey, @david_i_johnson]}  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> appointed -> @committee_medicines {members: [@ellwood_harvey, @david_i_johnson]}  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> appointed -> @committee_museum {members: [@seth_pancoast, @ellwood_harvey]}  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> appointed -> @committee_endowment {members: [@seth_pancoast]}  
@meeting_1852_10_28:event -> appointed -> @committee_society {members: [@ellwood_harvey, @seth_pancoast]}  

@file_a092_001_043_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_01_12:event  
@meeting_1853_01_12:event -> listed candidates -> [@henrietta_w_johnson, @almira_l_fowler, @maria_mckinnis, @charlotte_g_adams, @hannah_w_ellis, @augusta_r_montgomery, @charlotte_g_adams, @julia_a_beverly, @annah_n_s_anderson]  

@file_a092_001_043_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_01_19:event  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event -> ballot result -> @henrietta_w_johnson {white: "all"}  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event -> ballot result -> @almira_l_fowler {white: "all"}  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event -> ballot result -> @charlotte_g_adams {white: 6, black: 1}  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event -> ballot result -> @hannah_w_ellis {white: 4, black: 3}  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event -> ballot result -> @augusta_r_montgomery {white: "all"}  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event -> ballot result -> @charlotte_g_adams {white: "all"}  
@meeting_1853_01_19:event -> ballot result -> @annah_n_s_anderson {white: 5, black: 2}  

@file_a092_001_044_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_01_26:event  
@meeting_1853_01_26:event -> appointed -> @committee_audit {members: [@ellwood_harvey, @seth_pancoast, @joseph_longshore]}  
@meeting_1853_01_26:event -> scheduled -> @commencement_1853_01_27:event {location: @musical_fund_hall, time: "11:00"}  
@meeting_1853_01_26:event -> engaged -> @breiter_band {fee: 36, currency: "USD"}  

@file_a092_001_045_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_02_07:event  
@meeting_1853_02_07:event -> recommended -> @ellwood_harvey {to: @chair_obstetrics}  
@meeting_1853_02_07:event -> recommended -> @william_cornell {to: @chair_general_therapeutics}  
@meeting_1853_02_07:event -> recommended -> @seth_pancoast {to: @chair_anatomy}  

@file_a092_001_047_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_02_15:event  
@meeting_1853_02_15:event -> resignation -> @joseph_longshore  
@meeting_1853_02_15:event -> employed -> @augusta_r_montgomery {to dissect: @subject_dissection, pay_per_week: 6, currency: "USD"}  

@file_a092_001_048_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_03_11:event  
@meeting_1853_03_11:event -> recommended -> @ann_preston {to: @chair_physiology_medical_institutes}  
@meeting_1853_03_11:event -> recommended -> @almira_l_fowler {to: @demonstrator_anatomy}  
@meeting_1853_03_11:event -> vacated -> @abraham_livezey {from: @chair_principles_practice}  

@file_a092_001_049_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_04_23:event  
@meeting_1853_04_23:event -> elected -> @hilbern_darlington {to: @chair_surgery}  
@meeting_1853_04_23:event -> elected -> @ann_preston {to: @chair_physiology_medical_institutes}  

@file_a092_001_050_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_05_06:event  
@meeting_1853_05_06:event -> recommended -> @ellwood_harvey {to: @chair_principles_practice}  
@meeting_1853_05_06:event -> recommended -> @mark_g_kerr {to: @chair_general_therapeutics}  
@meeting_1853_05_06:event -> conferred honorary degree -> @martha_browry {degree: @honorary_degree_md}  
@meeting_1853_05_06:event -> elected -> @harriet_k_hunt {to: @chair_obstetrics}  

@file_a092_001_051_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_05_12:event  
@meeting_1853_05_12:event -> elected -> @edwin_russell {to: @chair_anatomy}  
@meeting_1853_05_12:event -> resignation -> @ellwood_hawey  
@meeting_1853_05_12:event -> elected -> @mark_g_kerr {to: @chair_general_therapeutics}  
@meeting_1853_05_12:event -> conferred honorary degree -> @martha_h_moory {degree: @honorary_degree_md}  

@file_a092_001_053_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_05_27:event  
@meeting_1853_05_27:event -> lecturer -> @william_elder {topic: "Medical Jurisprudence"}  

@file_a092_001_054_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_10_01:event  
@meeting_1853_10_01:event -> reported -> @committee_announcement {status: "prepared Fourth Annual Announcement, printed 1000 copies, cost $100"}  
@meeting_1853_10_01:event -> reported -> @committee_advertising {status: "progress"}  
@meeting_1853_10_01:event -> reported -> @committee_beneficiaries {status: "progress"}  
@meeting_1853_10_01:event -> reported -> @committee_dissecting_room {status: "completed"}  
@meeting_1853_10_01:event -> reported -> @committee_dispensary {status: "progress"}  
@meeting_1853_10_01:event -> reported -> @committee_apparatus {status: "progress"}  

