WHEREAS,
On May 20, 1856, Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter informed the College of Physicians of Philadelphia that he was retiring from teaching and wished to offer the guardianship of his personal museum to the College of Physicians as the “body best qualified by the character of its members and the nature of its pursuits for undertaking the trust.”
; and
WHEREAS,
As a popular professor of surgery at Jefferson Medical College, Mütter had amassed a unique and valuable collection of anatomical and pathological materials for use in his classes. Accompanying the collection would be an endowment of $30,000
; and
WHEREAS,
Mütter specified that the College must erect a suitable fire-proof building within five years of signing the agreement. Having long felt the need for its own facilities in order to accommodate its growing library, and acknowledging that Mütter’s museum would be a worthy and appropriate addition, the College signed the agreement with Dr. Mütter in 1859
; and
WHEREAS,
In 1871, the College decided that the museum should begin collecting obsolete medical instruments as well. These now constitute the major part of the museum’s acquisitions - items reflecting changes in the technology of medicine and memorabilia of present and past practitioners
; and
WHEREAS,
The College continued to purchase collections and accept donations for both its library and museum. This created a persistent need for more space, and in 1908 the College began construction on a new home on 22nd Street, between Chestnut and Market; and
WHEREAS, The Mutter Museum is world-renowned as a valuable resource for educating and enlightening the Public about the medical past, and telling important stories about what it means to be human, embodying the College of Physicians of Philadelphia’s mission to advance the cause of health and uphold the ideals and heritage of medicine, bringing great honor and pride to our great City of Philadelphia.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it honors and commends and thanks the mutter museum on the occasion of its 150th Anniversary.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Mutter Museum, further evidencing the admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.
End