The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Specialty: Health sciences
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, founded in 1787, is the oldest professional medical organization in the country. Throughout its 200-year history, the College has provided a place for both medical professionals and the general public to learn about medicine as both a science and as an art. This historic spirit continues in the current mission: Advancing the cause of health and upholding the ideals and heritage of medicine. The College is home to the Mütter Museum and the Historical Medical Library. The public is invited to attend the many lectures, workshops and conferences the College offers.
Collections
The Historical Medical Library of the College is one of the world’s premier research collections in the history of medicine. The unique holdings of the library include 411 incunables (books printed before 1500), an extensive collection of manuscripts and archives, and a comprehensive collection of 19th- and early 20th-century medical journals. The Sturgis Collection contains images from the history of medicine, including portraits, buildings, groups and historical subjects. Through the Wood Institute for the History of Medicine, the Library’s collections are highlighted in lectures, fellowships and programs.
The Museum’s collections include over 20,000 objects, including fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens, medical instruments, anatomical and pathological models, items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians, and medical illustrations in the form of lantern slides, 35-mm slides, photographs, drawings and prints. In addition, the College collections include over 160 portraits in oil and other media.
