J. B. Girard Papers, 1861-1918

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Summary

Creators:
Girard, J. B. (Joseph Basil), 1846-1918.
Abstract:
This collection contains diaries, sketchbooks, military appointments, travel orders, and other documents of J. B. Girard (1846-1918), a surgeon in the United States Army Medical Corps who served at several different military posts, including Hawaii, between 1867 and 1910.
Extent:
4 Linear Feet (2 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. J. B. Girard papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes Girard's diaries, certificates, military appointments, travel orders, sketchbooks, photographs, passports and newspaper clippings. The sketchbooks contain sketches of western landscapes and European landscapes. The photographs in the collection are of J. B. Girard, his family, and family friends.

There are eight diaries in the collection, which span the years 1900-1907. The diaries detail the Girard family and their day-to-day activities, including visits with friends and the extensive traveling they did moving to and from military posts. The diaries also give detailed accounts of Girard's military duties including inspections of hospitals at several military posts in the mid-West. The diaries often discuss Girard's failing health, his depression after his wife's death and his increasing unhappiness with his life and his service in the U. S. Army. In the memoranda section in the last pages of the 1903-1907 diaries, there is information concerning bonds Girard purchased throughout the years. These diaries also include several addresses of Girard's family members and acquaintances.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Basil (J. B.) Girard (1846-1918) emigrated from France to the United States in 1861, at the age of fifteen. In 1867 he graduated as a doctor of medicine from the University of Michigan; in that same year he received an appointment to the United States Army Medical Corps in which he served until his retirement in 1910 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel and assistant surgeon general. He married Louise Oury in 1875; they had three children, Agnes, Louise, and Laura. Girard was stationed at several army posts throughout his military career. He served in Arizona, Wyoming, Missouri, Hawaii, Nebraska, Georgia, and Washington State. He also served as Chief Surgeon for the Division of the Philippines from 1904-1906 and for the Department of Texas from 1907-1910. He was a member of the Scientific Society of San Antonio and the Arizona Pioneers Historical Society. He was also a skilled amateur artist who produced many pencil sketches and watercolors throughout his life. These sketches and paintings often included western landscapes and scenes of army life at military posts. Girard's work also contains several sketches he did while traveling through Europe. After retirement, J. B. Girard remained in San Antonio where he died in 1918.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Jane Hemphill, Colonel Girard's granddaughter, January 1989.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

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]. J. B. Girard 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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