Sanger Historical Files (1859-1865), Excerpts

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 This project is no longer maintained, but the archived website can be viewed here.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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Letter from P. F. Browne to the Visitors of the Medical College of Virginia, 1863 April 3

P. F. (Peter Fielding) Browne

Letter of recommendation from P. F. Brown to the Visitors of the Medical College of Virginia for Dr. William Alexander Thom for appointment to the professorship of obstetrics.
Confederate States Form No. 21, 1865 April

J. T. B. (John Thomas Beale) Dorsey, L. C. (Leonard C.) Crump, and Confederate States of America. Quartermaster General's Office

Quartermaster's Department Form No. 21 commutation of quarters and fuel for Acting Assistant Surgeon L. C. Crump for March 1, 1865 to March 31, 1865, signed by Captain J. T. B. Dorsey.
Letter from James F. Harrison to L. S. Joynes, 1865 March 20

James F. Harrison

Letter from James F. Harrison to L.S. Joynes inquiring if the college infirmary building can be used by the Navy as a hospital.
Letter from John Perkins to Doctor, 1865 March 15

John Perkins

Letter from John Perkins, Confederate Senator from Louisiana, urging the recipient to consider being a candidate for the professorship of obstetrics at the Medical College of Virginia.
Tribute of respect, 1865 February 6

V. C. (Vincent C.) Huff, George S. Barnsley, and Medical College of Virginia. Students

Tribute of respect drafted at a meeting of the students of the Medical College of Virginia regarding the death of Professor James H. Conway.
Letter from J. J. Gravatt to L. S. Joynes, 1864 December 28

J. J. (John James) Gravatt

Letter from J.J. Gravatt to L.S. Joynes inquiring if all hospital stewards ordered to the Receiving and Way Hospital in Richmond for the purposes of attending medical lectures have matriculated.
Letter from L. S. Joynes to W. H. S. Taylor, 1864 December 15

L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes

Copy of a letter from L.S. Joynes to W.H.S. Taylor, 2nd Auditor of the Confederate States Treasury, concerning the effects of deceased soldiers .
Letter from W. H. S. Taylor to L. S. Joynes, 1864 December 7

W. H. S. Taylor and J. Calvert

Letter from W. H. S. Taylor to L. S. Joynes informing him that receipts for the effects of deceased soldiers should be submitted in duplicate.
Letter from L. S. Joynes to James H. Conway, 1864 November 23

L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes

Copy of a letter from L. S. Joynes to James H. Conway concerning his neglect of duty and requesting that he put in writing his pledge to resign in the event of a repetition.
Letter from R. H. Timberlake to L. S. Joynes, 1864 November 21

R. H. Timberlake

Letter from R. H. Timberlake to L.S. Joynes expressing his intention to matriculate and offering evacuation plans for the college.
Letter from E. V. Steadman to L. S. Joynes, 1864 November 4

E. V. (Elliott Vinson) Steadman

Letter from E. V. Steadman to L. S. Joynes requesting that his application for transfer be presented to the Surgeon General.
Letter from W. H. S. Taylor to L. S. Joynes, 1864 November 1

W. H. S. Taylor and J. Calvert

Letter from W. H. S. Taylor to L. S. Joynes requesting receipts for the effects of deceased soldiers.
Letter from Lee Mason to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 29

Lee Mason

Letter from Lee Mason to L. S. Joynes inquiring about the status of his application for a transfer to Richmond.
Letter from W. A. Hurt to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 20

W. A. (Wilson Alexander) Hurt

Letter from W. A. Hurt to L. S. Joynes inquiring about the status of his application for a transfer to Richmond.
Letter from W. G. Roberts to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 15

W. G. Roberts

Letter from W. G. Roberts to L. S. Joynes inquiring about the status of his application for a transfer to Richmond.
Letter from Joseph H. McCormick to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 14

Joseph H. McCormick

Letter from Joseph A. McCormick to L. S. Joynes requesting information on his application for a transfer to Richmond.
Letter from J. M. Rushton to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 13

J. M. (John M.) Rushton

Letter from J. M. Rushton to L. S. Joynes expressing interest in attending lectures at the Medical College of Virginia.
Letter from A. L. McCanless to Professor J. B. McCaw, 1864 October 11

A. L. (Amos L.) McCanless

Letter from A. L. McCanless to Professor J. B. McCaw asking his assistance in obtaining a transfer.
Letter from Joseph H. McCormick to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 10

Joseph H. McCormick

Letter from Joseph A. McCormick to L. S. Joynes asking him to present his application for transfer to the Surgeon General.
Letter from Thomas J. Barger to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 7

Thomas J. Barger

Letter from Thomas J. Barger to L. S. Joynes asking to defer payment for lecture tickets until the summer.
Letter from W. G. Roberts to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 7

W. G. Roberts

Letter from W. G. Roberts to L. S. Joynes asking him to present his application for transfer to the Surgeon General.
Letter from W. W. Entzminger to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October 5

W. W. (Warren W.) Entzminger

Letter from W. W. Entzminger to L. S. Joynes asking him to present his case to the Surgeon General to obtain a transfer to Richmond.
Letter from Charles Whalen to L. S. Joynes, 1864 October

Charles Whalen

Letter from Charles Whalen to L. S. Joynes seeking his help in arranging a transfer to Richmond so he can attend the Medical College of Virginia.
Letter from S. D. Davis to L. S. Joynes, 1864 September 24

