November 25, 1870, those interested met at the office of Dr. W. P. Johnson to form a preliminary organization, and at a public meeting held at Lincoln Hall December 9 the organization was completed by the selection of corporators and the election of a board of directors. The corporators finally adjourned after adopting the report of the committee to name trustees.

The "Children's Hospital of the District of Columbia" became incorporated on December 2, 1870, under the general incorporation law of the District; and on June 24, 1884, an amended certificate was recorded, under the provisions of section 3, of the amendatory act approved April 23, 1884, by virtue of which the hospital became incorporated for 1,000 years. The object stated was "to establish and maintain in the District of Columbia a hospital and dispensary for the gratuitous medical and surgical treatment of indigent children under the age of 12 years, without distinction of race, sex, or creed;" but it was provided that sick and disabled children, whose parents or guardians may be able and willing to defray the expense of care and treatment, in whole or in part, may be admitted to the hospital upon such terms as may be prescribed by the rules of the board of directors.

Dr. Busey relates that at his first interview with Dr. James C. Hall,1 he indicated his willingness to contribute means, but declined on account

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'Dr. James Crowdhill Hall was born in Alexandria, Va., in 1805. His father having died, his mother removed to Washington and married Dr. Laurie, a distinguished clergyman. Dr. Hall was graduated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., and studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Henderson, one of the founders of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, and a surgeon in the United States Army. He subsequently graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1827, and immediately entered Blockley Hospital as a resident physician, and there familiarized himself with the new methods of investigation and physical exploration then being introduced. "He was a skillful, conscientious, and benevolent physician, more willing to render service to the suffering poor than to receive remuneration; as a citizen he was always ready and willing to discharge every duty of good citizenship. He was charitable, just, and honorable. Besides numerous personal charities during his lifetime, his bequests to the Washington City Orphan Asylum and the Children's Hospital will be held through many years to come in commemoration of his benevolence." He was the family physician of every President of the United States, beginning with Jackson and ending with the death of Lincoln's son. For many years he attended the families of every justice of the Supreme Court; through many administrations the families of every member of the Cabinet; and for a long series of years every foreign legation, and every prominent Senator and Member of the House of Representatives employed his services. For twenty years after his retirement from active practice his professional advice was constantly sought by both physicians and laymen. In 1830 he was the professor of surgery in Columbian University, and was a contributor to the American Journal of the Medical Sciences in 1828. About 1850 he was tried by the Medical Association for neglecting to make charges and failure to send bills for professional services. He pleaded guilty, and promised reformation! An examination of his books disclosed the fact that his annual receipts exceeded those of any other Washington physician, all of which had been paid without the presentation of a single account. In 1880, he died at the age of 75.-Dr. Busey's Reminiscences, pp. 105, 147-152.

THE FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

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of feeble health to hold any office in the institution; and only after a formal invitation from the citizens who assembled at the office of Dr. W. P. Johnson, on November 25, 1870, did he consent to unite with the others in a personal effort to complete the organization. How deep his interest was may be known by the fact that the proceeds of his bequest now (June 25, 1897) amount to $76,395. This bequest appears on the books of the hospital in 1881. The moneys are invested in real-estate mortgages in the city of Washington; the average annual interest for the past ten years has been $3,954.90, and under the terms of the will only the income from the funds is available for the use of the hospital.1 The first home of the Children's Hospital was a small building on the corner of Thirteenth and F streets, with accommodations for only 12 beds. The matron in charge accomplished all the necessary work. In 1872 a building with more ample accommodations was rented on E street. The number of children seeking admission, however, increased so rapidly that in 1875 the present site was purchased and the main building was erected with an east wing extension, which was ready for occupancy in 1878. In 1890 the west wing was added and the central building was enlarged, thus completing the original design of the hospital.2

