Delaware Academy of Medicine Archive

For more than 90 years, the Academy has curated collections of historically significant books and periodicals, medical instruments, and equipment. The Academy is committed to preserving this historical legacy so that our past and present may guide the future. These collections keep this rich history of medicine in Delaware alive, honor the past and inspire tomorrow.

THE DELAWARE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE ARCHIVE is AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

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*NOTE: WE DO NOT RETAIN STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS FOR THE NURSING SCHOOL OF WILMINGTON

For student transcripts, please contact:

Jennifer Brown
JeBrown@christianacare.org
302-733-1834

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Scope and Contents

The Delaware Academy of Medicine Archive documents the history of Delaware medicine and preserves medical books and instruments. The collection of over 3,000 items of medical interest was acquired through donations from the state’s medical community over the last 90 years. The Archive actively collects materials created by Delaware physicians, nurses, and dentists. Among its contents are:

Books: The Archive holds approximately 1,700 volumes of medical literature dating from 1580 to 1970, with the bulk falling between 1840 and 1950. This includes textbooks, essays, other periodicals, symposia reports, popular books, biographies and histories, reference works, and fiction. A subgroup is books written by members of the Delaware medical community, not necessarily on medical topics.

Manuscript Collections: The Archive contains 31 linear feet of archival files. These records include those created by the Academy (minutes of Academy committees, correspondence, files of library staff, records from meetings and other events held at the Academy, and posters and other advertising material); minutes and other records from Delaware state medical and dental societies; and the biographical collection which consist of personal and informational records regarding members of Delaware medical community, including articles, curriculum vitae, professional records, oral histories, correspondence, and other memorabilia. Collectively, these files range from the late 19th century to the present.

Artifacts: The Archive’s extensive collection of historical medical instruments, including medicine bottles, dentist’s and surgical tools, medical tools, and doctors’ bags. The artwork in the collection consists of paintings and sculptures by Delaware doctors, nurses, and dentists or their families. The artwork includes drawings and paintings of the Lovering Avenue building. Most of the art collection was produced between the 1970s and 1990s.

Photographs: The Archive’s photograph collection is small and is made up almost entirely of black-and-white portrait photos of doctors, nurses, dentists, or other significant figures in the history of the Academy or Delaware medicine in general. This includes the sixteen founders, all former presidents of the Academy, and six “Ladies of the Library” (four co-founders who raised funds to establish the Academy and two past library directors). The Archive also has a collection of glass plate negatives taken during World War I, most showing wounded soldiers. Most photographs in the Archive’s collection are from 1915-1930 or 1970-present, with a few from the late 19th century and the 1950s.

Restrictions on Use

No publication or reproduction for anything other than personal use without the permission of the Delaware Academy of Medicine. These materials must follow the Delaware Academy of Medicine’s archival access policy.

Organization of the Collections

ARCHIVES

RECORD GROUP: Subject Collections

S1. Subject Files

This series contains communication materials collected by the Delaware Academy of Medicine Archivists. Folders are arranged by subject and follow the Artifact Collections numbering system. EXAMPLE: S1-T History of Medicine 

S2. Biographical Collection

This series contains biographical information, including primary sources and research on Delaware’s medical and dental professionals. The collection was initially compiled by Gail P Gill for her use as Director of Library Services. The files retain her original arrangement, but materials were added after her retirement, and collecting is ongoing. The files are arranged in order of creation.

NOTE: See Practioner Collections for biographical materials donated to the Archives. 

RECORD GROUP: Practitioners

POO1-P010

This collection contains correspondence, writings, reports, publications, military records, biographical materials, journals, clippings, photographs, and other materials donated to the Archives. 

• P001. Daniel J. Preston Collection, 1890-undated
• P002. John M. Levinson Collection, 1890-undated
• P003. Barbara B. Rose Collection, 1997
• P004. R. Douglas Sanders Collection, 1965-1995
• P005. S. James Krygier Collection, 1859-1952
• P006. Lewis B. Flinn Collection, 1920-1966
• P007. Norman L. Cannon Collection, 1913-2000
• P008. George A. Zurkow Papers, 1994
• P009. Robert W. Frelick Collection, 1950-2006
• P010. Laurence Fitchett Collection, 1995

RECORD GROUP: Organizations Collections

OR001-OR059 

This collection contains information on Delaware and National Institutions, arranged by Organization’s Name. The Organization Files correspondence between DAM and the organization, manuscripts, and other related documents. Several more extensive collections have been organized separately (listed below).

