MSS 2/0146-02: Memoranda of Dr. Benjamin Rush, 1781 - 1927
Item — Volume: 1
Identifier: MSS 2/0146-02
Scope and Contents
This scrapbook contains Benjamin Rush memorabilia collected by
Robert Abbe. It includes biographical information, copies of
portraits, engravings, photo prints, and correspondence. Also
included are photo prints and correspondence documenting the
establishment and the evolution of the Abbe Custodianship at
the College of physicians of Philadelphia.
The scrapbook contains numerous pictures of Rush, including reproductions of portraits painted by Thomas Sully and Charles Wilson Pealed, as well as original engravings by St. Memin, R. W. Dodson, W. R. Jones, and David Edwin. Also present are pictures of Rush's residences in Philadelphia, "Shippen Mansion" and "Sydenham". In addition, the scrapbook contains several items signed by Rush, including an 1781 autograph letter excusing an ill soldier from militia duty.
Perhaps the most important item in the collection is a letter written by Rush in 1793 to Nicholas Belleville (1753-1831). In the letter, Rush describes a new treatment he has been using to combat Yellow fever. According to Rush, the ingredient calomel (mercurous chloride), "saved 9 out of 10 when applied in [the] early stage [of the illness]". Rush also explains that many Philadelphia physicians did not approve of this treatment. In addition to Rush memorabilia, the collection includes photographs and correspondence documenting the establishment of the "Custodianship of the Watch of Dr. Rush", later referred to as the Abbe Custodianship. Included are photographs of Rush's great granddaughter, Mary Theresa deBeelen Rush and her husband, the Rev. Richard L. Howell. Also present is a photograph and a letter from Gwendolen Whistler Howell, Rev. Howell's second wife, who presented Rush's watch to Abbe in return for his services in attending to her ailing husband. Abbe then donated the watch to the college of Physicians and set up a custodianship for it. The collection includes photo prints and correspondence from. Weir Mitchell, Simon Flexner, William H. Welch, and William W. Keen, all of whom served as Abbe Custodians between 1910 and 1927.
The scrapbook contains numerous pictures of Rush, including reproductions of portraits painted by Thomas Sully and Charles Wilson Pealed, as well as original engravings by St. Memin, R. W. Dodson, W. R. Jones, and David Edwin. Also present are pictures of Rush's residences in Philadelphia, "Shippen Mansion" and "Sydenham". In addition, the scrapbook contains several items signed by Rush, including an 1781 autograph letter excusing an ill soldier from militia duty.
Perhaps the most important item in the collection is a letter written by Rush in 1793 to Nicholas Belleville (1753-1831). In the letter, Rush describes a new treatment he has been using to combat Yellow fever. According to Rush, the ingredient calomel (mercurous chloride), "saved 9 out of 10 when applied in [the] early stage [of the illness]". Rush also explains that many Philadelphia physicians did not approve of this treatment. In addition to Rush memorabilia, the collection includes photographs and correspondence documenting the establishment of the "Custodianship of the Watch of Dr. Rush", later referred to as the Abbe Custodianship. Included are photographs of Rush's great granddaughter, Mary Theresa deBeelen Rush and her husband, the Rev. Richard L. Howell. Also present is a photograph and a letter from Gwendolen Whistler Howell, Rev. Howell's second wife, who presented Rush's watch to Abbe in return for his services in attending to her ailing husband. Abbe then donated the watch to the college of Physicians and set up a custodianship for it. The collection includes photo prints and correspondence from. Weir Mitchell, Simon Flexner, William H. Welch, and William W. Keen, all of whom served as Abbe Custodians between 1910 and 1927.
Dates
- 1781 - 1927
Extent
1 volume
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
This scrapbook of Benjamin Rush memorabilia and records
of the Abbe Custodianship was donated to the College of physicians
of Philadelphia by Robert Abbe on 1 February 1911. It is possible
to trace the provenance of the some of the items in the collection;
for example, the photo print of the Benjamin Rush portrait medal
(item 13) was presented to Abbe for inclusion in the scrapbook
by George M. Torney, Surgeon General of the United States, in
1910. Rush's 1793 letter on Yellow fever (item 24) was presented
to John K.Mitchell by John William Wallace in a letter dated
13 November 1855 (item 25). John K. Mitchell's son, S. Weir Mitchell,
presented both of these letters to Abbe in a letter dated 16
December 1910 (item 26).
