Folder 1
Container
Contains 1 Collection or Record:
Yellow Fever Epidemic Correspondence
Series — Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS 422
Overview
In 1793, the yellow fever epidemic gripped Philadelphia, followed by smaller outbreaks in 1794, 1797, and 1798. Over 5,000 residents died during the first outbreak. At this time, the nation’s capital was located in Philadelphia. To avoid the “universal terror,” George Washington and Congress fled the city for the outlying suburbs. However, most residents did not have the means to re-locate. Benjamin Rush (1746-1813), a Philadelphia physician, refused to abandon the city. Rush...
Dates:
1794 - 1799
