1884 Catalog of the Mütter Museum
Scope and Contents
The collection contains the three-volume original typescript
catalogue of the Mutter Museum begun by Guy Hinsdale in
1884, The catalogue contains entries and emendations to
1941, when it was superceded by a revised typescript
version.
The catalogue entries are arranged by specimen type
according to catalogue number in a numerical code system.
Volume 1 contains numbers 1000-3900; volume 21 4000-7000;
volume 3, 8000-18000. A summary of the code system is
included in volume 1. The catalogue entries include the
type of specimen with sometimes lengthy descriptions,
acquisition information, and case descriptions. There are
occasional references to published descriptions of the
specimen or report of the case and notes on condition and
disposition of missing or deteriorated specimens, Many
items are laid in the catalogue, including letters of
donation of specimens or instruments from William W. Keen,
Mordecai Price, and John B. Roberts; notes on the history
and use of surgical instruments; photographs; and case and
specimen descriptions. Notable sections of the catalogue
include descriptions of Joseph Hyrtl's collection of skulls;
the Matthew H, Cryer Anatomical Collection; World War I
gunshot fractures treated as Base Hospital No. 10; and
Douglas P, Murphy's identification of pelves.
Dates
- Creation: 184 - 1941
Creator
- College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Office of the Curator (Organization)
- Hinsdale, Guy (Person)
Biographical / Historical
The office of Curator of the Mutter Museum of the College of
Physicians of Philadelphia was established in 1863,
following the agreement made by the College with Thomas D,
Mutter in 1858. This was originally an elective College
office which carried a salary of $300 provided by the
Mutter Trust. The first curator of the Mutter Museum,
Thomas George Morton, had been curator of the College's
Pathological Cabinet, which was absorbed into the museum.
The 1863 by-laws of the College state that the curator was
an ex officio member of the Committee on the Mutter Museum.
His duties included preparation and labelling of specimens;
general care of the museum; and maintenance of a catalogue
and records for each specimen. From 1870 to 1914, the
curator was required to report on new donations to the
museum at meetings of the College. The 1886 by-laws
provided for the annual nomination of the curator, who was
not required to be a Fellow of the College, by the Committee
on the Mutter Museum. The appointment was then made by the
College, In 1935, the Committee on College Collections
nominated a Custodian to Council; this office was to be
filled by the museum curator, In 1988, the title of
"Curator of the Mutter Museum" was changed to "Director".
Thomas George Morton compiled a simple catalogue of the
Mutter Museum in 1864, following the College's acquisition
of the collections, In 1884, Guy Hinsdale began compilation
of a comprehensive catalogue of the Mutter Museum; a
typescript version was made ,in 1940-1941. A simplified
published catalogue appeared in the Transactions and studies
of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia from 1947 to
1949.
Full Extent
3 Volumes
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The Catalogue of the Mutter Museum was transferred to the
Historical Collections of the Library of the College of
Physicians by Gretchen Worden of the Mutter Museum on 29
August 1991.
The catalogue was processed in 1991 and then returned to the
Museum.
- Title
- 1884 Catalog of the Mütter Museum
- 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
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
