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V. A. Allen and Foster Fanning Potter Physicians' Account Books

An inventory of the collection) at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 4 Feb 2014

Biographical History

V. A. (Vine A.) Allen graduated from Castleton Medical College in 1833. As of 1877 he was a physician in Cleveland village, along with a D. T. Whyborn who was for a time his partner. He also served as postmaster for the village.

Dr. Foster Fanning Potter graduated from University Medical College in 1880. His father Asher Smith Potter (1805-1881) was one of the first village officers, being a trustee when the village was incorporated in 1857, and operated a tavern and later a store in Cleveland village. In addition to his medical work Dr. Potter was postmaster for the village of Constantia and served on the Board of Education for the Cleveland Union Free School, the only incorporated educational institution in Constantia.

Sources:
Fifty-Ninth Announcement of Castleton Medical College for the Annual Session 1860 with a Catalogue of the Alumni, 1860, p. 6
General Alumni Catalogue of New York University, 1833-1907: Medical Alumni, 1908, p. 280
History of Oswego County, New York, 1877, p. 291
Landmarks of Oswego County New York, 1895, pp. 283, 291, 497, 504, 508
Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-Sept. 30, 1971, National Archives and Records Administration

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The V. A. Allen and Foster Fanning Potter Physicians' Account Books consists of fourteen volumes detailing treatment of a wide range of medical ailments and conditions, including dates, fees, payments (including in-kind), medicines prescribed (unguents, ointments, liniments, drops, pills, etc.). Among their patients were workers at the American Glass Company and Union Glass Company, both of which are repeatedly credited with paying their employees' medical bills.

Entries of particular interest include a half a page of details regarding an operation on a hydrocephalic child (1889). At least one of the volumes includes Dr. Allen's supply orders: glassware, opium, morphine, spices, alcohol, etc. The final volume includes not only Dr. Potter's medical accounts but also records the sale of various "drugstore" materials such as tobacco, candy, soap, and so on.

Arrangement of the Collection

Chronological. Volume numbers have been assigned for each of identification.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

Special Collections Research Center has several collections of physicians' day books. Please search our collections to locate additional items of interest.

Subject Headings

Persons

Allen, V. A. (Vine A.)
Potter, Foster Fanning.

Subjects

Medicine -- Practice -- Accounting.
Physicians -- New York (State)

Places

Cleveland (N.Y.) -- History -- 19th century.
Constantia (N.Y. : Town) -- History -- 19th century.
Oswego County (N.Y.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genres and Forms

Account books.

Occupations

Pharmacists.
Physicians.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

V. A. Allen and Foster Fanning Potter Physicians' Account Books,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Purchase, 2014.

Table of Contents

Account books

Inventory