A Medley of Memorabilia
Portrait of Samuel D. Gross, MD
An Unknown Instrument
An Intubation Case
A Jefferson Photograph Album
Histories of Jefferson Medical College
A Silver Tray from India
The John Scott Medal
Colored Glass Medicine Bottles
Founders' Medal
A Set of Oral Specula
A Napoleonic Wine Bottle
Manual of Military Surgery
Portrait of Samuel D. Gross, MD. |
Portrait of Samuel D. Gross, MD
An 1828 graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Samuel D. Gross (1805-1884) served as Professor of Surgery at Jefferson from 1856-1882. Considered one of the finest surgeons of his time, Gross was the first alumnus to be appointed to a professorship at Jefferson. After serving on Jefferson’s faculty for twenty-five years Gross resigned in March of 1882. He retained the title of Emeritus Professor of Surgery until his death on 6 May 1884 in Philadelphia.
During the nineteenth century, studios produced thousands of cabinet cards, such as the one featured here, each day. While often of private individuals, studios also sold photographs of popular figures. The image itself was produced either as an albumen print from a wet collodian negative or by a paper print process such as gelatin silver or salted prints. The photograph was then mounted on a board for stability.
This portrait is an example of the portraits preserved in the University Archives and Special Collections' Art/Photo Collection. Many of the images in the Art/Photo Collection have been digitized and placed online as part of the Philadelphia Historical Digital Image Library (PHDIL).