@file_a092_001_055_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_10_17:event  
@meeting_1853_10_17:event -> admitted beneficiary -> @lidia_p_jacobs  
@meeting_1853_10_17:event -> admitted beneficiary -> @minerva_t_hoes  
@meeting_1853_10_17:event -> admitted beneficiary -> @jemsha_b_merritt (notes taken for fee)  
@meeting_1853_10_17:event -> admitted beneficiary -> @jane_s_heald (granted gratuitously)  

@file_a092_001_056_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1853_10_28:event  
@meeting_1853_10_28:event -> recommended -> @h_g_thomas {to: @chair_surgery}  

@file_a092_001_057_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1854_01_02:event  
@meeting_1854_01_02:event -> resolution -> @demonstrator_anatomy {gender: "female", elected_by: "Corporators"}  
@meeting_1854_01_02:event -> application -> @lucinda_r_brown {status: "special case admitted for examination"}  

@file_a092_001_058_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1854_01_27:event  
@meeting_1854_01_27:event -> scheduled -> @commencement_1854_03_02:event {location: @musical_fund_hall, time: "11:00"}  
@meeting_1854_01_27:event -> engaged -> @breiter_band {fee: 36, currency: "USD"}  

@file_a092_001_059_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1854_02_13:event  
@meeting_1854_02_13:event -> listed candidates -> [@lucinda_r_brown, @minna_elliger, @elizabeth_g_shattuck, @elizabeth_h_bates]  

@file_a092_001_060_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_1854_02_21:event  
@meeting_1854_02_21:event -> committee -> @committee_hall {task: "select Hall for Commencement"}  
@meeting_1854_02_21:event -> engaged -> @musical_nona_hall {purpose: "Commencement venue"}  
@meeting_1854_02_21:event -> engaged -> @breiter_band {fee: 36, currency: "USD"}  

**Additional Notable Relationships**  

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1852_10_28:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_01_12:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_01_19:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_01_26:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_02_07:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_02_15:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_03_11:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_04_23:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_05_06:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_05_12:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_05_27:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_10_01:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_10_17:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1853_10_28:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1854_01_02:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1854_01_27:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1854_02_13:event  
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @meeting_1854_02_21:event  

**Graduate Theses (selected examples)**  

@hannah_w_ellis -> thesis -> "Parturition"  
@henrietta_w_johnson -> thesis -> "Functions of the Skin"  
@maria_mckinnis -> thesis -> "Medical Jurisprudence"  
@almina_s_fowler -> thesis -> "Relations of Body and Mind"  
@ann_s_anderson -> thesis -> "General Physiology"  
@julia_a_beverly -> thesis -> "Ferrum"  
@augusta_r_montgomery -> thesis -> "Medical Education of Women"  
@margaret_richardson -> thesis -> "Phthisis Pulmonalis"  
@charlotte_g_adams -> thesis -> "De effectis lactationis mimiae"  

**Honorary Degrees**  

@honorary_degree_md -> conferred upon -> @harriet_k_hunt  
@honorary_degree_md -> conferred upon -> @martha_browry  
@honorary_degree_md -> conferred upon -> @martha_h_moory  

**Band Engagements**  

@breiter_band -> performed at -> @commencement_1853_01_27:event {fee: 36, currency: "USD"}  
@breiter_band -> performed at -> @commencement_1854_03_02:event {fee: 36, currency: "USD"}  

**Janitorial Contract (May 1853)**  

@meeting_1853_05_06:event -> contracted -> @janitor:person {name: "Henry P. Birenbaum", term_start: @date_1853_05_01, salary: 300, currency: "USD"}  

**Bell‑Ringing Schedule (Oct 1853 & Feb 1854)**  

@meeting_1853_10_17:event -> set bell schedule -> {times: ["10:00","11:00","12:00","13:00","14:00","16:00","17:00","18:00"]}  
@meeting_1854_02_21:event -> revised bell schedule -> {ring_before_hour: true, minutes_before: 5}  

---  

*All entities are defined on first appearance; subsequent uses reference the same code. Dates are auto‑created. Common‑knowledge places (e.g., @philadelphia, @new_york) are referenced without definition.*

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 4:14:22 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 4:03:52 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 3:58:18 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 3:57:10 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Faculty_Meetings_1852_1853"

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01KA1H97TBT9WXXJR9Y5QE64YY

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