John Ridlon papers, 1846-1936 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Ridlon, John, 1852-1936
Abstract:
John Ridlon was a physician, surgeon, and professor specializing in orthopedic medicine, with a focus on pediatrics, practicing in New York State and Chicago, Illinois. Collection consists of medical case files and casebooks; articles and papers; correspondence; ephemera; diplomas; photographs in the form of prints, negatives, and glass plates; and medical illustrations. Accompanying the papers is a set of 118 black-and-white images from a medical-military training camp in Plattsburgh, N.Y. around 1916. There are also a handful of photographic portraits of Ridlon. Correspondents include: R. Osgood, A. Steindler, P.D. Wilson, R.K. Ghormley, J.E. Goldthwait, A.B. Judson, R.W. Lovett, H.W. Orr, S.W. Mitchell, and H. Cushing. Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.
Extent:
8.0 Linear Feet (29 boxes; 2 oversize folders)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.01092

Background

Scope and content:

Collection documents John Ridlon's medical career and consists of medical case files, casebooks, articles and papers, correspondence, photographic materials, diplomas and ephemera, and medical illustrations relating to Ridlon's research and writings on orthopedics. Case files - a large majority of them pediatric - include tubercular infection of the joints, scoliosis and other deformities, spondylitis (spinal arthritis), and limb or joint injuries. There are hundreds of medical illustrations in the form of photographs mounted on card stock, photographic prints of early X-rays, and printed illustrations on loose sheets that show patients, symptoms or deformities, and treatments such as surgery, braces and casts; many of them were used by Ridlon in his published works.

Among the bound volumes are six casebooks (1889-1892); four letterbooks (1873-1903); an autograph manuscript, "Some comments on the principles and practice of Hugh Owen Thomas" (undated); a scrapbook of figures and illustrations (undated); three volumes composed of reprint clippings and manuscript notes (undated); and a bound volume of 88 reprints (1888-1923). There are also many diplomas and certificates received by Ridlon from various educational institutions.

Correspondents include: R. Osgood, A. Steindler, P. D. Wilson, R. K. Ghormley, J. E. Goldthwait, A. B. Judson, R. W. Lovett, H. W. Orr, S. W. Mitchell, H. Cushing. In addition to discussing medical cases and research, letters also document Ridlon's involvement with two charitable institutions: the Home for Destitute Crippled Children (Chicago) and the Country Home for Convalescent Children.

Accompanying the professional papers is a set of 118 black-and-white photographs taken during Ridlon's service as a surgeon in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War I. The photos were taken by several photographers at a medico-military training camp in Plattsburgh, N.Y., around 1916. Ridlon reported on these experiences at a medical conference in 1917 and used a set of 67 glass lantern slides to illustrate the lecture, 49 of which survive in the collection; a reprint of this paper is also available in the collection.

In the same series there is a set of 30 glass plate negatives and still image nitrate film negatives (restricted); these materials are closed to use but contain duplicate or similar images found in the print photographs. Finally, there are several portraits of Ridlon, chiefly photographs taken in his office and examination room, taken in 1911. A glass plate negative with a bust portrait of Ridlon rounds out the photographic series.

The collection also contains several folders of ephemera, early professional diplomas and certificates, letters of recommendation for Ridlon's Chicago appointment in 1892, and his obituary.

Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.

Biographical / historical:

John Frederick Ridlon, born in Vermont in 1852, was a physician, surgeon, and professor specializing in orthopedic medicine, practicing in Chicago, Illinois. He served as president of the American Orthopedic Association (1895) and was its secretary for many years. At 65 years of age he served in the U.S. Medical Corps during World War I, advancing to major. He died in Illinois in 1936.

Acquisition information:
The John Ridlon papers were transferred to the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library from the Medical Center Library in 2011. An addition was received in 2022.
Processing information:

Processed and encoded by Willeke Sandler, April 2012, and Levi Crews and Paula Jeannet, March 2014.

Updated nitrate film and glass negatives description and rehousing by Paula Jeannet, March 2019. Glass lantern slides set processed and description added by Neil Rogers and Paula Jeannet, June 2019.

Preservation work for original wooden box for lantern slides performed by Conservation staff, 2019.

Accession 2022-0129 added by Leah Tams, August 2022.

Two related John Ridlon collections were merged to form this collection: one was received directly from the Ridlon estate; the other was originally part of the Trent Manuscripts Collection.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: Casebooks, Correspondence, Medical Images, Patient Case Files, Photographic Materials, and Writings and Memorabilia. There is also a group of oversize diplomas and certificates.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access note. Series contains fragile materials in the form of glass plate negatives, lantern slides, and nitrate negatives and may require extra assistance from staff. Contact Research Services for access. Most if not all of the images are available in the collection as photographic prints.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], John Ridlon papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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