The first board of directors of the hospital was composed of Dr. J. C. Hall, Dr. Grafton Tyler, Dr. Thomas Miller, Dr. C. H. Liebermann, Dr. W. P. Johnson, J. C. Kennedy (president), A. E. Perry (vicepresident), M. W. Galt, Gen. E. D. Townsend, S. V. Niles, J. H. Bradley, jr., W. D. Clements, J. C. Harkness, F. B. McGuire (treasurer), A. N. Zevely, S. Semken, S. H. Kauffmann (secretary), L. J. Davis, Fitzhugh Coyle, R. C. Fox. The physicians on the board formed the consulting medical staff; and the attending physicians were Drs. Busey, Ashford, Drinkard, and W. W. Johnson. Dr. Ralph Bell was the house physician; Dr. G. W. V. Hickman, the assistant, and Miss A. C. Macgruder, the matron. Mrs. M. W. Galt was the chairman of the board of lady visitors.5

1 Letter of W. S. Thompson, treasurer, to Hon. James McMillan, chairman, dated June 25, 1897.

2The square No. 272, bounded by W and V and Twelfth and Thirteenth streets NW., contains 98,268 square feet. It was purchased for 16 cents a foot, or $15,722.88, payable $9,000 in cash and the remainder within a year. The building was erected in 1877-78 under the direction of a building committee of which Mr. John C. Harkness, "one of the most experienced and reliable architects and builders of the city," was made chairman. The plan selected had the approval of Dr. John S. Billings, U. S. A., who had studied the subject of hospital construction both in this country and in Europe. The building was constructed by J. G. Naylor, the contract price being $18,999. The total cost of the building was $23,662.22. Of this sum Congress appropriated $10,000, and $10,000 was raised by mortgage. Dr. James C. Hall gave $1,000 and "a friend," through Dr. Ashford, gave $1,000.

3Dr. Miller died in 1873, and was succeeded by Dr. Johnson Eliot. Dr. W. P. Johnson died in 1876.

4 Mr. S. V. Niles became president on the death of Mr. Kennedy in 1873.

• First annual report, 1872.

During the first ten month 94 patients were admitted to the hospital and 99 were treated in the dispensary, besides 125 vaccinations. Both white and colored children were treated. The medicines were given by Messrs. Kidwell & Son, J. W. Nairn, W. S. Thompson, G. G. Simms, and I. L. Bates, all druggists who were interested in the work. The receipts for the first year were $5,138.50, of which $1,205.46 came from theatrical performances; $974.20 from the corporation of Washington; $229.89 from a children's fair, and the remainder from contributions. By the gift of $100 each, the following persons endowed beds for one year: W. M. Galt, Gen. J. G. Parke, G. W. Riggs, Miss Coleman, W. W. Corcoran, Mrs. Margaret C. Freeman, J. C. McGuire. Also a bed was endowed by the Protestant Orphan Asylum.

The first meeting of the ladies as a board of visitors was held at the hospital, at the corner of F and Thirteenth streets, on February 8, 1871. The question of ways and means being presented, on motion of Mrs. Marshall Brown, it was voted that each lady present should pledge herself to furnish a bed with 3 pairs of sheets, 2 blankets, 2 pillowcases, and a spread, or an equivalent in toweling, tablecloths and other requisites. Thus 12 beds, the required number, were furnished, as well as the necessary towels, etc. The furniture was given in the same way Soon subscriptions of money were secured, and to make certain of the amount required, each member of the board made herself responsible for five annual subscriptions of $5 each. Also the ladies held festivals and entertainments, the proceeds of which, to the amount of $10,000, went into the building fund.

From the first the ladies provided for daily visiting committees to have a systematic oversight over the work of the hospital. They fined their members for absence from board meetings and in this way raised about $150 a year, first to support a diet kitchen and then to build a porch. A committee was charged with auditing and examining the accounts of the matron, and to exercise a minute control over the domestic management. In this way the board has united efficiency and economy.'

In his report for 1874, President Niles states that 120 children had been treated in the hospital and 883 in the dispensary. Nine-tenths of these children were in destitute circumstances, and there was no other institution in the District, either public or private, where this class of unfortunates could be treated. A young physician had been employed to attend in their homes poor children unable to be removed to the hospital; a course of clinical lectures was proposed, and there was a surplus of $3,453.53 in the treasury, besides $2,000 in certificates of indebtedness issued in favor of the hospital by the District Government

1 Report of Mrs. James B. Ricketts, president, and Mrs. John C. Kennedy, secretary of the board of lady visitors, to Reginald Fendall, secretary of the board of trustees. (See annual report for 1880.)

Of this class of patients 237 were treated during 1875 by Dr. A. C. Adams.