Records of the Silas Weir Mitchell Associates Committee

Collection

Identifier: CPP 10/024-01

Scope and Contents

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The records of the Chairman of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, spanning 1959 to 1979, consist of minutes from committee meetings, correspondence, membership information, and miscellaneous material, including resolutions, clippings, programs, and sketches. The collection consists of the records of George I. Blumstein, chairman of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee from 1960 to 1968.

Series 1 contains typescript and holograph minutes from meetings of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee. Many of the typescript minutes contain Blumstein's holograph notes.

Blumstein's correspondence as Chairman of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee is contained in Series 2, Blumstein corresponded with Jonathan E, Rhoads, Thomas Durant, and John H. Gibbon, Jr., all of whom served as honorary chairmen of the committee. Also present are letters from committee members J. Montgomery Deaver, S. Leon Israel, Edmund B, Spaeth, and O. Spurgeon English. Most of the correspondence pertains to special dinner parties held by these individuals to reach potential sponsors and to increase awareness of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates program, Blumstein also corresponded with College Librarian Elliott H. Morse and with some of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates.

Series 3 contains S, Weir Mitchell Associates membership information. Present are form letters distributed to sponsors and potential sponsors, and lists of S. Weir Mitchell Associates and the journals they endowed. Also present in Series 3 are lists of Fellows who were elected between 1960 and 1965; these lists were distributed to the members of the Membership Committee, who aided the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee by recommending newly elected Fellows who were likely to become S. Weir Mitchell Associates.

Miscellaneous material is contained in Series 4. Included are resolutions and clippings pertaining to the S. Weir Mitchell Associates and programs from the 1962, 1964, and 1967 meetings of the S, Weir Mitchell Associates. Also present are items pertaining to the design of a paperweight which was being considered as a possible gift for the S. Weir Mitchell Associates. Included are seven sketches, some in color, of different designs for the paperweight.

Dates

Creation: 1959 - 1979
Creation: Majority of material found within 1960 - 1969

Creator

College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Silas Weir Mitchell Associates Committee (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

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On 27 September 1960, the Council of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia passed a resolution establishing the S. Weir Mitchell Associates program and the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee. Through this program, individuals and organizations supported the Library of the College of Physicians by donating funds to endow a journal of their choice.

Fellow George I. Blumstein was largely responsible for the inception of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates program. In November 1959, Blumstein approached the Council of the College of Physicians with his proposal to enhance the holdings of the College Library by initiating a program of journal sponsorship. By June 1960, Blumstein was contacting Fellows to serve on a committee that would help organize the program. Jonathan E, Rhoads, one of the strongest supporters of Blumstein's proposal, suggested that the sponsors be called S. Weir Mitchell Associates, in honor of one of the most famous Fellows of the College of Physicians. The S. Weir Mitchell Associates, who could make their endowments in honor or memory of a colleague or loved one, were recognized by special bookplates which were placed in the endowed journals.

The S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee also was established by the 27 September 1960 resolution. The committee members, who were appointed by the president of the College of Physicians, were primarily responsible for soliciting journal subscriptions. As of 1992, the S. Weir Mitchell Associates program is still active at the College of Physicians, but the committee's work is performed by the Office of Institutional Advancement and the Collections Management division of the Library.

Full Extent

.4 Linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The records of the Chairman of the S. Weir Mitchell Associates Committee were donated to the Historical Collections of the Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by George I. Blumstein on 19 August 1981.

The collection was processed and cataloged in 1992.