About this collection
During his tenure as president of the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) from 1925-1956, Dr. William T. Sanger (1883-1975) directed the college staff to locate and gather in one place the historical records of the institution. The resulting compilation, known as the Sanger Historical Files, was transferred to the Tompkins-McCaw Library (now known as the VCU Health Sciences Library) Special Collections and Archives in 1970. The files consist of official records, publications, correspondence, reports, receipts, photographs, and other materials which document the history of MCV from the 1840s until 1968. One of the most complete segments of the collection is the letters, reports, and hospital records meticulously saved by Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Levin S. Joynes (1819-1881) who guided MCV through the tumultuous years of the American Civil War.
On the eve of the war, MCV opened its new hospital adjacent to the college building on Marshall Street. The 80-bed facility with gas lights and a surgical amphitheater was soon filled with sick and wounded soldiers. The Sanger Historical Files include a listing of discharged and deceased soldiers and inventories of the personal effects of those who died while patients in the college hospital. There are also letters which chronicle the difficulties of managing the hospital, obtaining provisions and medicine, and working with the Confederate government. MCV was strategically located in the Confederate capital and able to offer educational opportunities to hospital stewards stationed in the Richmond area. Their stories, as revealed in their letters, are found in this digital collection. The challenges faced by Dr. Levin Joynes while guiding his colleagues and sustaining the educational program during times of war can be gleaned from the faculty correspondence saved in the Sanger Historical Files. The dean's reports to the second auditor concerning college affairs and the "secession of southern medical students" are also a significant part of this digital collection.
VCU Libraries selected excerpts from the Sanger Historical Files for its contribution to the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries' (ASERL) collaborative digital project, Civil War in the American South. This project is no longer maintained, but the archived website can be viewed here. The materials presented in this digital collection tell the story of the Medical College of Virginia's struggle and ultimate survival during the internecine conflict that defined the United States in the nineteenth century.
Each selected item from the Sanger Historical Files is presented as a PDF. Transcripts, with minimal annotations enclosed in square brackets, are included to enhance access to these rich resources.
Copyright
This material is in the public domain in the United States and thus is free of any copyright restriction. Acknowledgement of Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested.
Credits
VCU Libraries digitized this collection in 2011. Digital Specialist Jennifer Cason was in charge of the digitization and quality control. Metadata Librarian Mary Anne Dyer created the metadata for this digital collection. Transcriptions were done by VCU Special Collections and Archives.
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Inventory of the effects of John J. Watson, 1862 April 14
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of John J. Watson, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., April 14, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of W. N. Goin, 1862 April 12
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of W. N. Goin, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., April 12, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of Bennett Graves, 1862 April 10
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Bennett Graves, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., April 10, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of George Bailey, 1862 April 9
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of John or Geo Bailey, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., April 9th, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of Robert H. Scarborough, 1862 April 3
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Robert H. Scarborough, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., April 3, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of Patrick H. Merrill, 1862 March 28
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Patrick H. Merrill, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., March 28, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of Calvin Parrish, 1862 March 27
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Calvin Parrish, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., March 27, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of Patrick McMahan, 1862 February 2
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Patrick McMahan, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Feb. 2, 1862.
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Inventory of the effects of Patrick McMahan, 1862 February 2b
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Patrick McMahan, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Feb. 2, 1862.
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Letter from M. Howard to L. S. Joynes, 1862 February 1
M. (Marion) Howard
Letter from Marion Howard to L. S. Joynes indicating he will perform duties of the Demonstrator of Anatomy.
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Letter from L. S. Joynes to Marion Howard, 1862 January 15
L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes
Copy of a letter from L. S. Joynes to Marion Howard relating to his position as Demonstrator of Anatomy.
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Inventory of the effects of Israel Chambers, 1862 January 9
L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes and Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Israel Chambers, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Jan. 9, 1862.
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Patient discharges and deaths for the Medical College of Virginia Hospital, 1862-1864
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Register of patient discharges and deaths for the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va, from 1862-1864. The register lists patient discharges during the period of Jan 1, 1862 through July 5, 1864 and patient deaths for the period of Jan. 6, 1862 through June 15, 1864.
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Inventory of the effects of Nathaniel R. Coleman, 1861 December 27
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Nathaniel R. Coleman, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Dec. 27, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of Stephen W. Bateman, 1861 December 8
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Stephen W. Bateman, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Dec 8, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of William H. Dallas, 1861 December 3
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of William H. Dallas, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Dec. 3, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of William J. Weaver, 1861 December 2
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of William J. Weaver, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Dec. 2, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of William B. Gupton, 1861 November 14
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of William B. Gupton, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Nov. 14, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of Alonzo Herman, 1861 October 31
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of Alonzo Herman, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Oct. 31, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of G. F. H. Tate, 1861 October 26
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of G. F. H. Tate, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Rcihmond, Va., Oct. 26, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of J. F. McBrayer, 1861 October 14
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of J. F. McBrayer, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Oct. 14, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of J. W. Ward, 1861 October 14
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of J. W. Ward, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Oct. 14, 1861.
