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Letter to Henry Barton Jacobs, July 10, 1918
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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 Henry Barton Jacobs from William Osler, 13, Norham Gardens, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Rejoices in the fact that the old Faculty has thriven financially. Mentions the Frick Fund report. States that they only need a new Hall for the meeting. Hopes to be able to help with it. Mentions them making their house feehold and their project to leave it to the University as a permanent home for his successors. He has a scheme for Revere's books and his non-medical ones which were to go to his son. Mentions the wedding of Reginald Fitz and Phoebe Wright. Jason Mixter, Forbes and Georges Denny were there. They have always people at home. Mentions Hampton Robb who is at home with the flu. Kind comments on the latter. He has bought the edition principal of Plato (Aldine) and the ed. principal of Copernicus, 1543. Susan Chapin is a trump. Word about the 4th of July celebration in London.
Copy or transcription.
Cushing's colour code: White (Correspondence)