Washington Medical College of Baltimore, established 1826-39
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Lecturers:
James H.
Miller, Samuel K. Jennings, William W. Handy, John C. S. Monker,
Edward Foreman, John R. W. Dunbar, Washington R. Handy
In 1833 the college obtained an independent
charter from the legislature of Maryland In 1838 it erected a
building on north Broadway being a part of that now occupied by the
Church Home and Infirmary This building was used both as a general
and Marine Hospital and as a place for medical teaching In its new
location the college prospered for a time A new charter was obtained
from the legislature which gave it the title of Washington
University with authority to annex to itself the faculty of law
divinity arts and sciences The latter authority was never exercised
but the Washington University continued until 1849 t0 conduct its
work in its building on North Broadway At that time its location was
so far from the center of population in the city that it was decided
by its faculty to abandon the Broadway site and to locate on the
northeast corner of Lombard and Hanover streets A building long
known as the New Assembly Rooms was erected by the University and
occupied for several years when financial embarrassment overtook the
faculty and brought about a suspension of the university work for
the next fifteen years After an existence of 24 years during which
time it had enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity the active work of
the institution was brought to an unfortunate end
In 1867 Dr Edward Warren afterward
distinguished as a surgeon in the Egyptian army and a few of his
associates secured the old charter of Washington University and
reorganized a medical college which found a location in a large
building on the northeast corner of Calvert and Saratoga streets now
occupied by the new building of the College of Physicians and
Surgeons An appropriation was obtained from the State which enabled
the reorganized university to secure a hospital and other facilities
for medical instruction In its new location it enjoyed for several
years good classes of students and an appearance of prosperity
In 1872 owing to disagreement in its faculty
Dr Warner resigned and in association with several prominent
physicians in this city organized the College of Physicians and
Surgeons which in the spring of 1877 took over the property and
franchises of the Washington University and put an end to the
latter's checkered career The College of Physicians and Surgeons was
incorporated under the general laws of Maryland with the following
names as corporators Edward Warren MD professor of surgery Thos Opie
MD professor of obstetrics John S Lynch MD professor of principles
and practice of medicine WW Murray MD professor of materia medica
etc Peter Goolrich MD professor of medical jurisprudence and
toxicology
Its first course of lectures began in October
1872 in the New Assembly Rooms Numerous changes in its faculty were
made in the first years of its life Dr Warren a moving spirit in its
organization soon resigned to accept a high position in the service
of the Khedive of Egypt In attendance upon its first course of
lectures were forty two students of whom eighteen were graduated at
the end of the session In 1874 the Maternite was opened on Lombard
street the first lying in hospital ever established in Maryland
The taking over of the franchise and property
of the Washington University in 1877 at once placed the College of
Physicians and Surgeons on a successful and permanent basis.
Its faculty was privately reorganized and greatly strengthened by
numerous resignations and additions Zeal energy and co operation
characterized its teaching staff its property interests were
strengthened and a spirt of progress soon placed the institution in
the front rank of the medical schools in this country a position
which it now holds The College of Physicians and Surgeons now owns a
valuable college building located on the site of the old Washington
University at the northwest corner of Calvert and Saratoga streets
connected with the Mercy Hospital under the management of the
Sisters of Mercy one of the largest and most up to date hospitals in
the country The College has large classes of students and is
equipped with every facility for medical teaching It has graduated
hundreds of physicians who occupy useful and distinguished positions
in the medical profession It has contributed an honorable fame to
Baltimore as a center of medical education.
