Seymour Family papers, 1842-1947
Processed by Pat L. Walter.
Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History and Special Collections
Division
History and Special Collections Division
UCLA
12-077 Center for Health Sciences
Box 951798
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1798
Phone: 310/825-6940
Fax: 310/825-0465
Email: biomed-ref@library.ucla.edu
URL:
http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/biomed/his/hisdiv.htm
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The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Seymour Family Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1842-1947
Collection number: 182
Creator: Seymour, Eleanor Curran 1877-1961
Extent:
0.5 linear feet
(1 document box)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History and Special Collections
Division
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: The collection consists of miscellaneous personal and
professional materials belonging to 3 generations of physicians in one family,
spanning 150 years: Robert Curran, M.D. (1806-1872); Francis Asbury Seymour,
M.D. (1843-1920); and Eleanor C. Seymour, M.D. (1877-1961). Eleanor Seymour
lightly annotated some material and provided biographical synopses for herself,
her father and grandfather. This material provides an intermittent glimpse into
the professional lives of the three doctors, as well as into the men's church
activities.
Physical location: History and Special Collections Division,
Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, University of California, Los
Angeles
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
Access
The collection is open for research. Contact the History and Special
Collections Division, Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, UCLA, for
information.
Conditions of Use
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Seymour family papers (Manuscript collection 182). Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library History
and Special Collections Division, University of California, Los Angeles.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Acquisition Information
These papers were originally a gift from Eleanor Curran Seymour to the
Library of the Los Angeles Country Medical Association (LACMA); then a gift from
LACMA to the UCLA Biomedical Library with the help of Selma Calmes (ca.
1996).
Biography
These papers concern three generations of physicians, Robert Curran, M.D.
(1806-1872), his son-in-law, Francis Asbury Seymour, M.D. (1843-1920), and Dr.
Seymour's daughter, Eleanor Curran Seymour, M.D. (1877-1961).
Dr. Robert Curran was characterized by his granddaughter as a physician,
preacher, teacher, and author. He had taught in a public school and was licensed
to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church before obtaining a license to
practice medicine in 1831; in 1838 he graduated from the Cincinnati College of
Medicine and Surgery. He was appointed Professor of Physiology and General
Pathology at the Indiana Central Medical College in 1850, and Professor of
Physiology and Pathology in his alma mater in Cincinnati. Dr. Curran was highly
respected both within the medical profession and within his church.
For Dr. Francis A. Seymour, his daughter used teacher, preacher, physician,
surgeon to describe him. He, too, first taught in public schools, studied
medicine, discontinued that study to take up theology, was licensed to preach in
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, but returned to medicine, and graduated
from the Kentucky School of Medicine. In 1864, just before the close of his
final medical school year, he was appointed Acting Assistant Surgeon in the
United States Army; he finished the Civil War as Chief Executive Officer of
Jefferson General Hospital, Jeffersonville, Indiana. After his marriage in 1866
he joined his new father-in-law, Robert Curran, in the latter's practice in
Jeffersonville. He also served on the faculty of the Kentucky School of
Medicine. Ill health motivated a move to California in 1880, and to Los Angeles
in 1882, where he remained in continuous practice until his death. Dr. Seymour
served as president of the County Medical Association, assistant editor of "The
Southern California Practitioner", member of the State Board of Health, and was
prominent in many medical and philanthropic activities. He was also an active
and important participant in the activities of the Methodist Church.
Dr. Eleanor Curran Seymour, Dr. Francis Seymour's only daughter, obtained her
medical degree from USC in 1903. She interned at Women's and Children's
Hospital, San Francisco, then moved back to Los Angeles, where she served
variously as instructor in Bacteriology at USC, Resident in Anesthesia, X-Ray,
and Pathology at Pacific Hospital, and as long-term Resident in Olive View
County Tuberculosis Sanatarium. Dr. E. Seymour was active in the American
Medical Association, the Los Angeles County Medical Society, and several
anesthetist societies, serving as President of the American Association of
Anesthetists meeting in 1923.
Scope and Content
These papers give an intermittent glimpse into the professional lives of
three generations of doctors in one family and, for the first two generations,
also a window into the gentlemen's church activities. Eleanor C. Seymour, M.D.,
the third generation, was obviously very proud of her heritage and preserved,
lightly annotated, and passed on whatever material she possessed or considered
relevant. She provided a synopsis, or timeline, for her own life to 1947 and for
her father and grandfather.
The family materials are arranged roughly chronologically, under each
physician's name. There are also some miscellaneous materials spanning the ca.
150 years of the family materials, but no attempt was made to match these to any
one of the family. There are portraits of each family physician.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. ROBERT CURRAN, M.D., 1806-1872. 6 folders
- Series 2. FRANCIS ASBURY SEYMOUR, M.D., 1843-1920. 11 folders
- Series 3. ELEANOR CURRAN SEYMOUR, M.D., 1877-1961. 5 folders
- Series 4. MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS., 1800-1947. 11 folders
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Curran,
Robert.
