Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1854
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 4:28:21 PM
Added description
Description
Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1854
Overview
This collection comprises the minutes of six faculty meetings (No. 31–36) held by the Faculty of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania during 1854. The documents are bound in a single volume (a092_001) and are available as scanned TIFF and JPEG images. The pages record the deliberations, motions, and resolutions adopted at each meeting, covering dates from April 6 to December 18, 1854.Background
The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850, was the world’s first institution regularly organized to educate women in medicine. The faculty, led by Dean David J. Johnson, met to govern the college’s academic and administrative affairs. The 1854 meetings were held at the college’s address on 229 Arch Street, Philadelphia, and were part of the early institutional history that shaped the college’s curriculum, faculty appointments, and financial strategies.Contents
The collection documents the following key subjects:- Curriculum and Lectures – Decisions on lecture schedules, the extension of courses, and the assignment of demonstratorship duties.
- Faculty Appointments – Election of Dr. Ellwood Harvey to the chair of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children; appointment of Almira L. Fowler as Demonstrator of Anatomy and Chemistry; resignation of Dr. Martha A. Morry from the obstetrics chair.
- Committees – Formation of standing committees (Museum, Dispensary, Beneficiary Applications, Additional Apparatus, Advertising, Scholarship Sales, Agents Appointment) and a Committee of Three to present scholarship resolutions to the Corporators.
- Scholarship Fund – Resolution to sell scholarship certificates, establish a permanent fund, and outline redemption terms and distribution of proceeds among faculty.
- Administrative Matters – Discussions on the sale of scholarships, the appointment of agents, and the handling of college debts.
Each meeting’s minutes are captured on a single page, with the collection including both the original scans and accompanying OCR text.
Scope
The collection covers six faculty meetings held in 1854 (April 6, September 6, September 20, October 26, November 3, December 18). It is limited to the minutes of these meetings and does not include minutes of other years or other college documents. The material is in English, dated 1854, and is part of the Drexel Legacy Collections, accessible under the stated copyright restrictions.Entities
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Entity Relationships
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Raw Cheimarros Data
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Files (10)
OCR Text
only, in place of Dr. Hilbern Darlington, resigned. The Demonstratorship of Anatomy and Chemistry was filled by Almira L. Fowler M.D. No. 31. Thursday April 6th 1854. Minutes of last meeting read and adopted. The Fifth Annual Announcement was read and agreed to, and 10,000 copies thereof were ordered to be printed. On motion, it was resolved that the ensuing course of lectures in this College extend through a period of five months and a half; and that the next course of lectures close on Saturday March 12th 1855. On motion, it was resolved that the Demonstrator be required to recapitulate the lectures of the Professors of Anatomy and Chemistry, alternately, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. On motion, it was resolved that Dr. Fussell be requested to deliver the General Introductory to the next course of lectures, and Dr. Kerr the Valedictory Address at the next Annual Commencement. Then adjourned:—present Drs. Fussell, Harvey, Johnson and Kerr. David J. Johnston M.D., Dean. No. 32. Wednesday Sept. 6th 1854. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting postponed. The Dean stated that Martha A. Morry M.D. had, by letter bearing date April 26th 1854, resigned the Chair of "Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children"; and that the said resignation had been accepted by the Corporators.
