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History of Medicine

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Home | Office Reference Collection | National Medical Library Is Born | Conclusion | JSB Bibliography | Credits
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In the course of 1872, Billings increased the size of the collection by 150%, from 13,761 volumes to approximately 34,000, making it the largest medical library in America. When Billings left the Library in 1895, the total collection of books, pamphlets, theses, and other titles amounted to 619,558 items. Since then the Library has continued the mission that Billings began, and its collection now numbers nearly 12 million items.

Illustration of chart entitled: Volumes. Bars on the graph are represented with the following headings: 1840 [up to 226]; 1864 [May 10 catalog 2,094]; 1865 [October 23 catalog - 2,282]; 1868 [June 12 catalog - 6,984]; 1870 [December 31 - c.10,000]; 1872 [January 2 - 13,761]; 1873 [January 1 - c.34,000].

The few inventories taken during the Library's first 35 years show slow increases in collection size up to the "acquisition explosion of 1872."

Excerpt from printed page, in black ink, of Surgeon General's report, as follows: Library of the Surgeon-General's Office. The following table shows the additions made to the library during the fiscal year: Description. On hand June 30, 1894. Added during fiscal year. Total June 30, 1895. Medical journals .. 33,927; 1,048; 34,345; Medical transactions .. 4,913; 154; 5,067; Bound theses .. 1,663; 99; 1.762; Bound pamphlets .. 2,604; 10; 2,614; Other medical books .. 72,090; 1,385; 73,475; Total .. 114,567; 2,696; 117,263; Medical theses .. *56,218; 2,627; 57,187; Medical pamphlets .. 127,560; 8,284; 135,844; Total .. 183,778; 10,911; 193,031; *Of the total number of theses on hand June 30, 1894, there were 1,658 bound in 99 volumes during the year.
Excerpt from printed page, in black ink, of Surgeon General's report, as follows: Library of the Surgeon-General's Office. The following table shows the additions made to the library during the fiscal year: Description. On hand June 30, 1894. Added during fiscal year. Total June 30, 1895. Medical journals .. 33,927; 1,048; 34,345; Medical transactions .. 4,913; 154; 5,067; Bound theses .. 1,663; 99; 1.762; Bound pamphlets .. 2,604; 10; 2,614; Other medical books .. 72,090; 1,385; 73,475; Total .. 114,567; 2,696; 117,263; Medical theses .. *56,218; 2,627; 57,187; Medical pamphlets .. 127,560; 8,284; 135,844; Total .. 183,778; 10,911; 193,031; *Of the total number of theses on hand June 30, 1894, there were 1,658 bound in 99 volumes during the year.

Report of the Surgeon-General of the Army to the Secretary of War for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1895. This page shows total numbers of items in the Library's collection as of June 30, 1895. This was the last tally taken before Billings left the library later that year.

Items from the Surgeon General's Library

Title page of book, text in black, as follows: A history of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. By James E. Gayley, M.D. with biographical sketches of the early professors. Illustrated with portraits and engravings. Philadelphia: Joseph M. Wilson, No. 111 South Tenth street, below Chestnut. 1858.

A History of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, with Biographical Sketches of the Early Professors, by James Fyfe Gayley, 1858. This history was accessioned into the Library's collection on the January 2, 1872, the first title of the year.

Title page of book, text in black, written in German, as follows: Archiv fur mikroskopische anatomie herausgegeben von Max Schultze, Professor der Anatomie und Director des Anatomischen Institute in Bonn. Dritter Band. Mit 24 Tafeln. Bonn, Verlag von Max Cohen & Sohn. 1867.

Archiv fur mikroskopische Anatomie, 1865. This volume represents the last title acquired during the calendar year of 1872.

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Last Reviewed: February 8, 2024