New York State Library
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Samuel Baldwin Ward
Papers, 1853-1935

SC17168

Quantity: 3 boxes (1.0 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Gift, Dr. Erastus Corning, August 1978
Processed By: Manuscripts and Special Collections, 1978; revised June 2013

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Biographical Note:

Samuel Baldwin Ward was born in New York City on June 8, 1842, the son of Lebbeus Baldwin Ward and Abby Dwight Partridge Ward. He graduated from Columbia College in 1861. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Willard Parker and, in 1861 and 1862, attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City. In 1862 he was appointed a medical cadet in the Union army. While stationed in Washington he resumed studies in the medical department of Georgetown University and was awarded the doctor's degree of that institution in 1864.

After the war Dr. Ward spent a year in study in Europe and then established himself in practice in New York City, where he was a professor of anatomy and surgery at the Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary. In 1876, Dr. Ward moved to Albany, New York, where he practiced medicine until almost the end of his life.

Ward served as president of the New York State Medical Society and was, for nearly 40 years, a member of the faculty of the Albany Medical College. He also served as president of the trustees of the Dudley Observatory and was a charter member of both the Fort Orange and Albany Camera clubs. 

On October 10, 1871, Ward married Nina A. Wheeler, daughter of William A. Wheeler of New York City; they had three children: Nina P., Annie W., and Samuel Dwight. Mrs. Ward died October 19, 1883. Ward then married Grace Fitz-Randolph Schenck, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Noah Schenck of Brooklyn, April 29, 1897. Ward died in Albany, New York, on June 3, 1915

Scope and Content Note:

This series of papers consists chiefly of letters addressed to Dr. Ward, relative to his professional career as a medical doctor and researcher from 1860 to 1915.  His correspondents include a number of prominent individuals in the medical profession at the time as well as officials in state government. These papers also include a biographical sketch of Ward, memorials to Ward, certificates of appointment, honoraria, case histories, and speeches by Ward. Of particular note are letters and reports concerning capital punishment by means of electrocution at Auburn and Sing Sing prisons, along with commentary of Dr. Carlos MacDonald on the execution of William Kemmler, the first person to die in the electric chair in New York State. Also of note is a collection of pictures of famous medical professionals, and a cabinet-card photograph of William R. Johnson, an African-American statesman from Albany.

Box and Folder List:

Box Folder Description
1 1 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, n.d. (26 items)
1 2 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1860-1869 (7 items)
1 3 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1870-1874 (14 items)
1 4 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1875-1879 (23 items)
1 5 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1880-1885 (5 items)
1 6 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1886 (24 items)
1 7 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1887-1889 (26 items)
1 8 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1890-1894 (24 items)
1 9 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1895-1899 (21 items)
1 10 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1900-1902 (25 items)
1 11 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1903-1904 (29 items)
1 12 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1905 (20 items)
1 13 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1906-1909 (22 items)
1 14 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1910-1912 (26 items)
1 15 Letters to Samuel B. Ward, 1913-1915 (22 items)
1 16 Letters from Fordyce Barker, 1886-1890 (10 items)
1 17 Letters from Martin H. Glynn, 1913-1915 (7 items)
1 18 Letters from  Abraham Jacobi, ca. 1886-1904 (21 items)
1 19 Letters from Edward G. and Theodore Janeway, ca. 1909-1912 (6 items)
1 20 Letters from Alfred L. Loomis, ca. 1887-1888 (6 items)
1 21 Letters from Dr. Carlos MacDonald, 1889-1913 (16 items)
1 22 Letters from Dr. William Osler, ca. 1900-1905 (6 items)
1 23 Letters from William Parker, 1869-1879 (4 items)
1 24 Letters from D.B. St. John Roosa, 1883-1900 (22 items)
1 25 Letters from Dr. M. Allen Starr, 1877-1896 (4 items)
1 26 Letters from George M. Sternberg, 1886-1912 (5 items)
1 27 Letters from Edward L. Trudeau, ca. 1896-1912 (7 items)
1 28 Letter from Mevil Dewey, State Library, Albany, N.Y., November 11, 1901 (TLS, 1 item)
2 1 Cartoon: Going Up for Final Examination, n.d. (1 item)
2 2 A Biographical Sketch of the Late Prof. Samuel Baldwin Ward M.D., Ph.D., of Albany, N.Y. by Willis G. Tucker (printed: 17 p.) (2 items)
2 3 Obituaries and eulogies of  Dr. S.B. Ward, 1915 (20 items)
2 4 Letters of sympathy to Mrs. Ward, ca. 1915 (20 items)
2 5 Acceptances and regrets to attend a reception to meet members of the Medical Society of the State of New York, 1889 (27 items)
2 6 Acceptances and regrets to attend a reception to meet members of the Medical Society of the State of New York, 1889 (cont.) (25 items)
2 7 Acceptances and regrets to attend a reception to meet members of the Medical Society of the State of New York, 1889 (cont.) (36 items)
2 8 Letters to F. H. Bosworth relative to acceptances and regrets to attend a dinner in honor of Dr. Ward, 1876 (63 items)
2 9 Speeches and addresses given by Samuel Ward, ca. 1858-1914 (5 items)
2 10 Speeches and addresses given by Samuel Ward, ca. 1858-1914 (2 items)
2 11 Medical research and case histories, ca. 1875 (6 items)
2 12 Certificates of appointment and other honoraria, 1876-1914 (11 items)
2 13 Letters relative to appointments and resignations of Dr. S.B. Ward, ca. 1874-1882 (22 items)
2 14 Letters relative to appointments and resignations of Dr. S.B. Ward, ca. 1897-1914 (20 items)
2 15 Papers re: capital punishment by electrocution at Auburn and Sing Sing prisons (15 items)
  1. Schihiok Jugigo [spelled several ways] (executed July 7, 1891)
  2. William Kemmler (executed August 6, 1890)
  3. Martin D. Loppy (executed December 7, 1891)
  4. James Martel [Martell]
  5. Charles McElvaine (executed February 8, 1892)
  6. James J Slocum (executed July 7, 1891)
  7. Harris A. Smiler (executed July 7, 1891)
  8. Joseph Wood (executed July 7, 1891)
2 16 Memorandum relative to New York State Survey, 1887 (1 item)
2 17 Report of study on Narcotics, Samuel B. Ward, 1858 (1 item)
2 18 Letters to Dr. Erastus Corning, ca. 1931-1935 (4 items)
3 1 Invitations, tickets, passes, etc. ca. 1853-1894 (18 items)
  1. Fifty-seventh commencement, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Medical Department of Columbia College, 1864
  2. Inauguration ceremonies of the new building, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1894
  3. Columbia College, 1853
  4. New York Hospital, 1862
  5. Georgetown College, 1863-1864
  6. College of Physician and Surgeons, 1861-1862
  7. Faculté de Médecine de Paris, ca. 1866-1867
3 2 Photographs (cabinet cards) (2 items)
  1. William Henry Johnson (Sterry & Co., Albany, N.Y.)
  2. A.H. Ryela [?] – signature hard to decipher (Pach Bros. New York)
3 3 Prints: the images, for the most part, are prints from magazines, ca. 1890-1925 (ca, 28 items)
  1. John Abernethy (1764-1831)
  2. Richard Bayley (1745-1801)
  3. Arthur Cayley Pusey
  4. Austin Flint, Sr.
  5. Abraham Jacobi (2 images)
  6. Edward Gamaliel Janeway
  7. Sir James Mackenzie (1853-1925)
  8. Jacob Mendez da Costa
  9. S. Weir Mitchell
  10. Florence Nightingale
  11. William Osler (2 images)
  12. A.D. Streight [?] – signature hard to decipher
  13. Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689)
  14. E.L. Trudeau [?] – torn
3 4 Miscellaneous manuscript material, ca. 1860-1890 (11 items)
3 5 Printed material, ca. 1895 (2 items)
3 6 Newspaper clippings, ca. 1860-1880 (ca. 50 items)
Last Updated: January 31, 2022