a092_001_102.jpg

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1856

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 4:28:59 PM

Added description

Description

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1856

Overview

This collection comprises scanned images and transcriptions of the faculty meeting minutes from the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania for the year 1856. The material includes five distinct meetings held on May 28, September 11, September 27, October 27, and December 11, 1856. The pages are reproduced in JPEG and TIFF format from the original minute book (catalog number a092_001) and are accompanied by a transcription of the minutes, originally prepared by Ellwood Harvey in 1886. The documents are in English and are part of the Drexel Legacy Collections, housed in the Drexel College of Medicine Legacy Center Archives.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850, was the first institution in the world regularly organized for the education of women in medicine. Faculty minutes were recorded in a bound minute book and later transcribed for preservation. The collection reflects the early administrative and academic life of the college, illustrating how faculty members addressed curriculum, appointments, and financial matters during its formative years.

Contents

The five meetings document a range of decisions:
  • May 28: Appointment of Dr. H.L. Brown as Chair of Surgery, Mrs. Caroline Horton Cleveland as Demonstrator of Anatomy, election of Dr. Russell as Dean, and a by‑law amendment transferring the Treasurer’s duties to the Dean.
  • September 11: Approval of a proposal to educate students free of charge for subscribers, appointment of Dr. Doak & Birdsell to deliver introductory and valedictory addresses, and the establishment of a committee for Rev. Hunt.
  • September 27: Postponement of a society meeting due to building repairs.
  • October 27: Resolution to abolish the matriculation fee and set a $25 graduation fee for those who had not paid matriculation.
  • December 11: Suspension of lectures from Christmas to New Year’s Day and a motion to allow Mr. Sanders to attend sessions at half cost.

Each page begins with the meeting date and list of attendees, followed by the minutes and any motions or resolutions.

Scope

The collection covers the period from May 28 to December 11, 1856, focusing on faculty governance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It includes decisions on faculty appointments, curriculum changes, financial policies, and administrative by‑law amendments. The material is limited to the selected pages of the 1856 minute book and does not encompass the full 213‑page original record.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {founded: @date_1850_06_25, description: "First college regularly organized for education of women in medicine"}

@drexel_legacy_collections:organization {}

@pinax_collection:document {title: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1856", creator: [@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania, @ellwood_harvey, @edwin_fussell, @emeline_cleveland, @ann_preston, @mark_g_kerr, @hl_brown, @dr_russell, @dr_gillingham], created_range: {start: @date_1856_05_28, end: @date_1856_12_11}, language: "en", subjects: ["Minutes","Medical education","Women in medicine","Women physicians","Medical colleges","Faculty meetings","Curriculum changes","Anatomy","Surgery"]}

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@dr_russell -> recommended -> @hl_brown {position: "Chair of Surgery", meeting: @faculty_meeting_may_28_1856}

@dr_russell -> motion -> @caroline_horton_cleveland {position: "Demonstrator of Anatomy", term: "one year", meeting: @faculty_meeting_may_28_1856}

@dr_kerr -> motion -> @dr_russell {position: "Dean", meeting: @faculty_meeting_may_28_1856, replacing: @ellwood_harvey}

@faculty_meeting_may_28_1856:event -> bylaw_change {treasurer_duty: "Dean", previous_duty: "Treasurer to superintend Janitor and college buildings"}

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@faculty_meeting_sep_11_1856:event -> present -> [@dr_bradell, @ellwood_harvey]

@dr_bradell -> declined -> "General Lecture" {reason: "ill health", meeting: @faculty_meeting_sep_11_1856}

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@faculty_meeting_sep_27_1856:event -> present -> [@ann_preston, @ellwood_harvey, @dr_gillingham, @dr_furrell]

@faculty_meeting_sep_27_1856:event -> postponed -> "Society meeting" {reason: "building repairs", new_date: "one week later"}

@faculty_meeting_sep_27_1856:event -> documented_by -> @file_a092_001_104_jpg:file

@faculty_meeting_oct_27_1856:event -> present -> [@ellwood_harvey, @dr_finsell]

@faculty_meeting_oct_27_1856:event -> abolished -> "Matriculation fee"

@faculty_meeting_oct_27_1856:event -> set_graduation_fee -> {amount: 25.00, condition: "for those who have not already paid a matriculation fee"}

