Burton Chance papers

Burton Kollock Chance, Philadelphia ophthalmologist and medical historian, was born on 30 January 1868. He was the tenth and youngest child of Robert Chambers and Elizabeth Gale (Corson) Chance. In 1903, Burton Chance married Maria Scott Beale. Chance died on 4 March 1965.

Chance received his M.D. from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1893. He then served an internship at St. Joseph's Hospital. In 1894, he became Resident Physician at Wills Eye Hospital. He became Assistant Dispensary Surgeon at the Eye Dispensary of the University of Pennsylvania in 1895, and from 1895 to 1898, he also served as Physician in Charge of the Children's Department at St. Joseph's Hospital. In 1899, Chance became Assistant Surgeon at Wills Eye Hospital and opened his private practice. In 1909, he became Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad as well as Ophthalmologist to the Germantown Dispensary and Hospital. Chance became Chief Surgeon at Wills Eye Hospital in 1916 and held this position until 1933 when he withdrew to consulting status.

Chance was the author of over 250 publications, including case studies of neoplasms and color blindness and articles on biography and medical history.

Burton Chance was a member of many professional organizations, including the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, the American Medical Association, and the American Ophthalmological Society. He became a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1900 and was very active in the Section on Ophthalmology.