Rush Family Papers, Yellow Fever, 1793

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Rush Family Papers, Yellow Fever, 1793

This bound volume contains incoming correspondence to Doctor Benjamin Rush regarding the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia. Letters are written by a variety of Philadelphians, many seeking treatment or aid in identifying symptoms of Yellow Fever. Some letters contain graphic descriptions of symptoms.

In 1869 Benjamin Rush’s son James bequeathed to the Library Company all the family papers in his possession, including those of his father.  Sometime in the late 19th century, Library Company staff arranged all the letters and loose papers in several series and mounted them in scrapbook volumes. This volume is one of 45 similar ones in the Benjamin Rush section of the Rush Family Papers.

Finding aid for Rush family papers, 1748-1876, Library Company of Philadelphia.