After Abbe donated the scrapbook to the College, additional letters and photo prints were added as new Abbe Custodians were selected. The scrapbook was transferred from the care of the Mutter Museum to the Historical Collections of the library on 4 January 1983. It was processed and catalogued in 1992.
After Abbe donated the scrapbook to the College, additional letters and photo prints were added as new Abbe Custodians were selected. The scrapbook was transferred from the care of the Mutter Museum to the Historical Collections of the library on 4 January 1983. It was processed and catalogued in 1992.
Inventory
Page
1 1. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928.
Biographical notes of Dr. Benjamin Rush,
[n.d.] (1 item)
12 2. Savage, E[dward], 1761-1817.
Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy],
[n.d.] (1 item)
15 3. Characteristic phrases from the writings of Dr. Rush : selected by Dr. Weir Mitchell, [n.d.] (1 item)
17 4. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy of portrait in Independence Hall], [n.d.] (1 item)
19 5. Reprint of biographical piece on Benjamin Rush, [n.d.] (1 item)
21 6. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the Thomas Sully portrait, [n.d.] (1 item)
25 7. St. Memin. Engraving of Benjamin Rush, [n.d.] (1 item)
27 8. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy of portrait in Independence Hall], [n.d.] (1 item)
29 9. Pealed, Charles Wilson, 1741-1827. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
31 10. Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
33 11. Dodson, R. W. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the Thomas Sully portrait, [n.d.] (1 item)
35 12. Jones, W. R. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the drawing by W. Haines, [n.d.] (1 item)
37 13. Photograph of Benjamin Rush portrait medal, [ca. 1910] (1 item)
39 14. Photograph of the Benjamin Rush Portrait from the Council Room of Princeton University, [n.d.] (1 item)
41 15. Edwin, [David?], 1776-1841. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the Thomas Sully portrait, 1813 (1 item)
43 16. Pealed, Charles Wilson, 1741-1827. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
44 17. Pealed, Charles Wilson, 1741-1827. Portrait of Julia Stockton [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
45 18. Engraving of Benjamin Rush [copy], from the American Universal Magazine, [n.d.] (1 item)
48 19. Poulson, C. A. Engraving of "Shippen Mansion" [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
49 20. Photograph of "Sydenham", [n.d.] (1 item)
51 21. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Capt[ai]n Jer[e]miah Fisher, [n.p.], 1781 Mar. 10 With Fisher, Jere[miah]. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to W[illia]m Henry Esq., Philadelphia [Pa.], [n.d.] (1 item)
52 22. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Bill : [n.p.], to Mrs. Ann Potts, [n.p.], 1804 (1 item)
53 23. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Death certificate for Joseph Clark's child, 1807 Sept. 4 (1 item)
55 24. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to [Nicholas] Belleville, [n.p.], 1793 Sept. 3 (1 item)
57 25. Wallace, John W[illia]m, 1815-1884. Autograph letter signed : [Philadelphia, Pa.], to John K. Mitchell, [Philadelphia, Pa.], 1855 Nov. 13 (1 item)
59 26. Mitchell, [S.] Weir, 1829-1914. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to [Robert] Abbe, [n.p.], 1910 Dec. 16 (1 item)
60 27. Reprint of Richard Rush biography, [n.d.] (1 item)
61 28. Pease, J[oseph] I[ves], 1809-1883. Engraving of Richard Rush [copy], from U. S. Magazine and Democratic Review, [n.d.] (1 item)
63 29. Rosenthal, Max, 1833-1918. Engraving of Richard Rush, 1899 (1 item)
67 30. Photograph of Mary Theresa de Beelen Rush Howell, [n.d.] (1 item)
69 31. Photograph of Rev. Richard L. Howell, [n.d.] (1 item)
71 32. Photograph of Gwendolen Whistler Howell, [n.d.] (1 item)
73 33. Howell, Gwendolen Whistler. Autograph letter signed : Newport [R.I.], to [Robert] Abbe, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. (1 item)
