Alexander E. MacDonald, M.D. (1845-1906) was a prominent American physician and psychiatrist, and a leader in the development of New York City's public institutions for the treatment of mentally-ill persons. The collection consists of Dr....
more
Alexander E. MacDonald, M.D. (1845-1906) was a prominent American physician and psychiatrist, and a leader in the development of New York City's public institutions for the treatment of mentally-ill persons. The collection consists of Dr. Alexander MacDonald's scrapbook of entertainments held for patients in New York City public hospitals on Blackwell's Island and Ward's Island, 1873-1875, and several letters and documents relating to his professional activities, 1897-1902. The scrapbook, dated 1873 August 30-1874 June 19 and 1875 June 9, contains pasted newspaper clippings and programs documenting part of a series of weekly entertainments initiated by MacDonald for patients of Charity Hospital on Blackwell's Island (now Roosevelt Island), 1873-1874, with an 1875 clipping for an entertainment at the New York City Asylum for the Insane on Ward's Island. Letters and documents chiefly pertain to MacDonald's attendance at professional conferences abroad, certifying his membership and credentials; there is also a personal letter from George E. Dodge (1849-1904) to MacDonald, 1902 June 28, regarding MacDonald's work on Ward's Island. A civil service flyer and a half-tone photographic portrait of MacDonald are included.
less