Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

McParlin, Thomas A. (1825-1897) [Collection of Dr. Thomas A. McParlin][Decimalized .01-.48]

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02649 Author/Creator: McParlin, Thomas A. (1825-1897) Place Written: s.l. Type: Header Record Date: 1861-1883 Pagination: 48 items Order a Copy

Includes personal and professional letters and documents to and from Dr. Thomas A. McParlin, medical director of the Army of Virginia and the army of the Potomac during the Civil War. Among the individuals represented in this archive are Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, generals George Meade, George D. Ruggles, John Pope, Rufus Ingalls, noted reformer Dorothea Dix, and numerous Civil War medical officers. Documents include wartime and post-war items. Of particular interest is a lengthy (40 page) manuscript report, prepared by McParlin for General William A. Hammond, chronicling his efforts as during the campaign of the Army of Virginia during the summer of 1862.

Thomas Andrew McParlin (1825-1897) of Maryland was a surgeon in the U. S. Army from the time of the Mexican War to after the Civil War. By the end of the latter conflict, McParlin had become Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac and was present during the siege at Petersburg. McParlin was appointed Assistant Surgeon, 03 March 1849; appointed Major, Surgeon, 21 May 1861, breveted Lieutenant Colonel, for faithful and meritorious service in the field, 01 August 1864; breveted Brigadier General for meritorious and distinctive service at New Orleans where cholera and yellow fever prevailed, 26 November 1866; breveted Colonel, for faithful service during the war, 13 March 1865; appointed Lieutenant Colonel, Assistant Medical Purchaser, 13 April 1881; appointed Colonel, Surgeon, 16 September 1885. McParlin retired on 10 July 1889; he died eight years later (28 January 1897).

McParlin, T. A. (Thomas Andrew), 1825-1897

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources