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Collection Guide

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Administrative Information

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

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Biographical Note

Sir William Osler (1849 -- 1919) was a widely respected physician who trained in Canada. He believed in a holistic approach to medicine, as well as teaching through bedside training rather than classroom training alone. He was a teacher of medicine and prolific writer of medical texts.

Jacque Roethler 2005

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Scope and Contents

The first part of this co llection consists of eighty-one letters written by Osler and his wife to Campbell Palmer Howard and family members, along with transcriptions of these letters. These letters concern family matters, publications, and positions of Osler and, especially, Howard. The second part of the collection consists of materials apparently amassed by Dr. R. N. Larimer, who collected medical texts, especially those of Osler. There is only one actual text here by Osler -- the remainder of the collection is Larimer's correspondence with book dealers about his collection, lists of materials written by Osler, essays about Osler, several letters not having to do with collecting, and miscellaneous, consisting partially of writings by other medical professionals.

Acquisition and Processing Information

The letters from the Oslers to the Howards were given to the University of Iowa Libraries by R. P almer Howard in 1981.

Guide posted to Internet: July 2005

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Box Contents List

Series I: Osler's letters to Campbell Palmer Howard

Letters

Transcriptions (2 folders)

Series II: Larimer's collection

Articles about Osler

Correspondence

Documents from Larimer's collecting activities

Correspondence

Godspeed's

John Howell

Old Hickory

Zeitlin and ver Brugge

Other book vendors

Lists of writings by Osler and others

Miscellaneous

Osler, William. The Growth of Truth as Illustrated in the Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood. London: Henry Frowde, 1906.

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