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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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Medical Libraries <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois Preced<strong>in</strong>g ipoo 469both <strong>medical</strong> and miscellaneous, some <strong>of</strong> his <strong>medical</strong> works dat<strong>in</strong>g as Earback as 1543." 2Tfumes Stewart Jewell was born <strong>in</strong> Galena. Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, <strong>in</strong> 1SeptemberHe was "a very poor southern Ill<strong>in</strong>ois boy"- 8 when he entered the <strong>of</strong>fice<strong>of</strong> Dr. S. M. Mitchell <strong>of</strong> Williamson County to study medic<strong>in</strong>e. Dr. Jewellacquired a reputation for learn<strong>in</strong>g and ability. His read<strong>in</strong>g was prodigious.He was a pr<strong>of</strong>ound th<strong>in</strong>ker as well, and his writ<strong>in</strong>gs on both scientific andreligious subjects rate high. His loyalty to the Christian faith was <strong>in</strong>tense,and he was bold and outspoken <strong>in</strong> his endeavors to harmonize science andreligion. 5 At the time <strong>of</strong> his death <strong>in</strong> April, 1887, his private library numberedabout 3000 volumes, largely represent<strong>in</strong>g the field <strong>of</strong> mental andnervous diseases and pathology. This collection was bought by the ChicagoMedical Library Association <strong>in</strong> 1889 from his estate, 17 was transferred <strong>in</strong>the follow<strong>in</strong>g year to the Newberry Library upon the found<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> its <strong>medical</strong>department, and then <strong>in</strong> 1906, to the John Crerar Library.Michael Rooney was a member <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors and the BookCommittee <strong>of</strong> the Free Public Library <strong>of</strong> Qu<strong>in</strong>cy. He found his recreation<strong>in</strong> books <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> society, and by his methodical habits <strong>in</strong> his <strong>medical</strong><strong>practice</strong> ga<strong>in</strong>ed leisure for extensive read<strong>in</strong>g and study. He left "a library<strong>of</strong> over 600 volumes." 5 Dr. Rooney and his wife, who also was a physician,were close friends <strong>of</strong> Dr. Montgomery and on their death he received thesebooks. Some <strong>of</strong> them he still reta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> his personal library, while manyothers he gave to the Qu<strong>in</strong>cy Medical and Library Association. These, itassumed 20 are among the collection boxed <strong>in</strong> Qu<strong>in</strong>cy College.William A. Byrd graduated from Missouri Medical College <strong>in</strong> 1867,began <strong>practice</strong> <strong>in</strong> Lima, Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, then moved to Qu<strong>in</strong>cy <strong>in</strong> 1873 where hewon his celebrity. "Dr. Byrd's library was very complete, embrac<strong>in</strong>g nearlyall important modern <strong>medical</strong> books and atlases, some 1500 or morevolumes." 5 The fate <strong>of</strong> these books is shrouded <strong>in</strong> mystery. The immediatedescendants and relatives<strong>of</strong> Dr. Byrd had no certa<strong>in</strong> knowledge aboutthem, and a nephew rejected as erroneous the report that hissister <strong>of</strong> Dr. Byrd, had received the library. 24ismother, aHe said that the collectionwas given to Dr. J.B. Shawgo, an old associate <strong>of</strong> Dr. Byrd. However, thewidow <strong>of</strong> Dr. Kirk Shawgo, the son <strong>of</strong> the associate, knew only that herfather-<strong>in</strong>-law "had many books <strong>in</strong> his <strong>of</strong>fice" and that this <strong>of</strong>fice "was destroyedby fire on a Sunday morn<strong>in</strong>g after the explosion <strong>of</strong> an oil-heat<strong>in</strong>gstove."'-"Webster, John C: Isaac Newton Danforth (1835-1911). Bull. Soc. Med. Hist., Chicago,vol. 1, 1911-1913." Johnson, Charles Beneulyn: Sixty Years <strong>in</strong> Medical Harness, or The Story <strong>of</strong> a LongMedical Life, 1865-102$. Medical Life Press, New York, and the Library <strong>of</strong> MedicalHiston. (With an <strong>in</strong>troduction by Victor Rob<strong>in</strong>son) 1926.-Molony, Sarah S. (librarian, Qu<strong>in</strong>cy Public Library): Personal communications,July 28, 1952.

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