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Inventory of the effects of R. J. Winn, 1861 October 11
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
Inventory of the effects of R. J. Winn, who died at the Medical College Hospital, Richmond, Va., Oct. 11, 1861.
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Letter from M. Howard to the faculty, 1861 October 4
M. (Marion) Howard
Letter from Marion Howard requesting a substitute for his position as Demonstrator the upcoming session.
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Letter from John J. Cook to L. S. Joynes, 1861 September 23
John J. Cook
Letter from John J. Cook to L.S. Joynes concerning John H. Cook.
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Letter from L. S. Joynes to J. J. Cook, 1861 September 13
L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes
Letter from L. S. Joynes to J. J. Cook informing him that patient John H. Cook had left the Medical College Hospital and returned to his military unit.
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Letter from Thomas L. Hunter to the Faculty of the Medical College of Virginia, 1861 March 7
Thomas L. Hunter
Letter from Thomas L. Hunter to the Medical College of Virginia Faculty thanking them for a case of instruments.
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Letter from C. H. Snead to L. S. Joynes, 1861 January 14
C. H. Snead
Letter from C. H. Snead to L. S. Joynes concerning payment for a lithograph.
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Deaths and discharges on surgeon's certificate of patients admitted during the year 1861 to the Medical College Hospital, 1861-1862
Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital
List of Medical College Hospital discharges on surgeon's certificate and deaths of patients admitted during the year 1861.
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Medical College of Virginia statement of graduates, 1861-1862
L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes and Medical College of Virginia
List of graduates from the Medical College of Virginia who entered the Confederate services as medical officers of the Army or Navy, 1861 and 1862.
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Letter from Baillien Bros. to L. S. Joynes, 1860 December 26
Baillien Bros.
Letter from Baillien Bros. to L. S. Joynes requesting payment for models.
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Letter from R. T. Scott and James M. Parks to L. S. Joynes, 1860 December 18
R. T. Scott and James M. Parks
Letter from R. T. Scott and James M. Parks to L. S. Joynes explaining the environment at the National Medical School.
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Letter from R. T. Scott and James M. Parks to L. S. Joynes, 1860 December
R. T. Scott and James M. Parks
Letter from R. T. Scott and James M. Parks to L. S. Joynes asking if they can be accepted at the Medical College of Virginia.
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Letter from W. F. Barr to L. S. Joynes, 1860 June 12
W. F. (William Francis) Barr
Letter from W.F. Barr to L.S. Joynes inquiring if Dr. Pitts was a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia.
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Letter from Thomas E. Dunn to L. S. Joynes, 1860 June 4
Thomas E. Dunn
Letter from Thomas E. Dunn to L. S. Joynes acknowledging receipt of a check for $25.
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Letter from a former student to L. S. Joynes, 1860 May 14
Letter from a former student to L. S. Joynes asking to arrange for a special examination.
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Letter from Resident Students to the Faculty of the Medical College of Virginia, 1860 May 10
Medical College of Virginia. Students
Letter from the resident students to the faculty of the Medical College of Virginia protesting the change in regulations related to alcoholic liquors.
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Dean's report on the finances of the Medical College of Virginia, 1860 April 5
L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes and Medical College of Virginia
Dean's report on the finances of the Medical College of Virginia for the quarter ending March 31, 1860.
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Receipt for Enders Sutton, 1860 January 24
Medical College of Virginia
Receipt showing payment of fees from Richmond Medical College to Enders, Sutton & Co. banking firm.
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F. E. Luckett and H. H. McGuire account, 1860 January 18
Francis E. Luckett and Hunter H. H. (Hunter Holmes) McGuire
Francis E. Luckett's and Hunter H. McGuire's account with the Medical College of Virginia from the secession of southern medical students from Philadelphia, Pa.
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F. E. Luckett's statement, 1860
Francis E. Luckett
Francis E. Luckett's financial statement from the secession of southern medical students from Philadelphia, Pa.
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Hunter H. McGuire's statement, 1860
Hunter H. H. (Hunter Holmes) McGuire
Hunter H. McGuire's financial statement from the secession of southern medical students from Philadelphia, Pa.
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Students remaining in Philadelphia, 1860
Medical College of Virginia
List of students remaining in Philadelphia, Pa., and belonging to the class of Luckett and McGuire to whom money is to be refunded.
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Letter from Robert W. Haxall, John A. Cunningham, and Frederick Marx to L. S. Joynes, 1859 February 21
Robert W. Haxall, John A. Cunningham, and Frederick Marx
Letter from Robert W. Haxall, John A. Cunningham, and Frederick Marx to Levin S. Joynes concerning the awarding of an essay prize.
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Letter from Peter Martin to Dr. Gibson, 1859 January 29
Peter Martin
Letter from Peter Martin to Dr. Gibson concerning the treatment of a slave.