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Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Robert Palmer Howard, 1912-1990, Fonds
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title is based on the contents of the fonds.
Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Reference code
CA OSLER P200
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1875-1975 (Creation)
- Creator
- Howard, Robert Palmer, 1912-1990
Physical description area
Physical description
11 cm of textual records. – 1 photo album (51 photographs). – 3 books.
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
(1912-1990)
Biographical history
Robert Palmer Howard (1912-1990) was the son of McGill graduate Dr. Campbell Palmer Howard (1877-1936) and Ottilie Wright (1892-1976). He was the grandson and namesake of distinguished McGill professor and dean of the Faculty of Medicine from 1882-1889, Robert Palmer Howard (1823-1889) and Emily Severs Howard (1840-1892). Howard's father, Campbell Palmer Howard, was the godson of William Osler (1849-1919) and Howard himself was godson to Olser's son, Edward Revere Osler (1895-1917).
Howard received his medical degree from McGill University in 1932. Upon graduation, he worked at McGill and also at Montreal General Hospital. He spent most of his career as a physician and researcher at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, affiliated with the University of Oklahoma. Howard was always particularly interested in the history of medicine and later became the director of University of Oklahoma's History of Medicine Program. Upon retirement, he moved to Iowa City, IA to become Director of the History of Medicine Society at the University of Iowa.
Howard is the author of The Chief: Doctor William Osler published by Science History Publications in 1983. The bibliographical work provides a detailed account of the close relationships and correspondences between the Osler and Howard families. Howard married Muriel Howard and is the father of Caroline Howard Mast.
Custodial history
All materials accumulated by Robert Palmer Howard (1912-1990). Caroline Howard Mast, daughter of Robert Palmer Howard (1912-1990), donated to Osler Library July 2015.
Scope and content
Fonds consists of personal letters between Howard family members and close relations (C. P. Howard, William Osler, Grace Osler, the Wright family etc.). Subjects range from wedding engagement congratulations for C. P. Howard and Otillie Wright, personal introductions from Grace Osler, to professional appointment letters. There are original photographs (as well as a few copies) of candid Osler family moments, formal family portraits, hospital photos of Osler at work, as well as several professional portraits of William Osler by prominent Montreal photographers. The fonds also includes miscellaneous reprints, booklets, and various other publication materials such as R. P. Howard's valedictory addresses to several graduating classes, personal copies of medical case studies, Olser's handwritten medical notes from 1875-1878, as well as original caricature sketches by Edward Revere Osler. In addition, there is a small photo album (in its own presentation box) with John Hopkins Hospital staff portraits (names included) from 1902-1903. The photo album is stamped "C.P.H." on the front cover.\nIncluded in the fonds are the following books: The Holy Bible (Oxford, 1912), The Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (Diamond Edition, New York, 1881), and Robert Bridges The Spirit of Man (Longmans Green and Co., London, 1916).
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
English
Script of material
Language and script note
The documents are in English.
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Items can be requested for consultation online via the Library Catalogue or by email at osler.library@mcgill.ca. Advance notice is recommended.
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
Alternative identifier(s)
Osler Database ID
4717
Osler Fonds ID
690
Standard number
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Howard, Robert Palmer, 1823-1889 (Subject)
- Osler, Grace Revere Gross, Lady (Subject)
- Osler, William, Sir, 1849-1919 (Subject)
- Howard, Otillie Wright, 1892-1976 (Subject)