Nathan L. Hatfield papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 2/213

Scope and Contents

This small collection of Nathan L. Hatfield's papers, 1821-1826, documents his medical education and early career and personal interests. The collection contains notes on lectures from both the University of Pennsylvania and the first session of Jefferson Medical College. Also included are a few samples of Hatfield's writings, such as the draft of an application to the Managers of the Philadelphia Alms House for resident student status, essays, a eulogy on Samuel Williston Lebeau, and the draft of a constitution for a society for the distribution of free religious tracts, and the circulation record of a private library.

Lecturers at the University of Pennsylvania include: Nathaniel Chapman on the practice of medicine, John Redman Coxe on materia medica, William Gibson on surgery, and Thomas C. James on midwifery. Lecturers at Jefferson Medical College include: Francis S. Beattie on midwifery, John Eberle on theory and practice, Jacob Green on chemistry, George McClellan on surgery, and B. Rush Rhees on materia medica.

Dates

1821 - 1826

Creator

Hatfield, Nathan L. (Nathan Lewis) (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Nathan Lewis Hatfield, Philadelphia physician, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on 2 August 1804. He had several children, including physician Nathan Hatfield. Hatfield died of bronchitis on 29 August 1887.

Nathan L. Hatfield attended the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania during the 1823-1824 and 1824-1825 academic sessions. Although he matriculated for the 1825-1826 session, Hatfield began to attend lectures at Jefferson Medical College when it opened in October 1825 and received an M.D. as a member of the first graduating class of Jefferson in 1826. His thesis was on dysentery.

Hatfield practiced medicine in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, was a consulting physician and manager at the Northern Dispensary, and served, from 1846 to 1848, on the city's Board of Health.

Nathan L. Hatfield was elected to fellowship in the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1855. He was also a member of the Northern Medical Association, Philadelphia County Medical Society, and Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania.

Extent

1 Box

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

This collection of Nathan L. Hatfield's student lecture notes and other material was purchased by the Historical Collections of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia from Ida W. Schuman, a New York book dealer, on 27 February 1959.

The collection was processed and recatalogued in 1991.