The Institutional Records of
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Brief History of the Johns Hopkins Hospital
Scope of Records
Record Group 1. Founding Documents
Record Group 2. Records of Governance
Record Group 3. Office of the Superintendent
Record Group 4. Patient Related Records
Record Group 5. Departmental Records
Record Group 6. Architectural Records
Record Group 7. Hopkins Units in World War I and World
War II
Record Group 8. Publications
Brief History of the Johns Hopkins Hospital
In 1867, Johns Hopkins a wealthy Baltimore
businessman bequeathed $7,000,000 for the establishment of a university
and a hospital. The money was to be divided equally between the two.
Hopkins envisioned that the medical school and the hospital with interlocking
Board of Trustees would be closely connected so that the clinical training
of medical students could take place in a working hospital. In his
instructions to the Trustees, Hopkins wrote that, “In all your arrangements
in relation to this hospital, you will bear constantly in mind that
it is my wish and purpose that the institution should ultimately form
a part of the medical school of that university for which I have made
ample provision by my will...”. The Johns Hopkins Hospital would be
the first teaching hospital in the United States.
On May 7, 1889, the Hospital’s doors opened with gala ceremonies to
mark the occasion. Mr. Hopkins himself had stipulated that the Hospital
be constructed in east Baltimore and from 1876 to 1889, while conducting
the affairs of the Surgeon General’s Library in Washington, D.C., John
Shaw Billings developed the general plan of the hospital and supervised
its construction. Billings’ approach was unique in that he designed
the first hospital in modern times to accomodate teaching and
research as well as patient care.
Henry M. Hurd of Michigan served with distinction as the Hospital’s
first superintendent. When he retired in 1911 he could look back on
a career which combined efficient administration with a strong sympathy
for medical teaching and scientific investigation, By the 1930's the
Hospital had about 1,000 beds making it the largest in the state of
Maryland.
Although the Hospital is a separate corporation governed by its own
Board of Trustees, its relationship with the School of Medicine is
most intimate. The head of each clinical department of the Hospital
is also the professor and director of the corresponding academic department
of the School of Medicine.
Scope of the Records
The Archive of The Johns Hopkins Hospital contains a fairly complete
picture of the administrative history of that institution. Included
are minutes of the major decision making bodies of the Hospital, and
supportive papers such as committee reports, budgets, letters and memoranda.
There is some correspondence and financial data from the superintendent’s
office, patient log books and department statistical ledgers. A special
feature of the collection is a set of drawings, and construction diaries.
There is also a significant group of Hospital photographs and official
publications.
Record Group 1. Founding Documents.
The small record group focuses on John Shaw Billings’ contribution
to the building of the Hospital. Included is a book of essays which
Billings edited on the construction, organization and management of
hospitals and Billings’ own writings on his then revolutionary views
of medical education. In addition, there is a program of the May 1889
opening ceremonies and a letter to Henry Hurd appointing him Hospital
Superintendent.
Record Group 2. Records of Governance
The Board of Trustees, the Medical Board and the Executive Committee
are the major administrative bodies of the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Taken together the minutes of these bodies along with the accompanying
supporting papers provide a complete picture of the decision making
process at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Particularly valuable are the
supporting papers which not only include copies of many committee reports,
but also original letters and documents. For example, the early minutes
of the Board of Trustees contain some original letters and memos from
Henry Hurd and other members of the medical faculty and staff.
Record Group 3. Office of the Superintendent.
These are records of the Office of the Superintendent , the chief administrative
officer of the Hospital. Their volume is not extensive since much of
the Superintendent’s most important correspondence may be found with
the supporting papers of the minutes of the Board of Trustees. The
records that have survived include some business correspondence and
early financial statements. The Superintendent’s Annual Report prints
the statistical state of the Hospital in full. Superintendents (Directors)
of The Johns Hopkins Hospital include:
Daniel C. Gilman, May 1889-August 1889
Henry M. Hurd,
August 1889-August 1911
Winford H. Smith,
August 1911-April 1946
Edwin L. Crosby, April 1946-July 1952
Russell A.
Nelson, July 1952-Oct 1972
Robert M. Heyssel,
Oct 1972-1992
Record Group 4. Patient Related Records.
(Information
regarding accessing holdings with restrictions.)
This record group contains, not patient records per se, but logs of
patients admitted to the Hospital and its various departments and the
services performed. Combined with the Superintendent’s Annual Reports,
these ledgers provide an excellent statistical overview of the workings
of the Hospital. There is also a visitors’ ledger and some clinical
charts of military personnel who were treated at the Johns Hopkins
Hospital during World War II.
Record Group 5. Departmental Records.
For information about departmental records contact the archives staff.
Record Group 6. Architectural Records.
This record group contains the original architectural drawings used
to construct The Johns Hopkins Hospital. In addition, there are competition
drawings or proposed plans which were not used. Finally, there is a
series of construction diaries which chronicle the daily progress of
the actual building.
Record Group 7. Hopkins Units in World
War I and World War II.
This record group contains correspondence, manuscripts, appointment
books, printed material, scrapbooks and memorabilia from the special
Hopkins medical units which served during the First and Second World
Wars.
In 1917 the War Department sent Hopkins Base Hospital No. 18 to France
to treat battle casualties. During the final fierce days of fighting
in September and October 1918 the Hopkins Unit worked around the clock
providing primary surgical care.
During World War II Hopkins had two units both of which served in the
Pacific Theatre of the conflict. The 118th General Hospital operated
primarily in Australia and the Phillippines. The 18th General Hospital
worked in New Zealand, the Fiji Islands and India-Burma Theatre.
Record Group 8. Publications.
In this record group are the official publications and reports of the
Johns Hopkins Hospital. Included are The
Johns Hopkins Hospital Bulletin, official annual reports from the
superintendent, treasurer’s report, staff directories
and miscellaneous pamphlets.
