Pediatrics, 1808-1980

File — Box: 3, Folder: 5-7

Scope and Contents note

From the Series: Radbill’s large and varied collection of “Pamphlets, brochures and articles,” which comprise series one, suggests that he had a greater interest in learning about the medical practices of the past than in collecting antiquities for their own sake, though the series does date from as far back as 1635 to 1987. The series is organized very loosely by subject, which reflects Radbill’s original filing system. Despite its subject based arrangement, because materials lack any comprehensive order within subject groups, the series takes on a rather miscellaneous nature. In fact, dates and types of printed material range significantly within subject groups and even within particular folders. For example, Radbill commonly intermingled eighteenth or nineteenth century printed materials on the then contemporary medical practices on a given topic with twentieth century articles written on the history of that topic. As such, researchers interested in particular subjects are advised to review the whole subseries and/or subject group. Please note that materials are in several languages including English, Latin, German, French and others.

The series is divided into four basic subseries: “Pediatrics,” “Hospitals,” “Assorted subjects,” and “Uncatagorized.” Researchers should note, that due to processing time constraints, subseries are not definitive; some topics, particularly those related to pediatric history, can be found throughout the entire series.

The first subseries, “Pediatrics,” is the largest subseries, reflecting Radbill’s lifelong interest in pediatric medicine. The pamphlets, brochures and articles date from 1701 to 1986, and cover dozens of topics related to pediatrics and child rearing. There are pamphlets regarding midwifery; vaccinations; common childhood diseases, like rickets and measles; and infant feeding and wet nursing. Unfortunately, the materials have no real comprehensive arrangement - the content of folders across the subseries overlap in terms of date and specific subject matter. However, folders are arranged chronologically based on the earliest pamphlet identified in each folder. Researchers are encouraged to review the entire subseries and should also cross reference the “Assorted subjects” and “Uncategorized” subseries for more pediatric pamphlets.

The next subseries, “Hospitals,” houses an assortment of annual reports, brochures and promotional materials, and hospital histories on children’s and other hospitals in the United States and abroad. The series is arranged in loose alphabetical order according to type of hospital, name of the hospital and/or its geographic location. The series dates from 1696 to 1987.

The third subseries, “Assorted subjects,” dating from 1698 to 1987, houses pamphlets, brochures and articles on a wide-assortment of medical topics that are arranged alphabetically by subject. Researchers will find files on bookplates, curiosities, dermatology, folklore, India, infant feeding and other pediatric subjects, doctor Abraham Jacobi and other physicians, Jewish physicians and customs (including medical references in the bible), measles, medical art, milk and milk production, rickets and vaccinations, just to name some of the subjects with more robust representation. Additionally, there are files containing letters of famous doctors and other people, which were collected as autographs, and files containing biographies on multiple physicians. Please review the box and folder list for additional subjects. Other pamphlets related to many of these topics can be found in the “Pediatrics” and “Uncatagorized” subseries.

Finally, the subseries, “Uncatagorized,” contains pamphlets, brochures and articles on a variety of currently unidentified topics from 1635 to 1986. The materials housed here likely relate to topics covered elsewhere in the series and should be cross referenced in any search.