Scope and arrangement
The papers of Gustav Scholer span the years 1855 to 1929, with gaps, the bulk being from 1887 to 1920. They consist of handwritten, typewritten, and printed documents, including correspondence, minutes, reports, certificates, medical records, notebooks, leaflets, newspaper clippings, writings, photographs, and artifacts. Most of the papers are Gustav's professional and social papers, which document his work as a physician and his participation in German-American societies. There are also a very few of Jacob Scholer's papers, which are among the earliest documents in the collection, and organizational records of the Verein der Deutschen Patrioten von 1848-1849. Much of the collection is in German, some of it in German script. The rest is mainly in English. There are a few odd documents in Eastern European languages.
The Gustav Scholer papers are arranged in fourteen series:
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These are letters received by Scholer and some replies, arranged chronologically. Many are written to and by Scholer in his capacity as coroner and as a manager of Manhattan State Hospital. Others relate to his organizational activities, in particular, the Carl Schurz Monument Unveiling Committee, the National Liberal Immigration League, and efforts to aid Germans and Austrians during World War I. A signed typed letter from William McKinley dated July 17, 1896, prior to his election to the presidency, thanks Scholer for the support of the German Republican County Committee. There is one lengthy letter in German script that postdates Gustav's death.
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These are records kept by Scholer while he served as deputy coroner and coroner of the City of New York. There are autopsy reports, clippings, letters, and unclaimed effects of diseased individuals.
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These are manuscript books of statistics on U. S. servicemen compiled by Scholer from physical examinations. They include the serviceman's name, company, regiment, residence, pension status, vital information, and comments. There is a name guide to some of the books.
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These stub booklets are Scholer's records of certificates issued as attending physician.
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These include Scholer's correspondence and papers as a member of the organization. There are also pages of a scrapbook regarding Franz Sigel and the founding and history of the Turn Verein. The latter includes a draft charter, letters, clippings, and photographs.
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These are papers related to Gustav's membership in various organizations. Included are papers pertaining to the Erste Cameval Sitzung of the Arion Society in 1914. Jacob s few papers relate mainly to German- American societies.
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There are photographs of disasters Scholer attended as coroner, including the General Slocum Steamship Disaster, as well as ones of the Washington Heights Ambulance Service, New York Turn Verein members, nurses at Staten Island, Manhattan State Hospital, Scholer at the morgue, and Franz Sigel's birthplace in Germany.
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This includes handbills, concert programs, public health literature, newspaper clippings, and other printed ephemera.