John Fonerden

John Fonerden was born in Baltimore on January 22, 1804. He received his MD from the University of Maryland in 1823. He started his career as an attending physician at the Baltimore General Dispensary from 1826-28. He became the President of the Medico-Chirurgical Society in 1831. He was an Orator at the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty in 1833, and the Secretary from 1828 to 1834. 

When the first medical library was established in 1830, Dr. Fonerden was amongst the founding committee members, and was appointed the first librarian at a salary of $100 per annum. Among his duties was to secure libraries from deceased members of the Faculty. He was allocated $200 per year for the purchase of books to add to the library. In 1834, Dr. Fonerden published the first catalogue of the library's holdings. 

By 1845, the library had expanded to more than 600 volumes, and it was moved to shelves in Dr. Fonerden's offices. He finally resigned from the position as Head Librarian in 1847, the job having become too much for him to handle along with his practice. As a result of this, the collection needed to move to a new building, and the Athenæum, at the corner of St. Paul and Saratoga Streets was selected. The new location was convenient to many members and daily access to the collection didn't depend on Dr. Fonerden's schedule. 

Dr. Fonerden was a Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children at the Washington University in Baltimore from 1845-46; Medical Superintendent at the Maryland Hospital for the Insane from 1846-69; Vice President of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty from 1853-54 and finally President of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty from 1854-55. 

Dr. Fonerden was also a Visiting Physician to Bayview Asylum. He was an eminent alienist and philanthropist. He died in Boston on May 6, 1869.