Presidential papers of Lewis C. Sheffey

This collection of Lewis Cass Scheffey's papers, spanning 1918 to 1966, documents his involvement in various offices, committees, and sections of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The bulk of the papers date from 1955 to 1958, the years in which Scheffey was President of the College. Also included in the collection is material relating to his participation in nu•erous local and national organizations.

Series 1 includes material relating to Scheffey's activities as president, censor, and Council member, 1937-1965. Included are presidential addresses and newsletters, Council rules, minutes from Council meetings, and professional correspondence. Among the correspondence are letters congratulating Scheffey on his election to the presidency and complementing him on his achievements in this office. The papers in Series 2, spanning 1918 to 1963, relate to three adainistrative divisions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The papers of the Library administration consist of various reports, information on the library's Medical Literature Service, and correspondence between Scheffey and librarian Elliott H. Morse. Also of note are the papers of the Liaison Committee (1956-1957), a group of Fellows who met with members of the Philadelphia County Medical Society to consider a controversial proposal to combine the libraries of the two institutions. Included are letters froa Elliot H. Morse, Samuel X Radbill, and chairman John T. Farrell, Jr. Also present is a group of published letters from Philadelphia Medicine which express the opinions of those both for and against the coa•ittee's proposals. Series 2 also includes papers from the Historical Collections of the Library, including monthly reports and copies of its journal, Fugitive Leaves.

Papers pertaining to the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Progr&11 are also included in Series 2. The S. Weir Mitchell Associates donated funds to the library to pay for the subscription prices of particular journals. In return, the library placed a book plate in each journal to coameaorate the donor. Scheffey himself was a S. Weir Mitchell Associate; his endowment paid for the library's subscription to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. A sample of Scheffey's book plate is included with a letter sent to him by president Thomas M. Durant on 18 September 1961.

Series 3 provides an alphabetical listing of Scheffey's papers pertaining to various committees of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Included in these papers, which date from 1955 to 1963, are reports, ainutes, ae11>randa, correspondence, and miscellaneous notes and clippings, Of special interest are Finance Coaaittee papers pertaining to the Erlanger Garage, a parking garage adjacent to the College that was purchased in 1957 to provide aaple parking for Fellows attending College functions.

The papers in Series 4, spanning 1955 to 1961, document the activities of various sections of the College. The Section on Medical History is perhaps beat represented; included are reports, invitations to aeetings, and t71>escripts of lectures delivered by Scheffey and historical librarian W, B, McDaniel II. Among the correspondence are letters fro• McDaniel, chairman Samuel X Rad.bill, and Fred B. Rogers, all of whom were especially active in the section. Aleo included is a letter from noted physician Edward B. Krumbhaar.

Series 5, spanning 1950 to 1966, includes inforaation on various fund raising divisions of the College. Of special interest are Scheffey's papers from the Building Fund Committee, dating from 1952 to 1956, These records docuaent the College's vigorous caapaign to raise fund• for an expansion of the library and for other repairs to the building on 19 South 22nd Street, Included in these papers are frequent progress reports, pleas to Fellows for donations, and nuaerous pieces of correspondence fro• Richard A. Kern, chairman of the co .. ittee. Also present are papers documenting the successful coapletion of the project in May 1956.

Papers relating to the adainistration and award of various prizes and lectureships sponsored by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia are contained in Series 6. Thia series, spanning 1953 to 1965, is arranged alphabetically, and includes historical notes about the awards, announcements of prize-winning lectures, and biographical information about prize recipients, usually coapiled by W. B, McDaniel II.

Series 7, also arranged alphabetically, docuaents Scheffey's involvement with various local and national organizations from 1948 to 1966, Scheffey, an active aeaber of the American Cancer Society, received their gold medal in 1962; clippings and photographs documenting this occasion are included in Series 7, Also present are records from the Council on International Visitors, a consortiua of Philadelphia-baaed organizations that provided inforaation and aid to foreigners visiting the Philadelphia area. Scheffey, as a member of the committee on Medical Visitors, played an active role in this organization.