a092_001_087.jpg

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, April-September 1855

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 4:28:39 PM

Added description

Description

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, April‑September 1855

Overview

This collection comprises scanned pages of the faculty minutes of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, covering meetings held from April 24 to September 27, 1855, with additional entries through October 30 and November 8, 1855. The materials are presented as a series of high‑resolution images (JPEG and TIFF) of the original handwritten minutes, all in English. The collection is held by the Drexel Legacy Collections and is part of the larger minute book of the faculty of the college.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850, was the first institution in the world dedicated to the medical education of women. The faculty minutes record the deliberations of the college’s governing body, including appointments, curriculum planning, admissions, and financial affairs. Key faculty members appearing in the minutes include Dean Ellwood Harvey, Dr. James F. X. McCloskey, Ann Preston, Sylvester Birdsall, and others. The minutes are a primary source for scholars studying early women’s medical education and institutional governance.

Contents

The collection contains four principal pages (labeled 087–090) that capture the following:
  • Committee appointments (beneficiaries, advertising) and the election of lecturers for the 1855–56 academic year.
  • Attendance records of faculty members at each meeting, noting the presence of Dr. Fussell, Dr. Thomas, Dr. Gillingham, Dr. Harvey, and others.
  • Financial transactions, including payments to suppliers (Weymer & Brother, Zigenfuss & Carter, Henry Bimhann, Young, and Dr. Russell) and the ordering of bills for gas and stationery.
  • Curricular schedules for the 1855 session, detailing lecture times and subjects.
  • Administrative actions, such as the resignation of Prof. Thomas and the appointment of Dr. Sylvester Birdsall to the chair of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children.

Scope

The collection covers the period from April 24 to September 27, 1855, with supplemental entries up to October 30 and November 8, 1855. It focuses on faculty deliberations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and includes references to beneficiaries residing in Jamestown, NY; Palmyra, NY; and Toyicroft, MD. The materials provide insight into the operational, curricular, and financial aspects of the college during its formative years.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

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@file_pinax:file -> describes -> @april_september_1855_minutes

@drexel_legacy_collections:organization {type: "Legacy Collections"}

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {founded: @date_1850_06_25, type: "Medical college for women"}

@harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey", role: "Dean", lifespan: "1820‑1889"}

@harvey -> employed by -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania

@fussell:person {full_name: "Edwin Fussell", role: "Faculty", lifespan: "1813‑1882"}

@preston:person {full_name: "Ann Preston", role: "Faculty"}

@birdsall:person {full_name: "Sylvester Birdsall", role: "Faculty"}

@kerr:person {full_name: "Kerr", role: "Faculty"}

@thomas:person {full_name: "Thomas", role: "Faculty"}

@gillingham:person {full_name: "Gillingham", role: "Faculty"}

@turrell:person {full_name: "Turrell", role: "Faculty"}

@russell:person {full_name: "Russell", role: "Faculty"}

@catherine_underwood:person {full_name: "Catharine J. Underwood"}

@ruth_angel:person {full_name: "Ruth M. Angel"}

@annette_buckel:person {full_name: "C. Annette Buckel"}

@louisa_campbell:person {full_name: "Louisa D. Campbell"}

@henry_bimhann:person {full_name: "Henry N. Bimhann"}

@young:person {full_name: "Young"}

@weymer_brother:organization {full_name: "Weymer & Brother"}

@zigenfuss_carter:organization {full_name: "Zigenfuss & Carter"}

@beneficiaries_committee:organization {type: "Committee", purpose: "Beneficiaries"}

@advertising_committee:organization {type: "Committee", purpose: "Advertising"}

@general_introductory_lecture:document {type: "Lecture", title: "General Introductory Lecture"}

@benedictory_address:document {type: "Address", title: "Benedictory Address"}

@jamestown_ny:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@palmyra_ny:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@toyicroft_md:place {state: "Maryland", country: @united_states}

@meeting_1855_04_24:event {date: @date_1855_04_24, location: @philadelphia, part_of: @april_september_1855_minutes}

@meeting_1855_04_24 -> present -> [@fussell, @kerr, @thomas, @gillingham, @harvey]

@meeting_1855_04_24 -> appointed -> @beneficiaries_committee {members: [@fussell, @thomas, @gillingham]}

