American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Group of 6 documents, including: a large diploma awarded to John S. Atlee, Sr. by the University of Pennsylvania in 1820 for the degree of Doctor of Medical Arts; two Philadelphia Medical Society certificates, awarded in 1818 and 1820 respectively, to "Johanne L. Atlee," making him a junior member and then an honorary member. -- An 1847 certificate awarded to John S. Atlee, Sr. from the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1847. -- A Yale College diploma awarded to Walter Franklin Atlee in 1846. -- Certificate awarded in 1882 to John L. Atlee, Jr. from the American Surgical Society. Various sizes, from approx. 26 x 20 1/2 in. to 14 x 11 in. Documents generally in good condition, and with original ribbons and seals.

From the Historical Medical Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia: "John Light Atlee, Pennsylvania surgeon, was born in Lancaster, Pa., on 2 November 1799. Atlee married Sarah Howell Franklin on 12 Mar. 1822. They had four children. He died of pneumonia on 1 October 1885. Atlee studied medicine in Lancaster under Samuel Hulmes or Humes, then attended the University of Pennsylvania for the 1817-1818 and 1819-1820 sessions. He received his M.D. from the University in 1820 and proceeded to practice in Lancaster until his death. He was a surgeon and known for his obstetrical work, and revived the ovariotomy with success in 1843. Atlee was a member of the Lancaster County Sanitary Commission which was formed to combat a cholera outbreak in 1855. He helped to establish the Lancaster County Medical Society in 1844, was a member of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, and became president of the American Medical Association in 1882. John L. Atlee became an Associate Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1847."

Physicians in the Atlee family include: Dr. John Light Atlee Sr. (1799-1885), graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1820, was an organizer of the American Medical Association, and was the forerunner of generations of Atlee doctors serving their Pennsylvania communities; Dr. Walter Franklin Atlee (1828-1910), graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1850; Dr. John Light Atlee, Jr. (1830-1885), graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1853; Dr. Washington Lemuel Atlee (1808-1878), graduated in 1829 from Jefferson Medical College, and specialized in ovarian tumors becoming perhaps the first physician in the world to perform an ovariotomy, and was a founder of the American Gynecological Society; and Dr. John L. Atlee (1875-1950), graduated the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1900. See the Lancaster City & County Medical Society's Our Medical Heritage: 1844-1994, (Chapter 25 "History of the Doctors Atlee Who Served the Lancaster Community 170 Years").