Paul Garfield Wesson, Robert M. Wilson, G. S. Woodhead, Dr. J. Homer Wright, 1904-1908

File — Container: 2, Folder: 13

Scope and Contents note

From the Collection: The Joseph McFarland papers consists of two collections and documents much of Dr. McFarland’s medical career, particularly his involvement in parotid tumor and tetanus vaccination research from 1900 to 1943. The collection contains two series, “Correspondence” and “Subject Files.” Material in the collection includes letters sent to Dr. McFarland regarding his research, medical case notes, writings by Dr. McFarland, legal documents, and curriculum planning files. Researchers interested in Dr. McFarland’s career or the history of tumor and vaccination research will find relevant material in this collection.

The “Correspondence, 1900-1930” series contains four subseries arranged by their significance to Dr. McFarland’s professional career. They are as follows, “Parotid Tumors,” “Tetanus and Vaccination,” “Other Cases,” and “General.” The series dates from 1900 to 1937.

The “Parotid Tumors” subseries contains correspondence regarding Dr. McFarland’s research into this medical condition. From 1925 to 1937, Dr. McFarland’s gathered information on parotid tumor treatment outcomes. This entailed writing to both doctors and patients regarding their experience with treatment, specifically if any symptoms had reoccurred. Correspondence in this subseries mostly includes letters sent to Dr. McFarland by doctors and patients, arranged alphabetically by the sender’s last name. Doctors and patient letters are kept together to reflect Dr. McFarland’s research process, which entailed writing to doctors and patients simultaneously. In cases where the sender was clearly a patient, it is noted in the folder title.

The “Tetanus and Vaccination” subseries contains correspondence on Dr. McFarland’s research into the relationship between tetanus outbreaks following vaccination administration. In the early twentieth century tetanus vaccination was a contentious issue, with many parents and other concerned organizations protesting its practice. Dr. McFarland was highly involved in this debate, and wrote with colleagues regarding their experience administering vaccinations. Dr. McFarland’s correspondence on this issue was initially separated into two locations, one dealing with his general research, and the other with specific cases of tetanus contraction. Therefore this subseries has been arranged first by general research, and then by specific cases of tetanus vaccination. Within these topic headings, the correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the sender’s last name. The letters date from 1901 to 1902, and 1905.

The “Other Cases” subseries contains correspondence between Dr. McFarland, Dr. Frederick Hammond, and Dr. Paul Allen regarding Dr. McFarland’s medical opinion from 1914 to 1915. This correspondence was given its own subseries because it did not deal with parotid tumors or tetanus, however because it was medical in nature, it did not fit into the “general” correspondence.

The “General” subseries contains non-medical correspondence between Dr. McFarland and his friends and colleagues. The letters are arranged alphabetically by sender’s last name, and date from 1900 to 1912.

The “Subject Files” series contains material related to work performed during Dr. McFarland’s medical career. It contains six subseries, “Medical Casework,” “Writings and Speeches,” “Legal Documents,” “General Pathology Course,” “Inventories,” and “Miscellaneous,” arranged by their significance to Dr. McFarland’s career. There is some correspondence included in the series. In these cases the correspondence was originally found attached to the items in this series, and was not separated. The series dates from 1901 to 1943, including some undated material.

The “Medical Casework” subseries contains notes, reports, and case summaries on a variety of medical subjects related to Dr. McFarland’s medical research. The subseries includes material regarding abnormal involution, carcinoma, tetanus, parotid tumors, and breast growths. The bulk of items relate to Dr. William L. Rodman’s case notes on abnormal involution, including correspondence with Dr. McFarland on the progress of these studies. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by folder title, and dates from 1901to 1902, 1912 to 1915, 1927, and undated.

The “Writing and Speeches” subseries contains writings and speeches by Dr. McFarland, as well as writings by other contemporary medical professionals. The bulk of the subseries contains Dr. McFarland’s short biographies on a number of historically-significant medical figures, all written around 1938. Also of note in the subseries is Dr. McFarland’s autobiography, titled "Brief Outline of the Professional Career or Joseph McFarland." There are two versions of this autobiography, from 1939 and 1943 respectively. The subseries includes two speeches by Dr. McFarland, one from the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Nurses Training School of Philadelphia, and another marking the dedication of a medical ward commemorating Dr. Benjamin Rush. The subseries is arranged by title, with speeches appearing at the end, and dates from 1901 to 1902, 1932 to 1943, and undated.

The “Legal Documents” subseries documents Dr. McFarland’s involvement in providing medical expertise and testimony in several legal cases. Companies such as the American Car and Foundry Company, the Hudson Coal Company, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company corresponded with Dr. McFarland regarding his opinion on employee claims against their company. The subseries is arranged by case title, and dates from 1920 to 1927. The “General Pathology Course” subseries contains material related to a pathology course taught by Dr. McFarland at the Thomas W. Evans Dental Institute. Material in the subseries includes course notes, slide lists, correspondence on course logistics. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by folder title, and dates from 1923 to 1925, and undated.

The “Inventories” subseries includes inventories of items from medical departments and laboratories, primarily from the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia. These inventories most likely relate to the Medico-Chirurgical College’s move in 1916, which Dr. McFarland oversaw. The subseries is arranged chronologically, and dates from 1912, 1915, and undated.

The “Miscellaneous” subseries contains one folder with loose, unidentifiable items that could not be filed with any other folder in the collection. The "Correspondence, 1895-1914" series contains four letters from G.T. Abernathy; Simon Flexner; E.L. Judah; Solis Cohen Myer; a letter from McFarland to a [Williamm Fisher?] Norris; and research notes on fungi.