Thomas Henry Howard Manuscript Account Book, 1860-1868, Ms.2019.007

Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

AnnRea Fowler, Student Assistant and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist

Abstract

The Thomas Henry Howard Manuscript Account Book was written by Dr. Thomas Henry Howard, a doctor in Floyd, VA who served as a Confederate doctor. The book is filled with names of patients, the services performed, and the payment received for each entry before, during, and after the Civil War.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Thomas Henry Howard Manuscript Account Book must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Thomas Henry Howard Manuscript Account Book , Ms2019-007, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Thomas Henry Howard Manuscript Account Book was purchased by Special Collections in 2018.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Thomas Henry Howard Manuscript Account Book was completed in February 2019.

Biographical Note

The native born Virginian Dr. Thomas Henry Howard (1834-1910) graduated in March 1861 from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and save for his wartime service as a Confederate surgeon, he practiced exclusively in Floyd County, Virginia. His wartime service included acting assistant surgeon in Lynchburg hospitals in 1862, assistant surgeon with the 14th Va. Infantry in 1863, and acting assistant surgeon with the 30th Virginia Infantry in 1864. He was likely married to Fanny Irene Johnston in 1874.

Scope and Content

The Thomas Henry Howard Manuscript Account Book is filled with names of patients and the services performed and the payment received for each entry before, during, and after the Civil War. Dr. Howard's entries include the names of his patients, date of services and fees charged together with short descriptions of medical services rendered. Services included visits and medicines, "cupping", "strenthening plaster", dressing wounds, attending pregnant women - "attending wife in parturition", delivery of children "Tending wife in childbirth", Tobacco, and cutting gums. Medical treatment was also administered to local slaves as when Dr. Howard charged Fleming Howery $2.00 "For medical attendance on Negroe child of James Ferguson estate". Post-war African-American patients are noted by the addition of the word "colored" in parenthesis after their names.