McDermott (William James) Papers, 1844-1919

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Summary

Title:
William James McDermott papers
Dates:
1844-1919
Creators:
McDermott, William James, 1833-
Abstract:
Papers belonging to New York physician William James McDermott, who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Extent:
5.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. William James McDermott papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

Miscellaneous papers, chiefly official documents and correspondence related to McDermott's career, particularly his military service. Included are orders, appointments, commissions, reports, requests and bills for medical supplies, and correspondence. The papers contain a report on the examination and treatment of those wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness, and a letter to his father describing the aftermath of the Battle of Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg. There are also McDermott's credentials, his Masonic diplomas and correspondence, passports, certificates, and other documents. Also included are poems and an essay on the history of the City University of New York, written by McDermott, as well as, scattered family records, some daguerreotype portraits, an 1873 notebook containing formulas for medicines kept by Dr. John B. Crosby, and a petition signed by "Her Majesty's Protestant subjects" of St. John, New Brunswick, about a ban on secret societies, which was allegedly sought by "Roman Catholics" in order to "prevent Protestants meeting together to hold loyal associations," dated 1844.

Biographical / historical:

William James McDermott, New York physician, was born in Portland, Maine, in 1833. In the 1840s, the family lived in Brunswick. In 1854, William James McDermott received his M.D. from the City University of New York and took an examination for the Army Medical Board. In August 1861, he was approved by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of New York for service as surgeon in volunteer regiments and served as surgeon in the 66th Regiment of New York Volunteer Infantry from October 1861 to June 1864. In late June 1864, he resigned and continued to work under a contract with the War Department until the end of the Civil War. He served as Assistant Surgeon in various hospitals and as a medical inspector for the office of Provost Marshal. After the war, he practiced medicine in Westchester County and New York City. In October 1863, McDermott ran for the New York City Assembly on a Democratic ticket. He also was a prominent Mason, one of the founders and the first Master of Wyoming Lodge, Westchester, New York.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Robert Crosby, May 1987.
Processing information:

Processed by Harriet McLoone in the 1980s. In June 2025, Brooke M. Black created a finding aid.

Arrangement:

Organized in three series: Series 1: Documents and letters, 1844-1919; Series 2: Miscellaneous documents and letter, 1853-1865; Series 3. Oversize material, 1853-1900.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Brooke M. Black
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-09-17 10:14:25 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. William James McDermott papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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