McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Letter to Arnold Carl Klebs, August 24, 1912
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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 Arnold Carl Klebs from William Osler, Tongue, Sutherlandshire, Scotland. They just missed each other. Will go to the British Association meeting at Dundee which meets from the 4th to the 10th. Hopes to spend a few days with Schäfer. The Silliman lectures have been postponed until the spring. He will be better prepared. He had been rushed with the revision of his text-book until August 1st. Will send him a copy. Still dickering with Fock for the Pagel Library. The price has gone up steadily. A friend (probably his brother E.B.O) offered him the sum named at first, but he hesitates to tax him for more. Comments on the collections and on its value. Van den Corput Library went for ridiculous sums. If he can squeeze another friend, he may can get it. Details on Revere's fishing and on the weather. Description of his activities.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)