McGill Library
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H3A 0C9
Letter to Harvey Cushing, March 28, 1917
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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 Harvey Cushing from William Osler, 13, Norham Gardens, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. They expect the Americans over in October. News of Revere. They miss Viets, good comments about him. Mentions his work on his catalogue. Mentions the woman who helps him in this job. Asks Cushing to send his copy of Dibgy if it has an index. Glad that he liked the book worm. Will send a reprint to the Press. Details about the book worm. Good comments about Malloch's book on Finch and Baines and on Libby's book on the History of Science. It is difficult to find time for continuous work on his early printed medical books. Interested in cerebral work. Civilities. Susan Chapin expects to be out by Christmas.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)