OCR Text
On motion, it was unanimously resolved that it be recommended to the Corporators that Dr. Ellwood Harvey be elected "Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women & Children" for the ensuing session. Then adjourned:—present Drs. Harvey, Fussell, Kerr & Johnson. David J. Johnson M.D., Dean. No. 33. Wednesday Sept. 20th 1854, Minutes of the last two meetings read and adopted. The Dean read the following extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Corporators, held Sept. 19th 1854—viz: "On motion of Wm. V. Peirce, and on the recommendation of the Faculty, Dr. Ellwood Harvey was unanimously elected 'Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children' for the session 1854-5." On motion, the following standing committees were appointed, viz:- On the Museum—Drs. Fussell, Thomas and Preston. On the Dispensary—Drs. Thomas, Harvey and Kerr. On Beneficiary applications—Drs. Harvey, Johnson, and Fussell. On additional apparatus & preparations—Drs. Fussell, Thomas & Johnson. On Advertising—Drs. Johnson, Harvey and Thomas. On motion, it was resolved that the Medical, Obstetrical and Surgical departments of the Clinic be given in charge, respectively, to the Professors of those Branches. On motion, it was resolved that the Committee on the Dispensary appoint two of the students or graduates of this College as Apothecaries; and that the Clinical Lecturers appoint two principal and two assistant Clerks to the Clinic, to be selected also from the students or graduates of this College. On motion, the following order was fixed upon for the delivery of the special Introductory Lectures to the ensuing course, viz:—
OCR Text
Monday Oct. 2nd, at 4 P.M., Dr. Preston. , at 5 P.M., Dr. Harvey. Tuesday Oct. 3rd, at 4 P.M., Dr. Johnson. , at 5 P.M., Dr. Russell. Wednesday Oct. 4th, at 4 P.M., Dr. Kerr. , at 5 P.M., Dr. Thomas. A letter was read from Dr. Almina L. Fowler, bearing date July 19th 1854, in which the writer stated that her engagements in New York would render it impossible for her to discharge satisfactorily the duties of "Demonstrator of Anatomy and Chemistry" in this College. On motion, the following arrangement was unanimously agreed to for the session of 1854-5, viz:- "Dr. Johnson shall act as Demonstrator of Chemistry, Dr. Russell shall give the recapitulatory lectures on Anatomy, and Dr. Thomas shall attend to the Dissecting Room; and the Demonstrator's fee shall be divided equally between Drs. Johnson, Russell, & Thomas." The Dean was instructed to communicate this arrangement to Dr. Fowler and to the Corporators. Then adjourned: - present Drs. Russell, Harvey, Johnson, Kerr and Thomas. David J. Johnson M.D., Dean. No. 34. Thursday Oct. 26th 1854. Minutes of the last meeting read and adopted. The propriety of selling scholarships was discussed. Present - Drs. Russell, Harvey, Johnson, Kerr, Preston and Thomas. Then adjourned. David J. Johnson M.D., Dean.
OCR Text
No. 35. Friday Nov. 3rd 1854. Minutes of last meeting read and adopted. On motion, it was resolved that no lectures be given in this College on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days. On motion, the sum of ten dollars was assessed on each chair for the support of the College. The subject of selling scholarships was resumed. On motion of Dr. Thomas, it was resolved that certificates of scholarship be sold for $100, entitling the holder to the Professors' tickets to two or more courses of lectures in this College. On motion of Dr. Johnson, it was resolved that no certificates be issued after the 1st of Aug. 1855; and that the time for redeeming them be limited to 1st of January 1860; and, moreover, that the debts of the College be paid out of the sums thus obtained: that the balance be put at interest: that the interest be devoted to payment of the current expenses of the College: that $100 of the principal be paid to the Faculty, whenever a certificate is redeemed by them: and that the balance of the fund remaining on the 1st of January 1860 be divided equally and proportionally among the occupants of the seven professional chairs during the interval above specified, and shall belong to them in fee simple: and that in case of the death, resignation, or removal of any Professor before the expiration of the time above specified, then he or she, his or her heirs or legal representatives shall receive his or her share in proportion to the time for which he or she shall have served. Resolved, on motion of Dr. Kerr, that agents for the sale of scholarships be appointed by the Faculty: and that agents be also appointed to solicit donations in aid of the College, the sums
OCR Text
thus obtained to be appropriated towards liquefying the debts of the College, and to the establishment of a permanent fund for the exclusive benefit of the Institution. On motion of Dr. Thomas, it was resolved, "That a committee of three be appointed to meet the Corporators at their next meeting to lay before them the above resolutions or the spirit of them and to vindicate them." Drs. Thomas, Harvey and Johnson were appointed the said committee. Resolved, that Drs. Fussell, Harvey and Johnson be a committee on the appointment of agents. Then adjourned: - Present, Drs. Fussell, Harvey, Johnson, Kerr, Preston and Thomas. David J. Johnson M.D., Dean. No. 36. Monday Dec. 18th 1854. Minutes of last meeting read and adopted. Dr. Thomas reported that the Committee, of which he was Chairman, had laid the subject of selling scholarships, together with the Resolutions of the Faculty, before the Corporators at a meeting held Dec. 16th; and that they had declined cooperating with the faculty in the premises, on the ground that they would thereby personally pledge themselves for the redemption of the said Certificates of Scholarship. Dr. T. further stated that the Corporators had appointed agents to solicit donations in aid of the College.
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 4:28:21 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/4/2025, 4:14:17 PM · View this version
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"Reorganization group: 1854_Faculty_Meetings"
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