"Lepra", 1893

The Albert S. Ashmead papers (1875-1910) is a fine collection documenting the professional experiences of a well known American leprologist. The focus of the collection is Ashmead's correspondence with other leprologist and international figures concerning the 1897 Berlin lepra conference. The collection also contains manuscripts of Ashmead's articles, the text for an unpublished anthology on Japanese medicine, and research notes and translations of articles concerning leprosy and anthropology.

Series 1, Biographical and Genealogical, contains newsclippings and a typescript entry with Ashmead's mendations from the National Cyclopedia of American Biography (1894-1909).

Ashmead's correspondence received (1875-1910) in Series contains the most historically significant items in the collection. There is extensive correspondence concerning the 1897 Berlin Lepra Conference from Edvard Ehlers, Jules Goldschmidt, G. Armauer Hansen, and Jonathan Hutchinson.

Other highlights include: Luis F. Alvarez, who describes the use of Carrasquilla's serum to treat leprosy; A. F. Bandelieron the illnesses of Peruvian Indians; G. M. Bowie's reports of leprosy cures; C. H. Branson's extensive account of his experiences as a leper (1910); D. G. Brinton's theories on the history of leprosy; correspondence from Juan deDiosCarrasquilla and Sebastian Carrasquilla; C. L. Conrardy's descriptions of his missions to lepers in Louisiana and china; Francisco Grana's 1907 account of inoculating llamas for syphilis; R. G. Haliburton on anthropological matters; a 1903 letter from Charles Hartzell, Acting Governor of Puerto Rico, concerning a scandal at the leper colony on Cabras Island; correspondence and a photograph from A. W. Hitt concerning leprosy in India; Luther F. McKinney on leprosy in Columbia; an 1895 letter from Clarence B. Moore on archeological evidence for pre Columbian syphilis;correspondence from H. Polakowsky concerning the dispute with Rudolf Virchow; correspondence from Alfred Stille describing his reactions to Ashmead's published writings; and correspondence from Julio C. Tello. Many items not written in English have Ashmead's translations attached.

Series 2 also contains copies of Ashmead's outgoing correspondence (1896-1897) concerning the 1897 conference. Major correspondents are Edvard Ehlers and Jules Goldschmidt.

Photographs of lepers (1896 and 1901) and of a Japanese leprosy nurse (ca. 1885), are contained in Series 3.

A small collection of Ashmead's manuscripts are preserved in series 4. There is one folder of miscellaneous short pieces,mostly newspaper submissions (1880-1909), as well as four lengthy manuscripts on leprosy, tuberculosis, and Japan. Series 5 contains printed materials and folders of newsclippings on ambidexterity, anthropology, and leprosy. The leprosy folder also contains a handbill, dated 22 January 1897, concerning the proposed conference which was sent to international leprologists from Ashmead as well as the text of the 1902 Platt leper bill.

In 1893, Ashmead assembled numerous translations of German and French articles on leprosy, kakke [beriberi], and miscellaneous Japanese medical and descriptive matters. Many of these articles were written by Albrecht Wernich, and some were translated by Ashmead himself. The collection was dedicated to the medical profession of Japan, as Ashmead maintained that:

These valuable sources of information on subjects deeply interesting to the Japanese people ought to be made easily accessible to that large majority of Japanese physicians who speak English and are not proficient enough in German or French to avail themselves of some remarkable ideas and experiments published in these languages. This extensive text, entitled "Collection of some foreign opinions on pathological matters peculiar to Japan" does not appear to have ever been published.

Series 7 consists of Ashmead's research files on several subjects, principally leprosy. There are several texts and translations and information on the Berlin anthropological society debate with Rudolf Virchow.

A few documents written in Japanese, including a history of medicine in Japan (1874) and a report sent to Ashmead on sickness in the Japanese army in 1874-1875, are contained in Series 8. This series also includes a newsclipping concerning Jesse James and some leaves from a wreath placed on James' tomb.