@mr_sanders -> permitted_attendance -> {session: "half", cost: "half regular", meeting: @faculty_meeting_oct_27_1856}

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@faculty_meeting_dec_11_1856:event -> present -> [@ellwood_harvey, @dr_birdsell, @hl_brown, @dr_finsell]

@faculty_meeting_dec_11_1856:event -> suspended_lectures -> {period: "Christmas to New Year's Day", meeting: @faculty_meeting_dec_11_1856}

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@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @pinax_collection:document

@ellwood_harvey -> wrote -> @transcription_note:document {date: @date_1886_02_27, location: @chester_pa}

Metadata

Files (8)

a092_001_102.jpgJPEG
391.58 KB
OCR Text

Thirty years after the meeting of the Faculty that was held on May 28th, 1856, I take the liberty to transcribe to this page the minutes as I find them recorded on a piece of paper pinned to it. Ellwood Harvey February 27th, 1886. Chester, Pa. "Faculty Meeting, May 28th, 1856. Present Drs. Preston, Russell, Gillingham and Kerr. Dr. Russell being unauthorized to act as proxy for Dr. Birdsell, on motion of Dr. Russell, Dr. H.L. Brown was recommended to the Board of Corporators to fill the chair of surgery for this institution. On motion of Dr. Russell, Mrs. Caroline Horton Cleveland, M.D. was appointed Demonstrator of Anatomy for one year in this school. On motion of Dr. Kerr, Dr. Russell was elected Dean of this faculty in the place of Dr. Harvey who is now absent from the city. On motion, that part of the By-laws which makes it the duty of the Treasurer to superintend the Janitor and the college buildings be rescinded, and the same duty be hereby imposed on the Dean until otherwise ordered. Prof. Gillingham was appointed treasurer. Mark G. Kerr"

a092_001_103.jpgJPEG
370.96 KB
OCR Text

Dept. Bed 1656 Present: Harvey, Pastor Kerr, Gethingham and Furrell Minutes of last meeting read and approved. The proposition of the Board of Corporators, that the Faculty educate free of expense such students as may be sent by the subscribers of $150 to the funds of this College (1 student for each subscription) was unanimously agreed to. On motion Doak & Birdsell was unanimously appointed to deliver the general Introductory; and Dr. Furrell the Valedictory address. On motion 4 o'clock was agreed to as the time for the General Introductory. Resolved - That the Faculty suggest to the Corporators, the propriety of appointing a committee for the purpose of obtaining the services of Rev. Hunt as lecturing and financial agent for this College. Noted that Furrell & Harvey be the committee on the Museum. Adjourned to Dept 11th at 12 M. T. Furrell M.D., Dean

a092_001_104.jpgJPEG
336.2 KB
OCR Text

Sept 11th, 1856 Present - Rev. Gillingham Bradell Brown & Furcell was received A communication from Dr. Bradell declining to deliver the General Lecture on account of ill health, whereupon he was released and Dr. Harvey was unanimously appointed to fulfil their duty. Adjourned G. Furcell M.D. Dean Saturday Sept 27th, 1856 Present - Preston Harvey Gillingham and Furcell - Voted - that in consequence of the repairs now going on in the front building, making the situation exceedingly unpleasant, the Commi- nion meeting of the Society be postponed for one week. Lively Furcell G. Furcell M.D. Dean

a092_001_105.jpgJPEG
325.66 KB
OCR Text

Oct 27th, 1856 Present Harvey Preston Herr Birdsell, Finsell On motion. Resolved that the Matriculation fee be abolished; and that the Graduation fee for those who have not already paid a matriculation fee be $25.00 Voted That Mr Sanders be permitted to attend half the session at half the regular cost of the session but without revenue tickets. Adjourned Edwin Finsell M.D. Dean Dec 11th, 1856 Present Harvey Herr Birdsell Brown & Finsell On motion. Voted that the lectures be suspended from Christmas to New Year's day inclusive. Adjourned E. Finsell M.D. Dean

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 4:28:59 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 4:18:41 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 4:08:10 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 4:04:14 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: 1856_meetings"

Parent

01KBN1NH08W47SD8BK24TNSDCJ

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