Benjamin Rush papers

Series

Identifier: MSS 426

Scope and Contents

The Benjamin Rush papers date from 1787 to 1889, although the bulk of the material spans the years 1796 to 1810. These papers document some of Rush's work with patients through invoices, receipts of bills paid, and correposndence; as well as Rush's notes on various medical topics, including the liver. The collection is divided into four series: Correspondence, Financial, Writings, and Other records.

Series I: Correspondence contains letters to and from Benjamin Rush from 1787 to 1812. Of note are the manuscript copies of five letters to a John McCleland for the years 1797 to 1812, transcribed in 1889. Series II: Financial holds bills to and receipts paid by patients of Rush for the years 1794 through 1815, as well as some estate accounts of Rush, including invoices for home furnishings. Series III: Writings makes up the bulk of the collection and spans the years 1797 to 1810. This series contains several of Rush's addresses on various medical topics and notes on patients and medical texts. Series IV: Other records houses admissions forms to Pennsylvania Hospital for two of Rush's patients, a certificate of internment, a prescription for Jacob Broom, and a draft of a copyright agreeement for one of Rush's books.

Dates

undated

Creator

Rush, Benjamin (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Benjamin Rush, Philadelphia physician, was born on 24 December 1745 o.s. in Byberry Township. He married Julia Stockton in 1776; they had thirteen children. Rush died on 19 April 1813. Rush received his B.A. from Princeton College in 1760, then served a six-year apprenticeship with John Redman. He was one of the first to attend William Shippen’s anatomy lectures. In 1768, he received his M.D. from the University of Edinburgh. In 1769, Rush became Professor of Chemistry at the College of Philadelphia; in 1789, he became Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine. When the College of Philadelphia formed the University of Pennsylvania in 1791, Rush became Professor of the Institutes of Medicine and Clinical Medicine. In 1783, he became Physician at Pennsylvania Hospital. In 1786, he helped to establish the Philadelphia Dispensary and was a physician there until his death. Rush was also a member of the Provincial Congress in 1776, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and, in 1777, became Surgeon General of the Continental Army. In 1799, he became Treasurer of the U.S. Mint. Rush was known for advocating bleeding and purging to treat yellow fever. He was a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia from 1787 to 1793.

Extent

.2 Linear feet (1 half document box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Benjamin Rush, Philadelphia physician, in 1745 o.s. in Byberry Township. In 1768, he received his M.D. from the University of Edinburgh. He helped to establish the Philadelphia Dispensary and was a physician there until his death. Rush was also a member of the Provincial Congress in 1776, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and, in 1777, became Surgeon General of the Continental Army. He was a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia from 1787 to 1793.

The Benjamin Rush papers date from 1787 to 1889, although the bulk of the material spans the years 1796 to 1810. These papers document some of Rush's work with patients through invoices, receipts of bills paid, and correposndence; as well as Rush's notes on various medical topics, including the liver.

Previously catalogued as 10a 250.