75 34. Photograph of Robert Abbe, [n.d.] (1 item)
76 35. "Description of the Watch", [n.d.] (1 item)
77 36. Five photographs of the watch, [n.d.] (5 items)
81 37. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Autograph letter signed : New York [N.Y.], to [George] De Schweinitz, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. (1 item)
82 38. "Conditions of the Custodianship of the Watch of Dr. Benjamin Rush", [n.d.] (1 item)
85 39. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Autograph letter signed : Bar Harbour [Me.], to [S. Weir] Mitchell, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. 18 (1 item)
87 40. Mitchell, S. Weir, 1829-1914. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Robert Abbe, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. 23 (1 item)
89 41. Photograph of S. Weir Mitchell, [n.d.] (1 item)
91 42. Mitchell, S. Weir, 1829-1914. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to Unnamed correspondent, [n.p.], 1913 May 22 (1 item)
92 43. Flexner, Simon, 1863-1946. Typescript letter signed : New York [N.Y.], to Thomas R. Neilson, Philadelphia, Pa., 1914 May 7 (1 item)
93 44. Photograph of Simon Flexner, [n.d.] (1 item)
95 45. Flexner, Simon, 1863-1946. Typescript letter signed : New York [N.Y.], to President and Fellows of the College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pa., 1920 Jan. 12 (1 item)
97 46. Photograph of William H. Welch, [n.d.] (1 item)
97 47. Welch, William H., 1850-1934. Typescript letter signed : Baltimore, Md., to [William J.] Taylor, [n.p.], 1921 Feb. 24 (1 item)
99 48. Photograph of Abbe Cabinet, [n.d.] (1 item)
101 49. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Typescript letter : New York [N.Y.], to [William J.] Taylor, [n.p.], 1921 May 18 (1 item)
103 50. Welch, William H., 1850-1934. Autograph letter signed : Baltimore, Md., to Thomas R. Neilson, [n.p.], 1924 June 4 (1 item)
109 51. Keen, W[illiam] W., 1837-1932. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to [William H.] Welch, [n.p.], 1924 June 4 (1 item)
111 52. Photograph of William W. Keen, 1927 Jan. 19 (1 item)
112 53. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Autograph letter signed : [New York, N.Y.], to [William W. Keen, n.p.], 1927 Apr. 14 (1 item)
54. Engraving of Alexander James Dallas [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
15 3. Characteristic phrases from the writings of Dr. Rush : selected by Dr. Weir Mitchell, [n.d.] (1 item)
17 4. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy of portrait in Independence Hall], [n.d.] (1 item)
19 5. Reprint of biographical piece on Benjamin Rush, [n.d.] (1 item)
21 6. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the Thomas Sully portrait, [n.d.] (1 item)
25 7. St. Memin. Engraving of Benjamin Rush, [n.d.] (1 item)
27 8. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy of portrait in Independence Hall], [n.d.] (1 item)
29 9. Pealed, Charles Wilson, 1741-1827. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
31 10. Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
33 11. Dodson, R. W. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the Thomas Sully portrait, [n.d.] (1 item)
35 12. Jones, W. R. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the drawing by W. Haines, [n.d.] (1 item)
37 13. Photograph of Benjamin Rush portrait medal, [ca. 1910] (1 item)
39 14. Photograph of the Benjamin Rush Portrait from the Council Room of Princeton University, [n.d.] (1 item)
41 15. Edwin, [David?], 1776-1841. Engraving of Benjamin Rush from the Thomas Sully portrait, 1813 (1 item)
43 16. Pealed, Charles Wilson, 1741-1827. Portrait of Benjamin Rush [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
44 17. Pealed, Charles Wilson, 1741-1827. Portrait of Julia Stockton [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
45 18. Engraving of Benjamin Rush [copy], from the American Universal Magazine, [n.d.] (1 item)
