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Amherst College Physician and Pratt Health Cottage Records

 Collection
Identifier: MA.00372

Scope and Contents

Four record volumes containing administrative records, individual student health records and aggregate student health statistics from the Pratt Health Cottage at Amherst College and Dr. Edward Hitchcock Jr. (AC 1849), the college physician.

Dates

  • Creation: 1875-1929

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Access to portions of the Pratt Health Cottage and College Physician Records is restricted in accordance with HIPPA regulations. Individual student health information is restricted until 50 years after the death of the student. Partial or redacted access to the records may be granted at the discretion of Archives and Special Collections staff. Restrictions are noted at the file level. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from the Pratt Health Cottage and College Physician Records should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Biographical / Historical

Edward Hitchcock Jr. (AC 1849) served as the college physician and professor of physical education and hygiene starting in 1861. Hitchcock provided his services as college physician by visiting students in their rooms as necessary and holding office hours at the college gymnasium. He provided medical excuses for students’ absences from class and chapel. Hitchcock’s primary interest was physical education. He kept very extensive records on students’ health and physical measurements (anthropometry) for research and publication purposes in his efforts to show the health and education benefits of physical exercise.

Pratt Health Cottage was built in 1897 with a donation from George (AC 1893) and John (AC 1896) Pratt. It served as the college infirmary until 1938. Pratt Health Cottage was run by a resident matron, with medical service provided by various college physicians. It had both regular and quarantine wards.

Extent

.75 Linear feet (1 half archives box, 1 oversize volume)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Four record volumes containing administrative records, individual student health records and aggregate student health statistics from the Pratt Health Cottage at Amherst College and Dr. Edward Hitchcock Jr. (AC 1849), the college physician.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series:

  1. Series 1: College Physician Records, 1875-1892
  2. Series 2: Pratt Health Cottage Records, 1897-1929

Custodial History

These records were created by Edward Hitchcock, Jr (AC 1849) in his role as college physician and by Pratt Health Cottage staff and trustees. They were transferred to the college archives at an unknown date. Similar record books relating to the Pratt Health Cottage can be found in the Amherst College Financial Record Books collection.

Related Materials

  1. Record book of the Board of Control of the Pratt Health Cottage, 1897-1903, and Income Pratt Health Cottage, 1897-1902, in Amherst College Financial Record Books
  2. Amherst College Department of Hygiene and Physical Education Records (includes anthropometry records)
  3. Amherst College Buildings and Grounds Collection
  4. Edward (AC 1849) and Mary Judson Hitchcock Family Papers
  5. Cataloged book removed from collection: Alexis Paul Turner, Care of the Sick, [New York]: Mutual Life Insurance Co., 1875 (ASC file RT61.T87 1875)
Status
Completed
Author
Mariah Leavitt
Date
2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299