Jefferson Medical College - Clinic Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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lp' 5 R. WILLIAM HARVEY PERKINS has spent a good part of his life trying to better the lives of Jefferson J Q? 4 students. He l1as given his time, sympathy, and PVNJT ' philosophy to all. More remarkable than the nobility and unselfishness of his character is the breadth of his point of view. He has never lost the largeness of his visions in the urgency of the immediate task. He offered us mental sustenance and intellectual and emotional nourishment, which might have otherwise been denied. We are privileged to have studied under him, and consider him one of the great figures of our school. His logical mind and great command of facts rendered methods precise and widened our field of scientific thought. He led us to seek truths designed for the refinement of human life and medical and social advancement. Illness befell our beloved Dean, but with heroic fortitude he shared his secret with few and continued his exhausting and laborious duties. Not until the fall of 1950 did he finally admit defeat as far as public appearances were concerned. But his indomitable force of character refused to bow-and though retired from the active life of Dean, he remains as one of our professors. We, as students, rapidly and unhaltingly learned to understand the symmetry and warmth of his personality. He is a man possessed of immense vitality, humor, penetrating tenderness, and a strong belief in the personal worth of students. His appearance gives hint of his intellect and nobility of character-tall, distinguished, and ease of bearing. Thus it is for personal qualities as well as his lead- ership that we shall always remember Dean William Harvey Perkins --distinguished in appearance, eloquent orator, writer, magnetic in personality. 10

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EEIIHEE ALLEN BENNETI' AB MII 9

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WILLIAM HARVEY PERKINS , M.lJ DEAN 1941-1950 Professor of Preventive Medicine and Head of the Department 1941- 11