Seymour, Eleanor
Curran.
Seymour, Francis
Asbury.
Physicians--Biography.
Physicians--Los Angeles.
Series 1.
ROBERT CURRAN, M.D.
1806-1872
Physical Description: 6 folders
Box 1, Folder 1
Biographical synopsis.
Scope and Content Note
compiled by his granddaughter, ECS; with an undated photograph, Louisville,
KY
Box 1, Folder 2
Indiana Central Medical College, Indianapolis, etc.
1850-1851
Scope and Content Note
1) "Introductory Address," at the opening of the 2nd Session of the College,
by RC; 2) catalog, listing RC as Professor of Physiology and General Pathology;
3) program of anniversary exercises, Indiana Asbury University (later, De Pauw
University), listing RC as a speaker
Box 1, Folder 3
Correspondence pertaining to medical career.
1850-1852
Box 1, Folder 4
Methodist Episcopal Church, Indiana.
1842-1871
Scope and Content Note
1) certification of RC being ordained an Elder in the Church, by the
Jeffersonville Station and by Bishop Matthew Simpson, (RC's friend, and a
counsellor of Abraham Lincoln), 1842; 2) letter to Rev. RC, from William N.
Daniel, Mount Vernon, Indiana, 1851; 3) 1854 letter by RC, asking to be relieved
of position of Elder, which was refused; 4) a sermon, by Rev. RC, to Wall Street
Episcopal Church, 1864; 5) proceedings of the Local Preachers' Association,
containing a letter from RC, 1871
Box 1, Folder 5
Resolution upon the death of Dr. Robert Curran, passed in a special
meeting of the Jeffersonville Academy of Medicine.
1872
Box 1, Folder 6
"Nosology of the diseases which have prevailed in Clark Co., Ind.,
since A.D. 1833, with remarks," by Robert Curran.
1872
Scope and Content Note
in: "Transactions of the Indiana State Medical Society"
Series 2.
FRANCIS ASBURY SEYMOUR, M.D.
1843-1920
Physical Description: 11 folders
Box 1, Folder 7
Autobiographical synopsis.
1843-[1918]
Physical Description: eleven 5 x 9" handwritten pages, plus one-page typed
summary
Box 1, Folder 8
Obituaries.
1920
Scope and Content Note
1) clipping from a Los Angeles newspaper (unidentified), dated in pencil Mar.
20, 1919 [sic]; 2) obituary and portrait, "The Bulletin, Los Angeles Country
Medical Association", p. 10
Box 1, Folder 9
License to preach.
1861
Scope and Content Note
added written note: "This is to certify that Francis A. Seymour was licensed
to exercise his gifts and graces as a local preacher in the Methodist E. Church
South, by the Quarterly Conference of the Eight St. Station Louisville
Conference, Louisville, December 23, 1861," signed: Thos. Bottomly, P.E.; added
below in different hand: "The same Rev. Bottomly had baptized him in 1843."
Box 1, Folder 10
Kentucky School of Medicine, Louisville, KY.
1864-1868
Scope and Content Note
1) short note regarding FAS' M.D. degree; 2) announcement of 1864 graduates,
including FAS; 3) letter about a lecture that was to have been given by FAS
Box 1, Folder 11
Certificate of membership, College of Physicians and Surgeons of the
city of Louisville, KY.
1866
Scope and Content Note
issued Oct. 31, 1866
Box 1, Folder 12
Medical societies.
1866-1885
Scope and Content Note
1) admissions card to an entertainment for the American Medical Association,
Baltimore, May 3, 1866; 2) pamphlet, "Transactions of the Indiana State Medical
Society, 22nd annual session, 1872"; (for this item, see [Box 1 : 6]); 3)
"Constitution of the Indiana State Medical Society, and letter of explanation,
1875"; 4) officers of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, showing FAS as
president and chairman of the Library Committee, 1885
Box 1, Folder 13
Printed articles and editorials by FAS.
1881-1938
Scope and Content Note
1) nine items from the "Southern California Practitioner"; 2) one item from
the "California Christian Advocate"; 3) one item from the "Louisville Medical
News"; 4) one item, taken from FAS' diary, published in "The Bulletin, Los
Angeles County Medical Association"; 5) one item in "Transactions of the Indiana
State Medical Society", 1872 (see [Box 1 : 6] for the item); 6) officers of the
Los Angeles County Medical Association, showing FAS as president, and chairman
of the Library Committee, 1885
Box 1, Folder 15
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los
Angeles.
Scope and Content Note
letterhead showing FAS as president
Box 1, Folder 16
Letter from William Williams Keen.
1914
Box 1, Folder 17
Photographs.
Scope and Content Note
1) 3 x 4" portrait, probably 1864; 2) 3 x 4" picture of medical diploma (2
copies); 3) 3 x 4", seated in armchair
Series 3.
ELEANOR CURRAN SEYMOUR, M.D.
