Samuel Gibson Dixon papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: ANSP-Coll-0241

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Samuel Gibson Dixon Papers include correspondence from, to, or copied to Samuel Gibson Dixon, who was President of the Academy of Natural Sciences from 1891-1918. A large chunk of this correspondence pertains to the discussion of renovations being made to the Academy building, most particularly building a new library, and the collection includes continuous conversation between Dixon, The Snead & Co. Iron Works, the Otis Elevator Company, Wilson, Harris & Richards (architects), Herbert Havens (contractor and builder) and countless other electric and gas companies. Several times the letters are accompanied by blue prints or contracts. Correspondence also includes letters from several Pennsylvania departments of government in relation to the construction, and the bills that accompanied the work being done. Besides the construction work, Dixon's letters are of a general scientific nature. Biographical details are included in the form of obituary news clippings. The correspondence are arranged alphabetically by last name.

Signers: Allen, Harrison, n. d.; Baen, G. F. (2) 1902; Brinton, J. B. 1893; Chance, H. M. 1912; Dalziel, John, 1894; Davis, G. M. 1892; Dixon, S. G. (5) 1912; Fowler, H, W. 1893 ?; Glenny, W. H. 1896; Hall, James (3) 1894; Hamilton, S. H. (3) 1896-1904; Harris, E. D. (2) 1905; Harris, G. D. (2) 1893-94; Harrison, G. L. 1902; Heilprin, Angelo (2) 1892; Higgins, H. T. 1894; Hoffman, M. S. 1897; Hoffman, W. J. (2) 1895; Howard, L. 0. 1896; Hubbert, H. H. 1895; Irurio, Allen, n. d.; Irwin, Allen (2) 1904;

Jefferis, W. W. 1894; Kajeunnofl, W. 1895; Keeley, I?. J. (2) 1912; Kenyon, F. C, (3) 1896; King, J. B. S. 1905; Kingsbry, J. So 1896; Lambert, J. H. (4) 1904; Letson, J. E. (3) 1896; Liebeck, Charles, 1893; McElroy, Clayton, 1912; McGregor, J. H. 1903; Machette, H. Q. 1893; McMichal, J. P. 1912; Mann, C. M. 1812; Mason, John, Jr. 1893; Mason, 0. W. 1894; Meehan, Thos. 1892; Meek, S. E. 1895; Melnikoff, Michel, 1896; Mercer, H. C. n. d.; Mercer, F. T. 1912; Miller, L. W. 1894;

Montgomery, T. L. 1893; Moore, C. J. 1896; Moore, C. B. (6) 1893-97; Moore, J. P. (3) 1912; Morris, Benj. 1905; Morris, Harrison S. 1896; Morse, A. P. 1892; Mott, J. L. 1912; Nolan, E. J. (4) 1895-1913; Palmer, T. C. 1912; Pennell, H. Y. (2) 1893; Pilsbry, H. A. 1903; Prentiss, A. H. 1893; Putnam, F, W. (2) 1893-94; Raker, ( ~ r s . )H . 1895; Rehder, Louis E. 1892; Reinicke, W, R. 1894; Rhoads, S. N. (2) 1894; Ridenour, C. E. 1893; Rothermel, P. F., Jr. 1893; Ruschenberger, W. S. W. (7) 1893-95;

Schaffer, (Mrs.) Chas. 1904; Schlechter, R. 1904; Sharp, Benj, 1901; Skinner, Henry (4) 1895-1905; Snyder, E. W. 1905; Starr, G. E. (2) 1892-1912; Stiles, C. W. 1893; Stone, Witmer (2) 1893; Taylor, (Mrs.) H. P. (2) 1895; True, F, W. (2) 1893-94; Vaux, George, Jr. (6) 1892-1895; Visjewnidoff, Al. 1895; Voorhees, F. M. n. d.; Walker, C. T. 1904; Wamsley, F. W. 1896; Watts, H. M. 1896; Wiches, W. H. 1904; Willcox, Joseph (4) 1893-1904; Williamson, L. A. (2) 1904-05; Willoughby, H. L. (2) 1903; Wilson, Thomas (3) 1894; Wilson, W. P. 1894; Woodward, J. A. 1892.

Dates

1892-1918

Biographical / Historical

Samuel Gibson Dixon was born in Philadelphia on March 23, 1851. Delayed by health issues, he eventually attended the Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia and then went on to practice law for ten years. His frequent health problems and physical breakdowns forced him to leave law and enter the field of investigative medicine. He graduated in this field from the University of Pennsylvania with honors at age 35. An attack of typhoid fever threatened his health once again, forcing him to visit Europe, but he soon became well and upon his return was made the first Professor of Hygiene at the University of Pennsylvania in 1888. In subsequent years, Dixon discovered the branched form of tuberculosis, leading him to publish several papers on prevention and treatment of the disease.

In 1889 he was made the Professor of Sanitary Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania but left fairly quickly to accept the position of Professor of Bacteriology at the Academy of Natural Sciences. He was then made Executive Curator, and eventually became President of the Academy in 1891, a position he held until his death in 1918.

Dixon became Pennsylvania's first Commissioner of Health in 1905. Prior to this, he had been a member of the Philadelphia Board of Education. Dixon held many titles during his life, among which were member of the Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, the American School Hygiene Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Infant Mortality, the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He served as the director of the Wistar Institute of Anatomy of the University of Pennsylvania, and was a fellow of the College of Physicians and the American Association of the Advancement of Science. Dixon was also a founder of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia.

Dixon worked very hard in his position as Commisioner of Health and was completely devoted to it, employing many doctors, physicians and other health professionals in order to keep Pennsylvania as safe as possible. His goal was to make the department accessible to the people and at their command for their individual safety and for the safety of the community. Due to his special interest in tuberculosis, Dixon was able to convince the governor of Pennsylvania of the need for a large scale attack against the disease, winning $1 million for the Health Department. During Dixon's tenure the decreasing death rate and slow disappearance of common diseases in Pennsylvania at the time proved the success of his department.

Dixon held the position of Commissioner up until the day he died on February 26, 1918 at the age of 66.