@meeting_1855_04_24 -> appointed -> @advertising_committee {members: [@thomas, @gillingham, @harvey]}

@meeting_1855_04_24 -> elected -> @general_introductory_lecture {deliverer: @preston, scheduled: @date_1855_10_03, time: "17:00"}

@meeting_1855_04_24 -> elected -> @benedictory_address {deliverer: @fussell, scheduled: "Spring 1856"}

@meeting_1855_04_24 -> reported beneficiaries -> [@annette_buckel, @ruth_angel, @catherine_underwood, @louisa_campbell]

@annette_buckel -> residence -> @philadelphia

@ruth_angel -> residence -> @jamestown_ny

@catherine_underwood -> residence -> @palmyra_ny

@louisa_campbell -> residence -> @toyicroft_md

@file_a092_001_087_jpg:file -> contains -> @meeting_1855_04_24

@meeting_1855_09_27:event {date: @date_1855_09_27, location: @philadelphia, part_of: @april_september_1855_minutes}

@meeting_1855_09_27 -> present -> [@preston, @turrell, @thomas, @gillingham, @harvey]

@meeting_1855_09_27 -> general_introductory_schedule -> {date: @date_1855_10_03, time: "16:00"}

@meeting_1855_09_27 -> special_introductory_schedule -> [@turrell, @thomas, @kerr, @gillingham, @preston, @harvey] {times: ["Thu 16:00","Thu 17:00","Fri 16:00","Fri 17:00","Sat 16:00","Sat 17:00"]}

@meeting_1855_09_27 -> appointed -> @turrell {task: "insert advertisement of introductions in the Public Ledger"}

@meeting_1855_09_27 -> appointed -> @birdsall {role: "named to corporations as suitable person to fill vacant chair of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children"}

@file_a092_001_088_jpg:file -> contains -> @meeting_1855_09_27

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@meeting_1855_10_03 -> present -> [@turrell, @thomas, @gillingham, @harvey]

@meeting_1855_10_03 -> decision -> {named_person: @birdsall, position: "Chair of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children"}

@file_a092_001_088_jpg:file -> contains -> @meeting_1855_10_03

@meeting_1855_10_05:event {date: @date_1855_10_05, location: @philadelphia, part_of: @april_september_1855_minutes}

@meeting_1855_10_05 -> present -> [@preston, @russell, @thomas, @gillingham, @birdsall, @harvey]

@meeting_1855_10_05 -> treasurer_paid -> [@weymer_brother, @zigenfuss_carter, @henry_bimhann, @young, @russell] {amounts: [24.00, 52.30, 1.00, 25.00, 1.125]}

@meeting_1855_10_05 -> treasurer_paid -> @harvey {amount: 1.5, purpose: "advertising the introductory lectures in the Public Ledger"}

@meeting_1855_10_05 -> adopted_schedule -> @lecture_schedule:document {details: "Mon‑Fri weekly timetable for 1855 session"}

@lecture_schedule:document {type: "Lecture Schedule", description: "Weekly timetable of surgical, anatomical, chemical and practical lectures for the 1855 session"}

@file_a092_001_089_jpg:file -> contains -> @meeting_1855_10_05

@meeting_1855_10_23:event {date: @date_1855_10_23, location: @philadelphia, part_of: @april_september_1855_minutes}

@meeting_1855_10_23 -> present -> [@fussell, @thomas, @birdsall, @harvey]

@meeting_1855_10_23 -> resignation_received -> @thomas {type: "letter of resignation"}

@file_a092_001_090_jpg:file -> contains -> @meeting_1855_10_23

@meeting_1855_10_30:event {date: @date_1855_10_30, location: @philadelphia, part_of: @april_september_1855_minutes}

@meeting_1855_10_30 -> present -> [@preston, @kerr, @thomas, @gillingham, @harvey]

@meeting_1855_10_30 -> business -> "none"

@file_a092_001_090_jpg:file -> contains -> @meeting_1855_10_30

@meeting_1855_11_08:event {date: @date_1855_11_08, location: @philadelphia, part_of: @april_september_1855_minutes}

@meeting_1855_11_08 -> present -> [@fussell, @thomas, @birdsall, @harvey]

