Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons - P and S Yearbook (New York, NY)

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f . '. lv LI X 4 4 1 5 1, ni! L 1 v fb. Q . I X 4 , . if H V PM VZ I VV, no--1 yer Y- ' T' C YF, '1.-..-v--v-v I il' I .. n L W n + ni - I - 1 1 z s 1 1 3 ' g e n n . F 1 N 1 , N 1- ., ,. -v1- -- '-' V X ' ' V' 'LW ' ' 7? 1 P' 4 ,hex .XL-. .. .. e 1- ,--X - J '-J -9 5 gla , 1 Sf P2 .... .-..--r-- 1,1-.1-1... 55 f.-N '- f ' .fb if T .- 5 F 1 Q i sv. 4.515 .I The entrance to the College of Physicians and Surgeons on January 3, 1927

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old Potter's field cemetary. and such anatomical specimens could only be secured by uncertain, illegal and often dangerous nocturnal expeditions. Understandably. in 1819. when the College moved to Barclay Street. for the safety and convenience of the College, an additional building, to answer the purpose ofa stable and an entrance, were built in the rear. There is no doubt that this rear entrance and stable were built for the safety and convenience of resurrectionist expeditions in the interest of the Anatomy department. In 1856, the College moved into a four story brick building on 23rd street and 4th Avenue, where it remained for thirty-one years fFig. 31. This period encompassed three important milestones in the history of Figures 7 lrightl, 8 lbelow, lefty, and 9 lbelow, rightl ? '-il , gn. 1. lr nl Q. ' affix T AT- , f. , '-25 1,1551 ' 1 I VP i 1 in In K -sis Ji- . '. ' .. 'g .,A' ,x fig' by L S e fl Q i' .' ', 6. ,pill c., W' Q- F., n,X, ,fo .4 l 1-N-'ww ,,. l gy 1 '1 - fi if PL ' bw n 1 . Q1 5 .' ' N ' Aug. l.,',C- fgg. fel., . 7 1.-1 i: s ' fa 'tl N F ' tri' 1 i . 1 I it.-:lZb 1:'WQ, ,. 4 H V' m if fffjpzpiinlf' 3 -4 ' ? : , gtrk- r! g, .- 1' 'A rs .' - --. - -- . 1.!.x 'gl Yi P25-? , 1 -.l . M il 3. il ig' ' 5 'J . lg . X .W l 1 1 . I the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Two ofthese were discussed earlier: namely the 1860 agreement under which the College became independent ofthe Regents, and became the Medical Department of Columbia College. and the rapid rise in the importance and prominence ofthe College Clinics begun. in 1841, by Dr. Parker, with the establishment ofthe new teaching grade ofClinical Professors. Lastly, under the active leadership of President Edward Delafield. the Alumni Association ofthe College of Physicians and Surgeons was established in 1859 for promoting good feeling and harmony among the graduates ofthe College and to exercise, in a variety of ways. a beneficial influence. In 1884, William H. Vanderbilt decided. with the influence of his friend and physician. James W. McLane. Professor of Obstetrics. to give substantial aid to the effort to create in New York one ofthe first medical schools in the world . He chose to support the College of 28 -I Physicians and Surgeons because it was the oldest medical school in the state, and of equal rank with any in the world. In October 1884, he gave the College the deed to the land enclosed between 9th and 10th Avenues. and 59th and 60th Streets, with a check for three-hundred thousand dollars for building expenses: In all. a gift of half ofa million dollars. However, W. Vanderbilt never lived to see his project completed: he died in December 1885 ofa massive stroke. The College building cornerstone was laid in April 1886, and the building was inaugurated in September 1887 tFigs. 4 and 55. The building consisted of three connected structures: namely, a main building, . . . containing offices, museums, study and recitation rooms. professors' rooms. and the department ofpractical Anatomy lFig. 6l1 a middle building occupying the central part ofthe grounds. in which are the main stairway hall. the lecture hall, the amphitheatre. and the rear stairway: and a north building or laboratory wing. . . . containing thejanitor's quarters, the chemical laboratories, and the laboratories

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ofthe Alumni Association . . . Outside . . . are the boiler house, and a one-story laboratory annex and nearby a carriage house, with rooms on the second floor for the accomodation of employees. Moreover, two marble tablets were placed in the main entrance ofthe building. The tablet placed on the west side ofthe vestibule listed the different locations ofthe College since its foundation, and the tablet placed on the east side ofthe vestibule bore the inscription This College was chartered by the Regents of the University ofthe State of New York, March 12th, 1807. and was Co-instituted the Medical Department of Columbia College, June 6th, 1860. Presently, these marble tablets are located in the latest location ofthe College fFig. 71. After Vanderbilt's death, his family decided to commemorate him and supplement his original gift. Guided by Dr. McLane, they founded two new institutions for the College. In January, 1886, less than a month after Vanderbilt's death, his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Sloane, donated the funds needed for the building and endowment of the Sloane Maternity Hospital CFig. 81. In April 1886, Vanderbilt's four sons donated the funds for the building, endowment and subsequent, expansion ofthe Vanderbilt Clinic, built to house the very busy College Clinics tFig. 91. Excavations for these buildings began in 1886, and both were inaugurated in December 1887. In 1928, the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center opened its doors as the world's first medical center, combining in a single complex complete facilities for patient care, medical education and research. As a fertile ground for investigation and clinical advancement, Columbia has since then occupied a position of leadership in world medicine. Presently, the medical center has a teaching staff of more than 2,000, a bed capacity of 1,500, and is served by a staff of approximately 950 attending physicians, a house staff body of 400 physicians, and close to 6,000 hospital employees. In retrospect, the College of Physicians and Surgeons has certainly come a long way since 1767, when a six man faculty began instructing a class ofthree students in the most useful and necessary branches of medicine. The Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center under construction tAugust 27, 19261 30 1 , .gg . I 'H-.... iff V81 kim,