George Green papers
Collection
Identifier: MSS 2/013
Scope and Contents
The contents of this commonplace book of George Green, Sr., divide
naturally into three series: medical lecture notes and examination
questions, many from the Medical Department of the University
of Pennsylvania, 1817-1820; copies or drafts of personal correspondence,
1824 and undated; and poetry, literary sentences, and miscellaneous
writings, 1858-1860 and undated.
Medical items in the volume include a copy of notes on Philip Syng Physick's lecture on inflammation, [1819?] and an undated copy of Benjamin Rush's opening lecture on the practice of medicine in which he outlines his objections to nosology. At the end of the volume are two sets of examination questions and answers used by the student for review of material. The questions on midwifery, obstetrics, and gynecology, [1817?], are probably derived from the lectures of Thomas C. James. The final medical section of the volume contains questions and answers, June 1817, based on the lectures of John Syng Dorsey on materia medica. The commonplace book also contains an extensive section of notesjfrom the lectures of Joseph Parrish on diseases of the eye, 1819, and a copy, dated December, 1820, of Parrish's 1819 lectures on diseases of the nose and throat. Another item of interest, possibly written by the unnamed medical student, is an unsigned draft of a letter from Caracas, Venezuela, dated February 1824. The letter describes the writer's good health and the possibility of making a living in Caracas as either an apothecary or a physician, then instructs the recipient to sell most of their stock and possessions, convey his resignation as apothecary to Dr. Griffitts, and request a testimonial.
The remainder of material in the volume consists of essays, poetry, literary sentences, and drafts and copies of personal letters, 1858-1860 and undated. There is also one folder of undated letters, fragments, and printed material. All of the later material in the volume appears to have been written, copied, or compiled by George Green, Sr., of Delphi, Indiana.
Medical items in the volume include a copy of notes on Philip Syng Physick's lecture on inflammation, [1819?] and an undated copy of Benjamin Rush's opening lecture on the practice of medicine in which he outlines his objections to nosology. At the end of the volume are two sets of examination questions and answers used by the student for review of material. The questions on midwifery, obstetrics, and gynecology, [1817?], are probably derived from the lectures of Thomas C. James. The final medical section of the volume contains questions and answers, June 1817, based on the lectures of John Syng Dorsey on materia medica. The commonplace book also contains an extensive section of notesjfrom the lectures of Joseph Parrish on diseases of the eye, 1819, and a copy, dated December, 1820, of Parrish's 1819 lectures on diseases of the nose and throat. Another item of interest, possibly written by the unnamed medical student, is an unsigned draft of a letter from Caracas, Venezuela, dated February 1824. The letter describes the writer's good health and the possibility of making a living in Caracas as either an apothecary or a physician, then instructs the recipient to sell most of their stock and possessions, convey his resignation as apothecary to Dr. Griffitts, and request a testimonial.
The remainder of material in the volume consists of essays, poetry, literary sentences, and drafts and copies of personal letters, 1858-1860 and undated. There is also one folder of undated letters, fragments, and printed material. All of the later material in the volume appears to have been written, copied, or compiled by George Green, Sr., of Delphi, Indiana.
Dates
- 1817 - 1860
Creator
- Green, George (Person)
Biographical / Historical
According to information provided in the commonplace book, George
Green, Sr., was born in Philadelphia circa 1789. In later life,
he resided in Delphi, Carroll County, Indiana, had one son,
Tenesson, and lived at least until 1860. Nothing further can
be determined about his life.
Although the commonplace book contains notes of an unnamed student from the University of Pennsylvania, 1817-1820, and a student named George Green (1799-1859) did attend the University of Pennsylvania's Medical Department from 1816 to 1821, receiving an M.D. in 1820, the facts known about his life are inconsistent with those determined about George Green, Sr., from internal evidence in the volume. The unnamed student was possibly some member of George Green's family. The student was also probably an apothecary, and, in 1824, considered establishing his family and practice in Caracas, Venezuela. Before the voyage to Caracas, the student was living in Philadelphia and working as apothecary to an "Institution" under a Dr. Griffitts. This may be a reference to the Southern Dispensary where Samuel Powel Griffiths was president of the Board of Managers at the time.
Although the commonplace book contains notes of an unnamed student from the University of Pennsylvania, 1817-1820, and a student named George Green (1799-1859) did attend the University of Pennsylvania's Medical Department from 1816 to 1821, receiving an M.D. in 1820, the facts known about his life are inconsistent with those determined about George Green, Sr., from internal evidence in the volume. The unnamed student was possibly some member of George Green's family. The student was also probably an apothecary, and, in 1824, considered establishing his family and practice in Caracas, Venezuela. Before the voyage to Caracas, the student was living in Philadelphia and working as apothecary to an "Institution" under a Dr. Griffitts. This may be a reference to the Southern Dispensary where Samuel Powel Griffiths was president of the Board of Managers at the time.
Extent
2 items (1 volume and 1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The George Green commonplace book was purchased by the Historical
Collections of the College of Physicians from Lawrence Feinberg
Rare Books and Manuscripts, Brooklyn, New York, in 1982. Before
this, the volume was in the possession of Paul Brooks (otherwise
unknown) who conveyed it to a Dr. Miles.
The volume was catalogued in 1989.
The volume was catalogued in 1989.
Creator
- Green, George (Person)
- Title
- George Green papers
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
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
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
215-399-2001
library@collegeofphysicians.org