McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Letter to Edward A. Sharpey Schäfer, March 26 & 27, 1900
Item
2 pages
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 Edward A. Sharpey Schäfer from William Osler, 1, West Franklin Street, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Osler must withdraw his application to Edinburgh because local pressure is too strong. Osler had not expected such an outburst from his colleagues upon the news that he had applied as Chair of Medicine in Scotland. Because of the trouble caused by the possibility of his leaving Baltimore, Osler has decided to put an end to his pledge for the position. Osler is quite disappointed, as he, Grace, and all his friends in Canada were excited about him moving to Scotland. He apologizes for any trouble he may have caused Schäfer and thanks him for all of his help. Includes manuscript notes.
Fragile.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)