1978 June-July

File — Container: 82, Folder: 1

Scope and Contents note

From the Series: The “Office Records” series houses the records affiliated with the Office of the Executive Director, rather than the records of the Executive Director himself. The records date from 1954 to 1995, with the bulk of the records dating from 1985 to 1995. The “Office Records” series has thirteen subseries: “Administration,” “Facilities,” “Historical Medical Library,” “Mütter Museum,” “Personnel,” “Financial,” “Governance,” “Correspondence,” “Outside Organizations,” “Programs and Special Events,” “Subject Files,” “Francis Clark Wood Institute,” and “Miscellaneous.” They are arranged in the order listed above.

The “Administration” subseries includes files on the president, the treasurer, and the secretary for the years 1988 to 1992. Of note in this subseries are numerous appointment books from when John O’Donnell was the Executive Director and files for an Executive Director search that resulted in the selection of Marc Micozzi. Much of this subseries is restricted; researchers who wish to view these records should contact the librarian.

The “Facilities,” “Historical Medical Library,” and “Mütter Museum” subseries contain general information, similar to what is found in other series (Chaveas, O’Donnell and Micozzi). Of note in the “Facilities” subseries is correspondence with the firm Mirick, Pearson, Ilvonen, and Bathcheler about the College of Physicians’ restoration projects from the years 1977 to 1979. Also of note in the “Historical Medical Library” subseries is a strategic planning project for 1988 and a folder describing the library’s historical collections from 1975 to 1976. The “Mütter Museum” subseries is small and holds two general files containing memoranda, correspondence, and reports dating from 1987 to 1988.

The “Financial” subseries contains a rich amount of information on a fundraising campaign held between 1975 to 1977 and includes information on the establishment of the Third Century Program, a fundraising campaign. There is also a small amount of information on contributors to the College of Physicians, the Mütter Museum fund, and a variety of office files and correspondence relating to the finances of the college. Much of this subseries is restricted; researchers who wish to view these records should contact the librarian.

“Governance” is the largest subseries within “Office Records.” This subseries documents the governance of the college, including the Ad Hoc Committee on By Laws, the Ad Hoc Committee on Expansion Alternatives, the Committee on Administration, the Committee on Audit, the Committee on Budget and Finance, the Council, the Committee on Development, the Executive Committee, the Committee on Fellowship, the Committee on Growing Healthy, the Ad Hoc Committee on Interdisciplinary Colloquia, the Ad Hoc Committee on Investment Policy, the Committee on Investment, the Ad Hoc Committee for Katherine B. Sturgis Memorial, the Committee on Nominations, the Committee on Planning and Development, the Committee on Program, the Committee on Public Health and Preventative Medicine, the Committee on Scientific Affairs, and the Women's Committee. Committee records are arranged as listed above and then by date. The records document the years 1978 to 1994, with the bulk of the records dating from 1987 to 1994. The records include volunteer job descriptions, meeting files, correspondence, minutes, attendance sheets, and member lists.

The next subseries, “Correspondence,” dates from 1973 to 1979 and 1991. Correspondence is largely arranged chronologically by month, but several folders are arranged by year or by subject. The files arranged by subject include correspondence with the Boy Scouts of America in 1991 and the Pennsylvania Industrial Board in 1976.

The “Outside Organizations” subseries consists of information regarding programs and institutions outside the College of Physicians. Researchers should note that “Outside Organizations” files were kept in their original order, and as a result, the arrangement is not consistent. There are three general groups in the subseries which dates from 1986 to 1992. The records are organized alphabetically within their groupings. Researchers will note that these files are first arranged in alphabetical order by the title of the organization, and then the alphabetical order restarts at the letter “A” once again, indicating the beginning of the second section of records. The final section of records are also arranged alphabetically, but individual organizations are grouped in a single folder by letter. These files contain correspondence, invitations to events, annual reports, ephemera and information about specific institutions. The organizations included are largely located in or around Philadelphia and are usually scientifically or medical based, such as hospitals or medical associations.

Some organizations that are covered extensively include the American Association for the History of Medicine, International Arts-Medicine Association, and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The files of the American Association for the History of Medicine consist of correspondence and materials that suggest exchanging ideas to improve the programs of both institutions. The International Arts-Medicine Association records contain information on collaboration with the College, the publication of materials, and information on a potential lecture series. The files about the Philadelphia Convention and Visitor's Bureau include the College’s attempt to advertise at their conventions, the College’s participation in their events, correspondence, and other information.

Office Records' “Programs and Special Events” subseries includes numerous files about some of the many programs and events of the College of Physicians. The records date from 1976 to 1998 and there is a gap between the years 1977 to 1982. The programs and events include College lectures, College Night, High Tea, and The Japan-U.S. Scientist Program. The lectures are about specific medical topics, including “AIDs: Considerations for the 21st Century” and “The Cover Art of JAMA: Its Relationship to the Art of Medicine.” Many of these lectures are filed individually and contain information such as resumes of speakers, correspondence, brochures, photos from publications and of speakers, transcripts of the lectures, advertising information, guest lists, agendas, expense reports, and invitations. The records are organized alphabetically by lecture title or name of lecturer. College Night is organized by year and consists of lectures and programs offered to college students. High Tea, organized chronologically, is an event hosted by the Women’s Committee of the College and offered programs, food, exhibits, and entertainment including the exhibit of Whitfield J. Bell’s “The College of Physicians of Philadelphia: A Bicentennial History,” and the Savoy Company performing songs by Gilbert and Sullivan. The Japan-United States Visiting Medical Scientist Program was a significant event, the purpose of which was to “support and encourage excellence in medicine” and to foster relations between medical professionals within the two countries. The records about the Japan-U.S. visiting scientist program consist of the expenses and many efforts taken by the College of Physicians to make the program function.

The “Subject Files” subseries dates from 1974 to 1991. Much like in other series, this subseries contains documents that do not readily fit into established subseries. “Subject Files” contain a large amount of information on numerous funds, including the Independence Hall Fund. It also contains records created by the governance boards of the Mid-Eastern Region Medical Library Services (MERMLS). MERMLS is part of a network of eleven Regional Medical Libraries (RML) and is supported by the National Library of Medicine. MERMLS programs are designated to support the development and growth of health sciences library services in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Other programs within MERMLS include document delivery, on-line search orientations, consultation and training services, and a monthly newsletter for health science librarians.

The last two subseries are the “Francis Clark Wood Institute” and the “Miscellaneous” subseries. The “Francis Clark Wood Institute” subseries dates from 1969 to 1992 and contains information about the Francis Clark Wood Institute reorganization, annual reports, and research files. The “Miscellaneous” subseries dates from 1954 to 1989 and contains award plaques, visitor registration books, and books of remembrance.