Patrick Coad family papers, 1798-1880 (MC 37)

...Coad, undated Patrick Coad (1783-1872), an Irish immigrant who settled in Philadelphia, was the first patentee of a graduated galvanic battery with insulated poles. Touting his battery among other uses as an instrument that helped cure various diseases, Coad’s invention attracted a good deal of attention within the scientific and

Continue reading

Robert M. O’Reilly papers, 1862-1925 (MC 34)

...units during the Spanish-American War. He also served as a delegate at the International Conference for the Revision of the Geneva Convention in Geneva in 1906. During his time as surgeon general, O’Reilly made significant improvements by elevating the status and personnel of the army medical corps and furthering medical

Continue reading
Portrait photograph of Robert M. O'Reilly, circa 1870

A lengthy and active military career

...y dull moments during his career as it coincided with several national and international wars and conflicts. O'Reilly's career began in 1862 when he interrupted his medical studies at the University of Pennsylvania to enlist as a medical cadet during the Civil War. A good deal of correspondence in the

Continue reading

Digital Collections

Digital Collections CHRC has a large number of items that have been digitized through various digitization projects, partnerships, patron research requests, and social media initiatives. We endeavor to provide standardized descriptive practices and open access to this growing collection over the web. CHRC's Omeka site features a growing set of

Continue reading