George W. Outerbridge papers
Scope and Contents
The George W. Outerbridge Papers, 1916-1919, contain letters
and postcards, a fragment of a diary, and photographs, documenting Outerbridge's
experiences as a member of the Pennsylvania Hospital Unit in
France during World War I.
Series 1 contains letters, 1917-1918, addressed by Outerbridge
to family members, particularly his father, A. E. Outerbridge,
and aunt, Laura C. Outerbridge. The letters describe Outerbridge's transatlantic
voyage, conditions in France, and the daily routine of a physician
in both Base Hospital No. 10 at Le Treport and Mobile Hospital
8 during the war. Items of special interest, describing the
routine handling of patients at Base Hospital No. 10, are two
letters, 14 September 1917 and 8 January 1918, to A. E. Outerbridge
and a letter, 7 November 1917, to Laura C. Outerbridge.
Series 2 contains entries of a diary, 18-19 August 1917, written by
Outerbridge at sea and describing events during his voyage to France
on the S.S. Aurania.
The bulk of the Outerbridge Papers, Series 3, is comprised
of photographs. There are a few unbound mounted images of Outerbridge's
naval volunteer cruise aboard the U.S.S. Rhode Island, August September
1916, and two albums (disbound) of photographs from France.
The first album, 1917-1919, contains photographs of the voyage
of the Aurania, the staff and facilities at Base Hospital No.
10 at Le Treport, and items of interest to tourists in the surrounding
cities and countryside. The second album, 1918-1919, contains
photographs of the staff and equipment of Mobile Hospital 8
taken while at Exermont and Varennes. There are also several
images of German guns, bombs, and shelters and a dug out in
the Argonne.
Dates
- Creation: 1916 - 1919
Creator
- Outerbridge, George W. (Person)
Biographical / Historical
George Whitney Outerbridge, gynecologist, was born in Philadelphia
on 12 May 1881. He died of arteriosclerotic heart disease on
16 January 1967.
Outerbridge received an A.B. from Harvard University in 1905 and
an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1907. He then
served an internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Outerbridge was on the staff of Abington Memorial Hospital,
held positions as Chief Gynecologist at the Methodist Hospital
and Chief Surgeon at the Gynecean Institute, and taught at the
University of Pennsylvania.
During World War I, Outerbridge went to France with the Pennsylvania
Hospital unit. He was in charge of a venereal disease clinic
and worked at Base Hospital No. 10, September 1917-October 1918,
then was attached to Mobile Hospital 8, October 1918-January
1919. From January to April 1919, Outerbridge was again at
Base Hospital No. 10. Upon his return to the United States,
Outerbridge left academic medicine and concentrated on his gynecological
practice.
George W. Outerbridge was elected to fellowship in the College
of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1913. He was also a member
of the Philadelphia Obstetrical Society.
Full Extent
3 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The George W. Outerbridge Papers were donated to the Historical Collections
of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Mrs. Edward
F. Harvey of Philadelphia on 6 July 1972. Mrs. Harvey found
the collection in her home at 8 Summit Street in Philadelphia;
this was formerly the residence of George W. Outerbridge.
The collection was originally catalogued as 10b/56. In 1990,
it was processed and recatalogued and the two photograph albums
were disbound.
Subject
- United States. Army. Base Hospital No. 10 (Organization)
- Title
- George W. Outerbridge papers
- 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
