McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
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H3A 0C9
Letter to Albert Chatard, March 30, 1909
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A major figure in modern medical history, Sir William Osler is well known as a scientific researcher, a great medical pedagogue, a humanist, and an advocate for a patient-centered approach to medicine.
Born in Bond Head, Ontario, in 1849, Osler earned his medical degree at McGill University, and later taught at McGill's Faculty of Medicine from 1874 until 1884. Osler then joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he was appointed Chair of Clinical Medicine before becoming Physician-in-Chief and one of the "Big Four" founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital and medical school in Baltimore – the first school of its kind to train medical students in a modern residency program. Osler finished his career as Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, where he also devoted time to his passion for book collecting. His library of nearly eight thousand rare and historic works of the history of medicine and science is known as the Bibliotheca Osleriana, documented by a published catalogue of the same title.
Sir William Osler was knighted in 1911 in recognition of his contributions to medical science and teaching. His library of 7600 volumes on the history of medicine and science bequeathed to McGill University forms the nucleus of the present Osler Library of the History of Medicine. His life and contributions to medicine are described in detail in the Pulitzer-Prize winning biography "Life of Sir William Osler" (London: Oxford University Press, 1925) by Harvey Cushing.
Letter to Albert Chatard from William Osler, Grand Hotel Britannia, Venice, Italy. He has to go in England and will sail earlier from Southampton, and not from Naples. Sent him a reproduction of an Avicenna manuscript page. He saw the original in Bologna. The text is in Hebrew, XI century. Will bring a set of the old votive offerings of the Aesulapian temple. Suggests to exhibit some of the special editions for the meeting. Sends the 1st edition of Vesalius, de Human Corporis Fabricus to the Frick Library. The Edinburgh theses would make a good show. Asks him to come earlier to Baltimore, he will be able to stay longer. Wishes to meet his Avicenna Club. Details of his trip in Italy. Glad he liked the Paris letter. He will write more. Civilities.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)