Fred D. Weidman papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 2/182

Scope and Contents

The collection of Fred D. Weidman's papers, 1896-1933 contains student notebooks and papers; correspondence and reports concerning a 1926 survey on fungal disease; drawings and photographs; and some miscellaneous writings.

The bulk of the collection is concerned with Weidman's education, both in secondary school and in the Department of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Series 1 contains 28 volumes of student notes on many subjects. The notes from Weidman's medical school career concern bacteriology, chemistry, histology, and pathology, and generally represent subjects which he studied during his first two years in the medical program. The secondary school notebooks and related papers may have been retainedjby Weidman for use in preparation for the entrance examinations to medical school.

Weidman's later career is documented in the collection by two instruction manuals for pathology students used during Weidman's tenure as demonstrator in pathology in the University of Pennsylvania, circa 1909, and a survey which he designed and tabulated on the incidence of favus and ringworm and public health measures taken to treat the diseases in major cities in the United States and abroad.

The collection also includes nine pencil sketches and a sketchbook, both probably from Weidman's student days; nine photographs; and samples of his writings, including a poem, two addresses, and the draft of an article on the treatment of ringworm.

Dates

1896 - 1933

Creator

Weidman, Fred D. (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Frederick DeForest Weidman, Philadelphia dermatologist, was born on 16 October 1881 in Bristol, Connecticut. Originally, his name was spelled "Wiedenmann". Weidman married Florence L. Krewson in 1919; they had two children. He married Lillian E. Hawk in 1937. Weidman died at Bailey Island, Maine, on 30 August 1956.

He received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1908 and then served an internship at Delaware Hospital. From 1909 to 1914, Weidman had a private practice in Philadelphia and, until 1920, was an instructor and demonstrator in pathology at the University of Pennsylvania. From 1914 to 1917, he also served as professor of pathology at Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. In 1923, Weidman became professor of dermatological research at the University of Pennsylvania and continued in this position until his retirement in 1950. He was also chief of the dermatological staff at Philadelphia General Hospital, 19201947, and associate pathologist for the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens, 1910-1954.

Weidman was a member of many professional organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology and Syphilology, the American Dermatological Association, the Philadelphia Dermatological Society, and the Society for Investigative Dermatology. He was elected to fellowship in the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1920.

Extent

1.6 Linear feet (4 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The source of this collection of Fred D. Weidman's papers is unknown.

During the 1970s, several of the student notebooks were catalogued as part of the manuscript collections of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia; they were removed and integrated with the rest of the collection during processing. A reference file on fungal diseases, composed of printed material and Weidman's citations to articles, was discarded during processing.

The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.