John Shaw Billings papers

id
3374
origination
Billings, John S. (John Shaw), 1838-1913
date statement
1862-1913
key date
1862
identifier (local_mss)
304
org unit
Manuscripts and Archives Division
call number
MssCol 304
b-number
b12077730
total components
368
total series
13
max depth
4
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:04:44 UTC
updated
2026-06-26 18:13:59 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"MssCol 304", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"304", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"John Shaw Billings papers"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1862-1913", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1862/1913"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"48 linear feet (109 boxes)"}], "supress_display"=>true}
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"53 microfilm reels"}], "supress_display"=>true}
date_inclusive_start
1862
date_inclusive_end
1913
origination
{"value"=>"Billings, John S. (John Shaw), 1838-1913", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) was an American surgeon, hospital planner and librarian. He served as a U.S. Army surgeon and was responsible for creating the nation's foremost medical library, now the National Library of Medicine. He served as special advisor to the trustees of Johns Hopkins Hospital in planning and organizing that institution. After retiring from the Army in 1895, Billings was named the first Director of the New York Public Library. He helped create the NYPL by combining the Astor and Lenox Libraries into a public research library and building a branch library system for three of the boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx). He also planned and oversaw the construction of the Central Library building which was opened to the public in 1911.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>Collection consists of correspondence and papers relating to Billings' work with the United States Army Medical Department, 1861-1895; Johns Hopkins Hospital (especially building plans), 1873-1890; National Board of Health, 1879-1881; the 10th and 11th censuses, University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Laboratory of Hygiene, 1890-1895; The New York Public Library, 1895-1913; Committee of Fifty on the Liquor Problem, 1893-1904; Carnegie Institute, 1902-1913; National Academy of Science, 1875-1911; and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Other papers are family correspondence, including letters from Billings to his wife regarding his Civil War experiences; texts of lectures and addresses; notes; and miscellaneous papers. Also, scrapbooks about the Civil War, National Board of Health and health issues, 1861-1903; diaries; photographs and travel notebooks; and material about infectious diseases and epidemics. Correspondents include Alexander Agassiz, Alexander G. Bell, John Bigelow, Henry P. Bowditch, Henry C. Burdett, John L. Cadwalader, Andrew Carnegie, Melvil Dewey, Robert Fletcher, Francis Galton, Daniel C. Gilman, Silas W. Mitchell, William Pepper, Stephen Smith, and George Sternberg.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The John Shaw Billings papers are arranged in thirteen series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082414'>I. General Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1862-1913</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082439'>II. Outgoing Correspondence, Family Correspondence, Third Party Correspondence</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082452'>III. Writings. Lectures, Addresses and Notes</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082603'>IV. Subject Papers</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082643'>V. Committee of Fifty</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p><em render=\"italic\">The Committee of Fifty</em> was organized to examine the abuse of alcohol. The Committee was established on October 20, 1893. An election held by the Committee resulted with the following officials: Seth Low, President, Charles Dudley Warner, Vice President and Francis G. Peabody, Treasurer. With regard to the latter position, William E. Dodge was elected to succeed Peabody as treasurer. The Committee was divided into four sub-committees as follows:</p> <p>I. On the Physiological Aspects of the Drinking Problem;</p> <p>II. On its Legislative Impact;</p> <p>III. On the Relations of the Liquor Problem to Economic Conditions;</p> <p>IV. On the Ethical Aspects of the Problem.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082669'>VI. Carnegie Institute</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082675'>VII. National Academy of Sciences</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082677'>VIII. Other Organizations And Assorted Papers</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082722'>IX. Photographs And Sketches</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082741'>X. Blueprints and Plans</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082752'>XI. Letterpress Copies</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082757'>XII. Scrapbooks</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/304#c1082773'>XIII. Assorted Miscellany</a></div>\n</li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
acqinfo
{"accession_number"=>"MSS 88M65"}
{"date"=>"1919", "source"=>"Billings, John Shaw - Family", "method"=>"Gift", "value"=>"Gift, Billings, John Shaw - Family, 1919"}
altformavail
{"value"=>"<p>Selected materials (boxes 1-71) available on microfilm; New York Public Library; *ZL-212</p>"}
note
{"value"=>"<p>Records of Billings' tenure as Director of The New York Public Library are part of the Library's Archives</p>", "encodinganalog"=>"500"}
keydate
1862
prefercite
{"value"=>"John Shaw Billings papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library"}
extent_statement
48 linear feet (109 boxes); 53 microfilm reels
abstract
{"value"=>"John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) was an American surgeon, hospital planner and librarian. He served as a U.S. Army surgeon and was responsible for creating the nation's foremost medical library, now the National Library of Medicine. He served as special advisor to the trustees of Johns Hopkins Hospital in planning and organizing that institution. After retiring from the Army in 1895, Billings was named the first Director of the New York Public Library. He helped create the NYPL by combining the Astor and Lenox Libraries into a public research library and building a branch library system for three of the boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx). He also planned and oversaw the construction of the Central Library building which was opened to the public in 1911. Collection consists of correspondence and papers relating to Billings' work with the United States Army Medical Department, 1861-1895; Johns Hopkins Hospital (especially building plans), 1873-1890; National Board of Health, 1879-1881; the 10th and 11th censuses, University of Pennsylvania Hospital and Laboratory of Hygiene, 1890-1895; The New York Public Library, 1895-1913; Committee of Fifty on the Liquor Problem, 1893-1904; Carnegie Institute, 1902-1913; National Academy of Science, 1875-1911; and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Other papers are family correspondence, including letters from Billings to his wife regarding his Civil War experiences; texts of lectures and addresses; notes; and miscellaneous papers. Also, scrapbooks about the Civil War, National Board of Health and health issues, 1861-1903; diaries; photographs and travel notebooks; and material about infectious diseases and epidemics. Correspondents include Alexander Agassiz, Alexander G. Bell, John Bigelow, Henry P. Bowditch, Henry C. Burdett, John L. Cadwalader, Andrew Carnegie, Melvil Dewey, Robert Fletcher, Francis Galton, Daniel C. Gilman, Silas W. Mitchell, William Pepper, Stephen Smith, and George Sternberg.", "generated"=>true}
date_start
1862
date_end
1913

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