@meeting_1855_11_08 -> bills_paid -> [@gas_bill, @stationery_bill] {amounts: [2.35, 2.21]}

@gas_bill:document {type: "Bill", description: "Gas Bill"}

@stationery_bill:document {type: "Bill", description: "Stationery"}

@file_a092_001_090_jpg:file -> contains -> @meeting_1855_11_08

@file_a092_001_087_tif:file

@file_a092_001_088_tif:file

@file_a092_001_089_tif:file

@file_a092_001_090_tif:file

Metadata

Files (8)

a092_001_087.jpgJPEG
382.95 KB
OCR Text

Wednesday, April 24th, 1855 Present, Fussell, Kerr, Thomas, Gillingham and Harvey. Fussell, Thomas and Gillingham were appointed a committee on Beneficiaries. Thomas, Gillingham, and Harvey were appointed a committee on Advertising. Ann Preston was elected to deliver the General Introductory Lecture, on Wednesday Oct. 3rd 1855 at 5 P.M. Dr. Fussell was elected to deliver the Baledictory Address to the graduates in the Spring of 1856. Ellwood Harvey, Dean. The committee on beneficiaries reported that the following named persons had been admitted as beneficiaries: C. Annette Buckel, N. Glastenbury Conn. Ruth M. Angel, Jamestown N.Y. Catharine J. Underwood, Palmyra N.Y. Louisa D. Campbell Toyicroft Md.

a092_001_088.jpgJPEG
358.98 KB
OCR Text

Saturday, September 27th, 1855. Present: Preston, Turrell, Thomas, Gillingham and Harvey. It was agreed that the general introductory should be delivered at 4 P.M., and that the special introductory should be delivered as follows: Turrell, Thursday 4 P.M. Thomas, Thursday 5 P.M. Kerr, Friday 4 P.M. Gillingham 5 P.M. Preston Saturday 4 P.M. Harvey 5 P.M. Dr. Turrell was appointed to insert an advertisement of the introductions in the Public Ledger. (See opposite page) Ellwood Harvey, Dean. Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 1855. Present: Turrell, Thomas, Gillingham, Harvey. It was agreed that Doctor Sylvester Birdsall should be named to the corporations as a suitable person to fill the now vacant chair of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children. It was agreed to order that

a092_001_089.jpgJPEG
347.56 KB
OCR Text

The Treasurer should pay the following named bills: Weymer & Brother for Stone Co. $24.00 Zigenfuss & Carter, Coal 52.30 Henry N. Bimhann, Wood 1.00 Young, Printing Announcement 25.00 Dr. Russell, Advertising 1.12½ Ellwood Harvey, M.D., Dean. Friday October 5th, 1855. Present: Preston, Russell, Thomas, Gillingham, Birdall and Harvey. The Treasurer was ordered to pay Dr. Harvey one dollar and a half for advertising the introductory lectures in the Public Ledger. The following order of lectures was adopted for the session. Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. 10-11 Surg. Surg. Chem. Ex. Surg. Surg. Prac. 11-12 Prac. Prac. Anat. Ex. Obst Prac. Obst 12-1 Phys. Phys. Surg. Ex. Phys. Phys. Surg. Ex. 1-2 M. Med. M. Med. Clinic Matk. M. Med. Clinic 4-5 Anat. Anat. Anat. Anat. Obst 5-6 Chem. Chem. Obst. Chem. Chem. Ellwood Harvey M.D. Dean of the Faculty.

a092_001_090.jpgJPEG
317.26 KB
OCR Text

Oct. 23rd, 1855. Present: Fussell, Thomas, Birdsell, and Harvey. A letter of resignation was received from Prof. Thomas and ordered to be filed. Several questions of interest to the institution were discussed, but no action taken on them. Ellwood Harvey M.D. Dean of the Faculty Oct. 30th, 1855. Present: Preston, Kerr, Thomas, Gillingsham and Harvey. No business transacted. Ellwood Harvey M.D. Dean of Faculty Nov. 8th, 1855. Present: Fussell, Thomas, Birdsell and Harvey. The following bills were ordered to be paid: Gas Bill #2.35 Stationery #2.21

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 4:28:39 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 4:18:16 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 4:07:45 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 4:04:18 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: 1855_April_September_Meetings"

Parent

01KBN1NF6RRQY5BZ97YQWTS579

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