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History of Medicine

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Home | Office Reference Collection | National Medical Library Is Born | Conclusion | JSB Bibliography | Credits

Origins


Rarity and comprehensiveness were not collection objectives for the Library conducted under Joseph Lovell and Thomas Lawson. Many of the titles kept in the Surgeon General's office were of a practical nature, on subjects such as military regulations, anatomy, dentistry, pharmacy, midwifery, and military surgery, along with odd books that had been donated to the office. Added to this were copies of journals and basic medical texts, which had been selected for distribution to surgeons in the field. On the whole they were standards for their time, regularly used, worn out, replaced, or simply discarded.

There are many titles in the collection matching the brief descriptions provided in the 1840 catalogue, the first inventory of the Library's holdings, but most of them lack features that conclusively identify them as being the actual books that Lovell or Lawson acquired. A few, however, have evaded replacement from heavy usage or deterioration.


Title page of book with text, in black, as follows: The National Calendar for MDCCCXXX. Vol. VIII. By Peter Force. Published annually. Washington City: printed and published by Peer Force. Sold by Hilliard, Gray, & Co., Wells & Lilly, and Gray & Bowen, Boston; G. C. & H. Carvill, and E. Bliss, New York; John Brigo, and Carey & Hart, Philadelphia; F. Lucas, Jr., E. J. Coale, and W. & J. Neal, Baltimore; Collins & Co., Richmond; and C. Hall, Norfolk. 1830.
Excerpt from page, handwriting in ink as follows: Surgeon Generals office 1830.

The National Calendar, by Peter Force, 1830. This annually published directory of federal agencies, including the military, typifies the sort of publication that might have been found in any government office of the time. The handwritten ownership information, probably in Lovell's hand, places this book in Surgeon General's office in 1830.

Cover of book, with worn looking spine, has no title and is covered in antique marbling, bears handwritten name, in black ink, of 'Lovell' at top.
Excerpt from title page of The National Calendar for 1828 showing the handwritten word 'Lovell.'

The National Calendar, by Peter Force, 1828. Dr. Lovell signed his name to the cover and the title page of this edition, suggesting that he used his own books along with those provided by the government.

Blank page with handwritten inscription in black ink as follows: Dr. Joseph Lovell Surgeon General U.S. Army. From his friend, the author.
Title page of book with text, in black, as follows: An oration on education, delivered before the Society for the Promotion of a Rational System of Education, and a numerous assembly of ladies and gentlemen, in St. John's church, November 7th 1811. By appointment of the Society. With annotations. By James Cutbush, Vice President of the Society, Lecturer on Chemistry, Member of the Philadelphia Linnean and Agricultural Societies, Member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, etc. The senses are the gifts of nature, and the primary regulators of our active powers. Preston. Our ideas are acquired through the medium of the senses. Locke. Philadelphia: published by the society. G. F. Goodman, Printer, 87, Callowhill street, 1812.

An Oration on Education, 1812, by James Cutbush. This was one in a series of pamphlets bound together and presented to Dr. Lovell. This pamphlet bears a personal inscription from the author to the Surgeon General.

Items from the Surgeon General's Library

Cover of book, brown leather with gold decoration forming a rectangular border around the edge, with title as follows: Surgeon General's Office.

General Regulations for the Army, or Military Institutes, 1821. The cover of this book neatly sums up the early conception of the Library as a reference collection maintained in an office. It contains annotations along the margins relating to medical military army staff. Revising these regulations was one of Dr. Lovell's early responsibilities and the notes were likely made by Lovell himself.

Excerpt from printed page, with text in black, a chart with information as follows: 49. Fuel and Quarters. Grades, etc. Quarters. Fuel per month. Rooms. Kitchens. From 1st May to 31st Oct. From 1st Nov. to 30th April. Cords. Cords. Major generals, - 3 - 1 - 1 - 6 - Brigadier generals, 2 - 1 - 1 - 4 1/2 - Colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, or assistant paymaster, and every other officer having the relative rank of field officer, each 1 - 1 - 1 - 3 - Captain, surgeon, assistant surgeon, and military storekeeper, each 1 - [null] - 1/2 - 1 1/2 - All other commissioned officers, to every two, 1 - [null] - 1/2 - 1 1/2 - to each mess of six or more officers, [null] - 1 - 1/2 - 1 - To the commanding officer of a department or separate post, and to the principal officer of each branch of the division staff, for an office, 1 - [null] - [null] - 2 - At posts where there are less than six officers, [null] - 1 - 1/2 - 1 - Every six non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, including the authorized number of washerwomen and servants, [null] - null] - 1/2 - 1. Also handwritten in ink, inclusion to the list as follows: Surgeon General 2 - 1 - 1 - 4 1/2.

On this page of the General Regulations, Lovell has amended the distribution list of heating fuel for officers to include the Surgeon General.

View of spine of book in red leather with gold lettering, with text as follows from top to bottom: Aide-Memoire Medical-Legal de l'officier de sant de l'armee de terre. UH M221a 1842 - Sur. Gen. Office.

Aide-memoire medico-legal de l'officier de sante de l'armee detTerre, by Francois Clement Maillot, 1842. Under Thomas Lawson, the Library continued much the same collection policy as it had under Lovell. At the bottom of the spine the Library collection is still identified primarily as office reference. This is one of the very few titles that can definitely be said to have been obtained during Lawson's tenure.

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Last Reviewed: February 8, 2024