1877-1961
Physical Description: 5 folders
Box 1, Folder 18
Timeline.
1877-1947
Scope and Content Note
gives dates of birth, medical degree, positions, honors, interests
Box 1, Folder 19
Correspondence and gifts from S. Adolphus Knopf, M.D.
1936
Scope and Content Note
1) letter from Dr. Knopf; 2) "Heart Disease and Tuberculosis", by S. Adolphus
Knopf. New York, 1936, inscribed to Dr. Eleanor Seymour by the author; 3)
reprint, "Antituberculosis work in the United States," by S. Adolphus Knopf, in:
"Medical Record", Oct. 31, 1936
Box 1, Folder 20
International College of Anesthetists.
1937
Scope and Content Note
certificate of fellowship and specialist in anesthesia
Box 1, Folder 21
Photographs.
1904, 1924, 1938
Scope and Content Note
1) 8 x 10", "California Hospital nurses," (n.d.); 2) 8 x 10", "Dr. C. L.
Lawman with nurses at California Hospital" (n.d.); 3) "Health Dept. Staff, 1904.
Dr. L. M. Powers, Dr. Sumner J. Quint, ass't, Dr. Ethel Monan [?]"; 4) 4 x 6"
studio portrait of ECS (1924); 5) 3 x 5" snapshot, "Dr. Eleanor Seymour, 1938,
Arizona"
Box 1, Folder 22
Pacific Coast Association of Anaesthetists.
1920
Scope and Content Note
8"-diameter circular crest of the organization, with note by ECS: "Pacific
Coast crest designed by wife of Dr. Neil C. Frew [?], anaesthetist, now
deceased,"
Series 4.
MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.
1800-1947
Physical Description: 11 folders
Box 1, Folder 23
Lecture admission cards, Univ. of Pennsylvania Medical
Department.
1883-1886
Scope and Content Note
admitting J. R. Crawford, Jr. to lectures and practical instruction in a
number of courses
Box 1, Folder 24
Matriculation cards, University of Pennsylvania Medical
Dept.
1883-1886
Scope and Content Note
made out to J. R. Crawford, Jr.
Box 1, Folder 25
Illustrations of the Colleges of Medicine, USC, and UCLA.
1887, 1910
Scope and Content Note
a page from "The Practitioner" [?] (unidentified, no date) showing one
building for the College of Medicine, USC in 1887, four separate buildings for
the College of Medicine, UC, Los Angeles Department, in 1910, and portraits of
G. W. Lasher, M.D. and Joseph Kurtz, M.D.
Box 1, Folder 26
Certificate from Board of Health, City of Los Angeles.
1893
Scope and Content Note
names Dr. Lulu T. Ellis the bacteriological examiner of cholera
Box 1, Folder 27
Theta Nu Epsilon, Los Angeles.
1899-1900
Physical Description: mounted 8 x 10" group photograph
Box 1, Folder 28
Newspaper clipping.
Scope and Content Note
5 column inches and portrait of Dr. W. Lemoyne Wills of Los Angeles from
unidentified source
Box 1, Folder 29
"Christmas Jinks of 1913".
1913
Scope and Content Note
announcement for the Christmas program of the Los Angeles County Medical
Association
Box 1, Folder 30
Obituary of Dr. Norman Bridge.
1925
Scope and Content Note
newspaper clipping, unidentified source
Box 1, Folder 31
Avicenna material.
1926-1927
Scope and Content Note
1) pages 27-32 cut from "The Syrian World", Dec. 1926: "Ibn Sina (Avicenna),
physician, philosopher, poet," by F. I. Shatara; with pencil notation, "Rec'd ex
P. Hitti M.D., Beirut, Syria, 1/31/27"; 2) two typed pages: a short note from
the Editor of "The Bulletin" [presumably of the Los Angeles County Medical
Association], followed by the transcript of a letter about Avicenna's tomb from
M. Sa'eed, M.D., Teheran, to Dr. John William Shuman, Beirut and Los Angeles; 3)
three photographs sent by Dr. Sa'eed, of the tomb and its inscriptions
Note
items were with the Seymour materials in an envelope labeled "Avicenna
material, [?-undecipherable] Seymour Collection"
Box 1, Folder 32
California Medical-Economic Survey, 1934-1935.
1937
Scope and Content Note
subtitle: "Formal Report on Factual Data." [San Francisco], California
Medical Association. 174 p.
Box 1, Folder 33
Material on vaccination.
1800, 1802
Scope and Content Note
1) reproduction mounted on cardboard of an 1802 cartoon ridiculing enemies of
Edward Jenner and cow pox vaccination; 2) photocopy mounted on cardboard of a
notice on "Kine pock institution," by Dr. B. Waterhouse; Cambridge, [Mass.] July
3, 1800
Box 1, Folder 34
Medical Women's Society of Los Angeles County, Branch Twenty-Three,
American Medical Women's Association, Inc.
1947
Scope and Content Note
membership directory and by-laws
