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Annual Oration For 1979: The Founding Fathers and Centennial History of the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery

Samuel D. Gross, the acknowledged “Emperor of American Surgery of the 19th Century,” founded the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery, the oldest surgical society in the United States, in 1879. He wrote the constitution and by-laws, became its first president, gave the first Annual Oration, bequeathed his library of 4,000 books, and endowed the “Gross Prize” which has been awarded 17 times between 1895 and 1977. Biographic highlights of Gross and the nine other Founding Fathers are sketched. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, also the oldest institution of its kind, has been the only home of the Academy in a symbiotic relationship. Honorary Fellowships have been bestowed at various times since 1881 on 73 outstanding surgeons from the U.S. and abroad, the last nine at a gala Centennial Dinner Dance in November, 1979. Memorabilia relating to the Charter Members are housed in the Mutter Museun of The College of Physicians and were put on special exhibit for the Centennial Oration in December, 1979. Many of the pioneer and enduring scientific contributions of the members are recorded in the handwritten minutes of the first 25 years, the 32 volumes of Transactions and Annals of Surgery which has served as its official publication.