Title	Finding aid for Papers of Charles Wistar Stevens, 1823-1888.
Creator	Stevens, Charles Wistar, d. 1901.
Extent	59 items.
Biographical Note	Charles W. Stevens practiced medicine in Boston and his native New Hampshire throughout much of the 19th century. A Harvard graduate, Stevens cultivated relationships with several important 19th century figures. He exchanged letters with prominent Boston area physicians including Jacobi Abraham, a leading figure in the study of pediatrics. He was personally endorsed by the famed Fireside poet, James Russell Lowell. He also corresponded with the biblical scholar Osmon C. Baker and his family. Finally, Stevens conversed with the less well-off: the street dregs, the unemployed, and the undesired. He published a book, Revelations of a Boston doctor (1882), where he described his encounters with poverty. Several chapters highlighted the plight of orphans, pregnant women, and tuberculosis victims. Well-born and well-off, Stevens' concern for society's less fortunate suggests the complexity of 19th century class relations.
Scope and Content	The collection is organized chronologically from 1823 to 1888. In addition, 10 pages of biographical notes concerning the various correspondents are located at the end of the collection. This collection of correspondence and notes offers insight into 19th century medical practice. Included are Steven's inquiries concerning dropsy, diphtheria, and other diseases. The collection contains several diplomas and certificates received by Charles Wistar Stevens. Also included are three lists of the Stevens and Baker families. Among the notes included, three are in French (prescription lists) and one is in Spanish (a poem). Notable participants include Clarence J. Baker, Ephraim Cutter, Henry M. Field, Austin Flint, Abraham Jacobi, James Russell Lowell, Justin McCarthy, Edwin Whipple, Henry W. Williams, and Robert C. Winthrop.
Notes	All inquiries about this collection should be directed to the Dibner Senior Curator, History of Science, Medicine & Technology.
Date	1823-1888.
Provenance	On permanent deposit from the Los Angeles County Medical Association, 1992.
Subject	Stevens, Charles Wistar, d. 1901. Diphtheria. Edema. Medicine -- United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources. Physicians -- United States -- Correspondence. Los Angeles County Medical Association Collection.
Form/Genre	Certificates United States 19th century. (aat) Diplomas United States 19th century. (aat) Letters (correspondence) United States 19th century. (aat) Notes United States 19th century. (aat)
Contributors	Blake, Clarence J. Cutter, Ephraim, 1832-1917. Field, Henry M. (Henry Martyn), 1822-1907. Flint, Austin, 1812-1886. Jacobi, A. (Abraham), 1830-1919. Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891. McCarthy, Justin, 1830-1912. Whipple, Edwin Percy, 1819-1886. Williams, Henry W. (Henry Willard), 1821-1895. Winthrop, Robert C. (Robert Charles), 1809-1894. Los Angeles County Medical Association, former owner.
Department	Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. Manuscripts Department.
Call Number	mssStevens papers
Physical Collection	Charles Wistar Stevens Papers.
Digital Collection	Finding Aids, Huntington Digital Library
Physical Description	4 p.
Digitization Specifications	Original finding aid converted into PDF document by B. Black, 2011-12-13.
Date Digital	2011-12-13.
DCMI Type	text
Digital Format	pdf
Original Finding Aid	Finding aid prepared by Steven Collicelli, April 14, 2011.
Citation Information	Finding aid for Charles Wistar Stevens Papers, Huntington Digital Library, San Marino, California.
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Cataloging Notes	In 1992, the Los Angeles County Medical Association put several collections on permanent deposit here at the Huntington Library.