David Lewis autograph letters
Collection
Identifier: MSS 2/045
Scope and Contents
Letters describe David W. Lewis’s life and experiences as a medical student at Jefferson Medical College,
1845-1846, and his first private practice in Ebensburg, Pa., in 1846. Most of the content dwells on the difficulties
of Lewis’ separation from his fiancee, Maria; there is also a great deal of religious speculation. One letter, 11
Dec. 1845, mentions illness among the students, and another, [ca. 7 Jan. 1846], describes an outbreak of
smallpox in Philadelphia and a debate over vaccination as well as Lewis’ decision to not purchase tickets for
the dissecting room at Jefferson and his reactions to public lectures on missionary work and pacifism. The letter
written on 26 Jan. 1846 contains Lewis’ opinions concerning the best sites for a medical practice in rural
Pennsylvania. He then describes Ebensburg to Maria in his letter of 3 Apr. 1846.
Published as Horrocks, Thomas A., and Jack Eckert "Dearest Maria : Letters from a Medical Student in Philadelphia to His Fiancee, 1845-1846," Transactions & Studies of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, ser. 5, vol. 12, no. 3, 1990, pp. 367-385.
Published as Horrocks, Thomas A., and Jack Eckert "Dearest Maria : Letters from a Medical Student in Philadelphia to His Fiancee, 1845-1846," Transactions & Studies of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, ser. 5, vol. 12, no. 3, 1990, pp. 367-385.
Dates
- 1845 - 1846
Creator
- Lewis, David W. (David William) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Lewis's December 1846 letter to Maria is temporarily unavailable for research due to exhibition as part of the Postmortem project.
Biographical / Historical
David William Lewis was born in 1822 or 1823. He attended Jefferson Medical College for the 1845-1846
session and wrote his thesis on the pulse. Lewis received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1846 and
died in Pittsburgh, Pa., on 9 Nov. 1873.
Extent
1 folder
Language of Materials
English
Physical Location
Small collections
Creator
- Lewis, David W. (David William) (Person)
- Title
- David Lewis autograph letters
- 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