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Jacob M. Da Costa
1833 - 1900
(Art/Photo Collection, AD-001.01) |
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MS055
Jacob M. Da Costa Papers
1857- 1903
0.25 Linear Feet (1 Box )
Biographical Note
Born on the Island of St. Thomas in the West Indies Jacob Mendez Da Costa
(1833-1900) took his pre-medical education in Dresden, Germany
(1849-1952). An 1852 graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Da Costa
spent 18 months in Europe for postgraduate training.. His career
included appointments as physician for the Moyamensing Dispensary
(1853-1861), Acting Assistant Surgeon, U.S. Army and physician at Turner's
Lane Hospital (Philadelphia) (1861-1865), and visiting physician at
Pennsylvania Hospital (1865-1900). Da Costa began his tenure at Jefferson
as Lecturer on Clinical Medicine (1866-1872), became the Seventh Chairman
of the Department of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College (1872-1891),
and finally Professor Emeritus (1891-1900).
Through his research and writing, Da Costa influenced the emergence of
internal medicine as a specialty. One of his most enduring contributions
was his Civil War research on the irritable heart (neurocirculatory
asthenia) in solders. His monograph Medical Diagnosis (1864) was the
first work of its kind; it went through nine editions during Da Costa's
lifetime. In 1860, Da Costa married Sarah Frederica Brinton (d.1889), the
sister of John Hill Brinton, Da Costa's classmate and faculty colleague at
Jefferson Medical College. Da Costa died on 11 September 1900 in
Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of materials by or about Jacob M. Da Costa, MD and
his family from 1857-1903. The materials include addresses
(1857-1900) to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia,
commencement addresses to Jefferson Medical College (1874, 1883,
1887, and 1891), an 1872 introductory lecture to Jefferson
students, and clinical lectures (1887-1900, with gaps) given at
Pennsylvania Hospital. Also contained in the collection are
medical journal articles (1881-1899) as well as two memoirs of Da
Costa, one written by Mary C. Clarke (Da Costa's private
secretary), the other by James C. Wilson, MD.
Organization and Arrangement
- Addresses (1857-1900)
Arranged in alphabetical order first by name of
the sponsoring organization, thereafter in chronological
order.
- Publications (1881-1899)
- News clippings (1892 and n.d.)
- Necrology (1900-1903)
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and folder list) in PDF format (92KB)
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