Preserving a Precious Past: Pennsylvania Hospital’s Curator-Lead Archivist Talks Shop
Some may debate over whether or not Philadelphia deserves to be called “The City of Brotherly Love.” However, no one can contest that it has earned its rightful place in U.S. history as a "Birthplace of America.” Philly is chock-full of major historical sites and national “firsts.” Even the most historically challenged know about the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and – thanks to Sylvester Stallone’s emblematic run up its front steps in Rocky – the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Another less well-known – but equally as important – historical gem is Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) — which celebrated its 263rd birthday on May 11, 2014.
For those who don’t know, PAH is our nation’s first hospital founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond to care for the “sick-poor and insane of Philadelphia.”
While other hospitals may try to make this claim, the fact remains that PAH is the first true “hospital” of the original 13 American colonies; An institution created to actually treat patients, including the mentally ill (unheard of at the time) and not just board people like in an almshouse.
Stacey C. Peeples, curator-lead archivist at Pennsylvania Hospital, shown here in the hospital’s temperature-controlled Archives Room. Peeples is holding a volume of the hospital’s Board of Manager Meeting Minutes from the 18th century.
PAH remained open during the Revolutionary War when the British occupied Philadelphia. It remained open through the city’s devastating Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793, and the tumultuous Civil War years. Teams of PAH physicians and nurses were deployed to the front lines of both World War I and II and when HIV/AIDS emerged in the early 1980s, PAH was one of the few hospitals in Philadelphia treating its victims.
If only those walls could talk… walls that were built before the advent of indoor plumbing, gas light or electricity (but now have Wi-Fi) surely have much to say. But since walls can’t talk, it is up to one real, live person to preserve the hospital’s precious past and share its extensive medical history: Pennsylvania Hospital Curator-Lead Archivist, Stacey C. Peeples.
Q. Your position as the curator and lead archivist of our nation’s first hospital is certainly a unique one. What is your educational background and how did you prepare for such a career path?
A. I have both my BA (Rider University) and MA (American University) in History, so I’m a trained historian. My concentration has always been up to the Civil War period. I was an intern at the NJ State Archives as an undergraduate, and was an intern at the National Archives in DC during graduate school. It was while I was interning at the National Archives that I was introduced to just the incredible variety that existed in a career in Archives. In addition to reference work (answering questions for researchers, pulling material for researchers, working with collections), I was introduced to “outreach.” I always knew I wanted to be an educator, but didn’t want to be in a classroom full time. Outreach allowed me to fulfill that interest. Outreach can include providing presentations, hosting classes for archival instruction, and providing tours, etc.
Q. How did you come to work at PAH?
A. As a graduate student, I found myself fascinated by epidemics and people’s response to those epidemics. So I was drawn to the medical aspect of history.
Prior to coming to Pennsylvania Hospital, I worked at Princeton University’s Seely G. Mudd Manuscript Library where I assisted in processing the Bill Bradley Papers, oversaw photographic reproduction requests, put together small exhibits, and assisted researchers. It was a fabulous first job out of school because my co-workers were so wonderful about allowing me to try different things, to learn more and more about working in the archives field.
Q. Is there something about your position you think would surprise people?
A. I am not paid out of the Hospital’s operations budget. My position is generously funded annually by the First Hospital Foundation. Funding for all of my projects — cleaning paintings or frames, exhibitions, conservation of books, etc., comes solely from donations or grants.
Q. So what are the job responsibilities of a “curator-lead archivist”?
A. I like to tell people I’m the good will ambassador of the hospital. My job is to preserve the history and to educate people about the history. I oversee our historic collections, which consist of: the manuscript collection, materials that describe the history of the hospital from the 1740’s to the present; the rare books in the Historic Library; the fine art that is distributed around the Pine Building; antique furniture; ephemera; medical instruments; and photographs. Additionally, I manage the tour program and our tour guides, provide presentations to interested groups both internally and externally, represent Pennsylvania Hospital on committees both internally and externally, manage five wonderful adult volunteers, and provide backup assistance to the modern Medical Library.
I initiated and coordinate an annual History of Women’s Health Conference, which focuses on areas of women’s health from the 18th century to the present. This year we held our ninth conference, which is free and open to the public. I started the conference as part of Pennsylvania Hospital’s celebration of Benjamin Franklin’s tercentenary, or what would have been his 300th birthday. The conference features scholars from the humanities and health care professionals who come together for a lively discussion of the past, present, and future of women’s health. We’re very excited about our tenth Conference coming up in the spring of 2015 and are planning something special.
I also write grants and manage the Friends of the Historic Collections and curate our annual exhibition in the Historic Library. I consult with other historic sites in the area when requested, and oversee the conservation of all hospital collections, when needed.
Q. Why is a position like yours important?
A. It is incredibly important to preserve our history, as well as to understand it. My job is to both take care of the actual physical objects, but also to help people understand the history of health care, and specifically, the history of Pennsylvania Hospital. People can be very negative about health care – but you need to have perspective. No matter how noble a cause, health care has always been a business. There is a bottom line. There are rules, and regulations – albeit different ones today – but they weren’t just invented with managed care. The debate over who “deserves” health care is part of our founding — not something that occurred a decade ago. You need to understand what has happened in the past to learn, and do better in the future.
Q. What do you enjoy the most about your job?
A. I really love working with researchers. I always learn so much and I love introducing them to a source they were not aware of, or showing them a collection that hadn’t thought of using. I enjoy providing tours too. I love to watch the expression on people’s faces when they see the Historic Library or the Amphitheatre for the first time. I have moments when I feel so lucky to be here. It might sound corny, but truly, it is a privilege that we have this amazing collection and that we have the Pine Building, including our beautiful grounds. I’m not making it up when I say Benjamin Franklin walked here, or that Dr. Benjamin Rush saw patients right here —probably in my office! It’s important also for people to understand that Pennsylvania Hospital’s Pine building is not a stuffy museum. Every inch of it is used to this day and its historic highlights are open to the public. No job is 100 percent perfect, but I have no complaints. I get to do something I love each day – and you can’t ask for more than that.
Today, PAH, a part of Penn Medicine, is an acute care facility that provides a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic medical services, and a major teaching and clinical research institution. On the fringe of the city’s grid when it first opened, PAH’s campus currently now extends from 7th to 9th Streets, and Pine to Walnut Street.
Learn more about PAH’s past by visiting the History of Pennsylvania Hospital website. To become a member of the Friends of the Historic Collections, please contact hospital Curator and Lead Archivist, Stacey Peeples at (215) 829-5434 or stacey.peeples@uphs.upenn.edu.