Diploma Signed by Benjamin Rush Auctioned

A few weeks ago, I spotted an interesting item at a local auction. It was a medical school diploma signed by Benjamin Rush (1745-1813), who was, in addition to being a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a medical pioneer.

Benjamin Rush by Charles Wilson Peale

After graduating from what is now Princeton University at age 14, Rush was also a physician, politician, civic leader in Philadelphia, social reformer, educator, and founder of Dickenson College in Pennsylvania. One of his greatest contributions to medicine was the establishment of a public dispensary, or clinic for low-income patients. 

Dr. Rush is mentioned several times in the Annals of Maryland Medicine, published in 1899 by Eugene Cordell, and trained a number of physicians who practiced in Maryland. 

This is the diploma, which was issued to someone named Benjamin Sedwick from the Philadelphia Medical Society in 1806. 

This is the description from the auction catalogue:

Description

Benjamin Rush (1745-1813, Signer of Declaration of Independence, medical pioneer and polymath) Part-printed certificate from the Medical Society of Philadelphia, February 12, 1806, issued to Benjamin Sedwick; on vellum, with original ribbon and wax seal (in a protective tin case), 9 1/4 x 13 1/2 in.

The certificate sold for $2,000 plus 6% tax and a 25% buyer's premium.

It Was a Grand Grand Opening!

More than 85 members and friends of MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society gathered on Monday, June 3 to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the first meeting in 1799, and to open Phase III of the MedChi Museum of Maryland Medical History. 

The group was entertained by the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra who played classical music from the marble staircase landing.

Then the group gathered in Osler Hall for welcome speeches by CEO, Gene Ransom;

MedChi President, Ben Lowentritt, MD;

Center for a Healthy Maryland President, Steve Rockower, MD;

and Center Executive, Allan Browder.

After this, everyone gathered for a ceremonial ribbon cutting,

complete with a giant pair of scissors.

We were so pleased to feature an exhibit of "Urine and War" courtesy of our friends at the American Urological Association and their fascinating museum in Linthicum, Maryland, which included a panel on Napoleon at Waterloo, coinciding with our display of Napoleon's medical chest from the Battle of Waterloo.

The evening ended with a tour of the building, including the Krause Room and the Stacks, as well as one or two ghost stories, given by Meg Fairfax Fielding, head of the History of Medicine in Maryland.