Philadelphia: World’s Medical Centre
- by guest blogger, Chrissie Perella, iSchool grad student and intern
extraordinaire
In the 1930s, Philadelphia was home to over 63 hospitals and medical schools.
A 1930 book entitled Philadelphia: World’s Medical Centre proudly
proclaimed: “This book typifies the tremendous growth of Philadelphia’s
institutions in the field of medical science and proves conclusively its right
to the title – World’s Medical Centre.” The entire book can be browsed
here (at Internet Archive)
where one can read about the “history of the outstanding achievements of
Philadelphia as a medical center.”
So what do some of these former hospitals and medical schools look like today?
With the help of tools such as HistoryPin and Google Maps, we can explore the
now and then. We’ve been plotting the hospitals and medical schools – it’s
exciting to see how much buildings and neighborhoods have changed in 80 years!
You can view our collection of hospitals on our
HistoryPin channel drexelmedarchives
and check it out – or view a
map at drexelmedarchives on Google. Below you’ll find some very familiar buildings, the way they once were.
Photo source: Hess, Wenzel J.
“Public Works-32150-0-.”
1931. Philadelphia City Archives. PhillyHistory.org. Philadelphia
Department of Records. 1 Jan. 2006
Drexel University’s Rush Building was formerly known as the Rush
Hospital for Consumption and Allied Diseases. The Rush Hospital was founded
in 1890 and operated until 1961, when Drexel University acquired the
building for its Institute of Technology.
See the then-and-now street view at HistoryPin
The famous
Mütter Museum
was once called the College of Physicians and Surgeons and is now known as
the Museum and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. This was actually
the sixth building the College occupied; it moved here in 1909. The College
continues to educate the public and medical professionals through its Museum
and Historical Medical Library.
See the then-and-now street view at HistoryPin
Page through Philadelphia: World's Medical Centre at Internet Archive
View the plotted locations of all the hospitals at Google Maps
Check out the past and present photos on HistoryPin