Vellum diploma awarded to graduate David Kennedy 1867, Thomas Jefferson Medical College.  Founded in 1824 Dr. George McClellan, prominent and influential physician of the period and father of General McClellan, fronted an appeal to the Pennsylvania State Legislature to charter another medical school.  Charter was granted in 1825 and the foundations for the new medical school included professorship devoted to Anatomy, Surgery, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Materia Medica, Botany, & the Institutes, Chemistry, Minerology & Pharmacy, Midwifery, and Diseases of Women & Children.  The medical school became a university in 1969 and later merged in 2017 with Philadelphia University, operating as Jefferson University to this day.

There is not much known about the diploma’s recipient, however, there are a few signers of notable mention; Robley Dunglison and Ellerslie Wallace.  Dunglison was a physician for Thomas Jefferson and personally recommended by Jefferson for a professorship at the college in 1836.   He would later author several notable medical text such as the Practice of Medicine where he identified Huntington’s Disease.  An advocate for the visually impaired, Dunglison also co-developed a raised text to help the blind to read.  Wallace was a graduate from Jefferson College in 1843, noted physician in Obstetrics, and a founding member of the American Gynecological Society.

The diploma is in very good condition.  It measures 24 3/8” x 20 ¼”.  There are cracks along the fold lines due to years of the document kept rolled and in a case.  The writing is primarily in Latin, crisp and clear. The item retains the original blue silk ribbon used to keep the document rolled upon distribution.  Still has a waxy texture typical of vellum.  Comes with original japanned case, fully intact with several dings and scrapes.  The case measures 22 ½” long and 2 1/8” round.  Diploma fits securely into case.  [mc] [ph:L]

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