48 19. Poulson, C. A. Engraving of "Shippen Mansion" [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
49 20. Photograph of "Sydenham", [n.d.] (1 item)
51 21. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Capt[ai]n Jer[e]miah Fisher, [n.p.], 1781 Mar. 10 With Fisher, Jere[miah]. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to W[illia]m Henry Esq., Philadelphia [Pa.], [n.d.] (1 item)
52 22. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Bill : [n.p.], to Mrs. Ann Potts, [n.p.], 1804 (1 item)
53 23. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Death certificate for Joseph Clark's child, 1807 Sept. 4 (1 item)
55 24. Rush, Benj[ami]n, 1746-1813. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to [Nicholas] Belleville, [n.p.], 1793 Sept. 3 (1 item)
57 25. Wallace, John W[illia]m, 1815-1884. Autograph letter signed : [Philadelphia, Pa.], to John K. Mitchell, [Philadelphia, Pa.], 1855 Nov. 13 (1 item)
59 26. Mitchell, [S.] Weir, 1829-1914. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to [Robert] Abbe, [n.p.], 1910 Dec. 16 (1 item)
60 27. Reprint of Richard Rush biography, [n.d.] (1 item)
61 28. Pease, J[oseph] I[ves], 1809-1883. Engraving of Richard Rush [copy], from U. S. Magazine and Democratic Review, [n.d.] (1 item)
63 29. Rosenthal, Max, 1833-1918. Engraving of Richard Rush, 1899 (1 item)
67 30. Photograph of Mary Theresa de Beelen Rush Howell, [n.d.] (1 item)
69 31. Photograph of Rev. Richard L. Howell, [n.d.] (1 item)
71 32. Photograph of Gwendolen Whistler Howell, [n.d.] (1 item)
73 33. Howell, Gwendolen Whistler. Autograph letter signed : Newport [R.I.], to [Robert] Abbe, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. (1 item)
75 34. Photograph of Robert Abbe, [n.d.] (1 item)
76 35. "Description of the Watch", [n.d.] (1 item)
77 36. Five photographs of the watch, [n.d.] (5 items)
81 37. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Autograph letter signed : New York [N.Y.], to [George] De Schweinitz, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. (1 item)
82 38. "Conditions of the Custodianship of the Watch of Dr. Benjamin Rush", [n.d.] (1 item)
85 39. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Autograph letter signed : Bar Harbour [Me.], to [S. Weir] Mitchell, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. 18 (1 item)
87 40. Mitchell, S. Weir, 1829-1914. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to Robert Abbe, [n.p.], 1910 Sept. 23 (1 item)
89 41. Photograph of S. Weir Mitchell, [n.d.] (1 item)
91 42. Mitchell, S. Weir, 1829-1914. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to Unnamed correspondent, [n.p.], 1913 May 22 (1 item)
92 43. Flexner, Simon, 1863-1946. Typescript letter signed : New York [N.Y.], to Thomas R. Neilson, Philadelphia, Pa., 1914 May 7 (1 item)
93 44. Photograph of Simon Flexner, [n.d.] (1 item)
95 45. Flexner, Simon, 1863-1946. Typescript letter signed : New York [N.Y.], to President and Fellows of the College of Physicians, Philadelphia, Pa., 1920 Jan. 12 (1 item)
97 46. Photograph of William H. Welch, [n.d.] (1 item)
97 47. Welch, William H., 1850-1934. Typescript letter signed : Baltimore, Md., to [William J.] Taylor, [n.p.], 1921 Feb. 24 (1 item)
99 48. Photograph of Abbe Cabinet, [n.d.] (1 item)
101 49. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Typescript letter : New York [N.Y.], to [William J.] Taylor, [n.p.], 1921 May 18 (1 item)
103 50. Welch, William H., 1850-1934. Autograph letter signed : Baltimore, Md., to Thomas R. Neilson, [n.p.], 1924 June 4 (1 item)
109 51. Keen, W[illiam] W., 1837-1932. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia [Pa.], to [William H.] Welch, [n.p.], 1924 June 4 (1 item)
111 52. Photograph of William W. Keen, 1927 Jan. 19 (1 item)
112 53. Abbe, Robert, 1851-1928. Autograph letter signed : [New York, N.Y.], to [William W. Keen, n.p.], 1927 Apr. 14 (1 item)
54. Engraving of Alexander James Dallas [copy], [n.d.] (1 item)
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