S. D. Davis

Letter from S. D. Davis to L. S. Joynes asking about the process for obtaining an appointment in Richmond.
Letter from H. L. Ray to L. S. Joynes, 1864 September 23

H. L. (Hugh L.) Ray

Letter from H. L. Ray to L. S. Joynes asking about the process for attending the Medical College of Virginia.
Letter from Joseph H. Knox to L. S. Joynes, 1864 September 14

Joseph H. Knox

Letter from Joseph H. Knox to L. S. Joynes asking for assistance in obtaining a transfer to Richmond.
Letter from William Mason Turner to L. S. Joynes, 1864 September 14

William Mason Turner

Letter from William Mason Turner to L. S. Joynes asking him to accept his hospital student at the Medical College of Virginia.
Letter from John D. Jackson to L. S. Joynes, 1864 September 5

John D. Jackson

Letter from John D. Jackson to L. S. Joynes recommending John W. Templeton as a medical student.
Letter from Horace Nelson to L. S. Joynes, 1864 August 31

Horace Nelson

Letter from Horace Nelson to L. S. Joynes enclosing his application for the position of hospital steward.
Letter from Joseph H. McCormick to L. S. Joynes, 1864 August 13

Joseph H. McCormick

Letter from Joseph H. McCormick to L. S. Joynes asking for a catalog and information on transferring to Richmond to attend medical lectures.
Letter from James G. Hall and James H. Knox to J. B. McCaw, 1864 August 9

James G. Hall and James H. Knox

Letter from James G. Hall and James H. Knox to J. B. McCaw requesting assistance in obtaining a transfer to Richmond to attend medical lectures.
Letter from L. M. Henderson to L. S. Joynes, 1864 August 5

L. M. (Ludy M.) Henderson

Letter from L.M. Henderson to L. S. Joynes requesting assistance in obtaining a transfer to attend medical lectures.
Letter from A. J. Ellis to L. S. Joynes, 1864 July 22

A. J. (Andrew J.) Ellis

Letter from A.J. Ellis to L. S. Joynes concerning payment for a patient in the Medical College Hospital.
Letter from E. N. McAuley to L. S. Joynes, 1864 July 21

E. N. (Edwin N.) McAuley

Letter from E. N. McAuley to L. S. Joynes asking how students in the Army are relieved from their duty to attend medical lectures.
Letter from L. M. Henderson to L. S. Joynes, 1864 July

L. M. (Ludy M.) Henderson

Letter from L. M. Henderson to L. S. Joynes requesting assistance in obtaining a transfer to attend medical lectures.
Letter from W. A. Carrington to L. S. Joynes, 1864 June 16

W. A. (William Allen) Carrington

Letter from W. A. Carrington to L. S. Joynes informing him that the Medical Department will not rent the Medical College Hospital building.
Letter from Henry G. Arthur to L. S. Joynes, 1864

Henry G. Arthur

Letter from Henry G. Arthur to L. S. Joynes seeking help to determine the status of his application for a transfer to Richmond.
Petition from the Faculty of the Medical College of Virginia, 1863 October 1

Medical College of Virginia

Copy of a petition from the Faculty of the Medical College of Virginia to the General Assembly of Virginia requesting a change in the age limit in the proposed bill to reorganize the militia.
Letter from M. Howard to L. S. Joynes, 1863 September 30

M. (Marion) Howard

Letter from Marion Howard to L. S. Joynes resigning his position as Demonstrator of Anatomy.
Letter from A.E. Peticolas to L. S. Joynes, 1863 September 7

A. E. (Arthur Edward) Peticolas

Letter from Arthur Edward Peticolas to L. S. Joynes discussing the former's health.
Letter from John F. Therrel to L. S. Joynes, 1863 August 20

John F. Therrel

Letter from John F. Therrel to L. S. Joynes expressing interest in attending lectures at the Medical College of Virginia.
Letter from M. Howard to L. S. Joynes, 1863 July

M. (Marion) Howard

Letter from M. Howard to L. S. Joynes agreeing to have his resignation held.
Letter from M. Howard to L. S. Joynes, 1863 June 22

M. (Marion) Howard

Letter from Marion Howard to L. S. Joynes acknowledging his election as Demonstrator of Anatomy, but resigning the position.
Letter from C. W. P. Brock to L. S. Joynes, 1863 June 3

C. W. P. (Charles William Penn) Brock

Letter from C.W. P. Brock to L. S. Joynes applying for the position of Demonstrator of Anatomy at the Medical College of Virginia.
Letter from J. W. Walls, 1863 June 2

J. W. (John William) Walls

Letter from J.W. Walls asking that he be considered as an applicant for the Demonstrator of Anatomy position.
Letter from Elihu Toland to L. S. Joynes, 1863 May 31

Elihu Toland

Letter from Elihu Toland to L. S. Joynes asking that he be considered as an applicant for the Demonstrator of Anatomy position.
Letter from E. L. Carter to L. S. Joynes, 1863 May 30

E. L. (Elijah Lewis) Carter

Letter from E. L. Carter to L. S. Joynes asking that he be considered as an applicant for the Demonstrator of Anatomy position.
Inventory of John J. Watson, Nathaniel R. Coleman, and John R. McKee, 1863

L. S. (Levin Smith) Joynes and Medical College of Virginia. Medical College Hospital

Copy of inventory of the effects of John J. Watson, Nathaniel R. Coleman, and John R. McKee, signed by L. S. Joynes.

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