Anson Colman papers
Biographical/Historical note
Anson Colman (1795-1837), one of the earliest medical practitioners to settle in Rochesterville, received his medical training in his native town of Richfield Springs, NY. He joined Dr. John B. Elwood in the village of Rochester about 1817. In 1819 he married Cath(e)rine, seventh child of Sophia and Nathaniel Rochester, Rochester's founding father. Her sister Sophia married Jonathan Child, who became Rochester's first mayor (1834). Dr. Colman was influential in establishing a county medical society in 1821. In 1832 a cholera epidemic in Montreal and New York alarmed Rochester's citizens, and Dr. Colman was sent to Montreal to observe the best methods of treating the disease. His studies there, and later at Boston, Philadelphia, Paris and London, made him perhaps the best-informed doctor in the village. For two years he lectured at the Geneva Medical College.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes family letters of Mr. and Mrs. Anson Colman, those from Dr. Colman being written from Boston, Paris, London, etc., describing his medical studies, and those from Mrs. Colman being written from Rochester and points in New England and New York, describing family matters and events at home. The letters have not been indexed.
Creator
- Colman, Anson, 1795-1837 (Person)
- Colman, Catherine Rochester (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1824-1835
Language of Materials
English
Extent
1 box(es) (42 letters, 2 cards)
Access
The Anson Colman Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Mrs. Margaret B. Sherman (a granddaughter of the Colmans), September-October 1935.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Anson Colman Papers, A.C71, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
General
In folder 1, there are 8 letters of correspondence between Dr. Colman and his wife. 3 of these have been transcribed in the Rochester Historical Society Publications, v. 21, 1943.
Subject
- Colman, Anson, 1795-1837 (Person)
- Colman, Catherine Rochester (Person)
- Title
- Anson Colman papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library