OR001. Delaware Academy of Medicine

• OR001-01 General information
  • Box 1: Documents and manuscripts containing information on the Academy’s founding, promotional materials, misc., histories, policy manuals, “The Delaware Academy of Medicine: A Position Paper” by William Duncan and Eugene Syrovatka; employee handbooks. 
    • Includes: Academy Newsletters, 1936-2008; Academy membership applications, A-M; Academy membership applications, N-Z; Wilmington Trust; and documents on the following Programs and partnerships:
      • Student financial aid program
      • Health Education Network of Delaware (HENOD)
      • Delaware Cancer Consortium
      • AstraZeneca Prescription Assistance Program
      • Beebe Medical Center, Health Literacy Program
      • Delaware Help Line
      • Child Victim’s Voice 
      • Public Health Law Initiative Project
      • Feasibility study for medical school in Delaware, 1963-1964 (Penrod Report)
  • Box 2: L. Beach Eberhardt Trust and Will.
  • Boxes 3, 4: Tel-Med 
• OR001-02 Board Records
  • 1930-current. Arranged by date. Includes: President’s reports; s minutes, reports, and correspondence of: Board of directors; Executive committee;  Annual business meeting; Long-range planning committee; Scientific committee; Educational committee; Membership committee, including membership applications; History Committee; Nominating Committee; Treasurer’s reports/audits and fundraising letters; Finances ledger, 1941-57
• OR001-03 House/Building Records
  • Collection of documents regarding the DAM Lovering Ave building (1930-2006). Includes House committee correspondence and minutes; Renters and rentals; deeds, blueprints, Endowment and building fund correspondence, minutes, and pledge lists, 1931-1962; Wawaset Street houses correspondence and contracts; Academy Place correspondence and contracts
• OR001-04 Library and Library Services
  • Records, correspondence, and related materials about the Academy’s Library Operations, including
    • Lewis B. Flinn Library
    • History and Archives
    • Libraries – Clinical, Circuit Riding Medical Librarian Program
      • St. Francis Hospital
      • Delaware Psychiatric Center
      • A.I. duPont Hospital
      • Nanticoke Hospital
      • Presbyterian Medical Center
      • Schele Eye Institute
      • Union Hospital
    • Libraries – Consumer Health Programs
      • Gail P. Gill Library
      • Dover Public Library – Kent, Co.
      • Rehoboth Beach Library – Sussex, Co.
      • Division of Public Health Library Services
      • New Castle County Consumer Health

• • Library Initiatives
    • Health Sciences Library Consortium (HSLC)
    • (DEL) Delaware Library Consortium and (DDL) Delaware Division of Libraries
    • Hospital Library Funding Research
    • Clinical Information Consortium Statewide Electronic Resources
      • PALINET/OCLC (Pennsylvania Library Network)
      • WABLC (Wilmington Area Biomedical Library Consortium)
      • DEVIC (Delaware Valley Information Consortium)
      • NN/LM (National Network/Libraries of Medicine)
      • DOCLINE (MLN Document Delivery System)

• • OR001-04-01 Gail P. Gill Papers
  • OR001-04-02 Eugene Syrovatka Papers
  • OR001-04-03 Patty Hartsmanngruber Papers
• OR001-05 Academy Events
  • Records, correspondence, and other related materials for events hosted or co-hosted by the Delaware Academy of Medicine/DPHA including Annual meeting and banquet records; Health fair records; Delaware Health Forums records; Public health forums records; Public health seminars records; Medical symposia records; Symposium on Trauma records; Medico-legal symposium records; School Health Symposium records; PDA conference records, 2004; Delaware State Science Fair records; Medical Grand Rounds

OR002 Medical Society of Delaware records, 1822-2001 

OR003 New Castle County Medical Society records 

• OR003-01Women’s Auxillary

OR004 Delaware State Dental Society records, undated-1986

OR005 State Board of Dental Examiners records, 1885-1931

OR006 Nursing School of Wilmington collection, 1930-1984

ARTIFACTS

Records for artifacts are cataloged by Accession Number and are searchable by keyword, accession number, object id number, or specialty and subspecialty. Collection names are listed below.

A. Diagnostics

• A1. Cardiovascular
• A2. Neurological
• A3. Imaging
• A4. Internal Examination
• A5. Physical Examination

B. Microscopy

C. Surgery

• C1. General Surgery
• C2. Dissection
• C3. Drainage and Suction
• C4. Electrosurgery
• C5. Hemostasis
• C6. Ligation
• C7. Neurosurgery
• C8. Thoracic/Cardiovascular Surgery
• C9. Endoscopy
• C10. Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery
• C11. Abdominal/Rectal/Genitourinary Surgery

D. Anesthesia and Analgesia

E. General Medicine

• E1. Bandages
• E2. Cardiac Pacing
• E3. Catheterization
• E4. Dilation
• E5. Doctor’s Bags/Medicine Chests
• E6. Drug Delivery
• E7. Emergency Treatment
• E8. Hospital and Laboratory Equipment and Glassware
• E9. Hygiene and Sterilization
• E10. Irrigation
• E11. Lithotripsy
• E12. Physical Therapy
• E13. Punctures, Bloodletting, Transfusion
• E14. Technology, Medical

F. Otorhinolaryngology 

G. Ophthalmology 

H. Obstetrics and Gynecology 

I. Pediatrics 

J. Nursing 

• J1. Nancy Elaine Johnson Smith Collection

K. Pharmacy 

• K1. Smith Pharmacy Collection

L. Dental 

• L1. Diagnosis, Oral
• L2. Dentistry, Operative
• L3. Endodontics
• L4. Periodontics
• L5. Prosthodontics
• L6. Surgery, Oral
• L7. Technology, Dental

M. Mementos, Curiosities, and Quackery 

N. Teaching Aids

O. Furniture 

P. Military Medicine 

Q. Homeopathy 

R. Artwork 

T. History of Medicine

• T1. History of Medicine in Delaware – General

LIBRARY

Books from 1590 through 1930 are housed in Rare Books Storage. Books dated 1931 to the Present are located in the Conference Room of Suite L10.