Guide to the Weston P. Chamberlain Papers, 1889-1933
No restrictions.
Weston P. Chamberlain Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine.
The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.
Weston Percival Chamberlain was a surgeon in the United States Army Medical Corps (1898-1935). He was known as an authority on tropical medicine, particularly the treatment of beri-beri.
Chamberlain, son of Joseph Austin Chamberlain and Sarah Maria Weston Chamberlain, was born in Bristol, Maine on June 4, 1871. He prepared at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle (1888-89) before entering Bowdoin College (Class of 1893). He went on to graduate from Harvard Medical School (Class of 1897), London School of Tropical Medicine (1912), and the Army War College (1922-23).
Chamberlain served in the Spanish American War (1898), including the Phillipine Insurrection (1899-1901), and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his services in World War I. He was with the medical corps in the Phillipine Islands (1899-1901; 1904-06; 1910-12), Jackson Barracks, Louisiana (1906-10), Washington D. C. (1917-24; 1929-34), and was chief health officer in Balboa Heights, Panama Canal Zone (1924-29).
Chamberlain was married in Boston, Massachusetts on September 10, 1903, to Eleanor Adele Stanton Bush, daughter of Major James Clark Bush, U. S. Army, and grand-daughter of Edwin McMasters Stanton, secretary of war in President Lincoln's cabinet. They had a daughter, Eleanor Maria, who married Earl Kendall Van Swearingen, a naval captain in Washington D. C. Chamberlain died June 7, 1948 in Palo Alto, California, where he had lived for twelve years in retirement.
Memorabilia of Colonel Weston P. Chamberlain, including Bowdoin College material such as daily journals and Bowdoin diploma. Includes 17 diaries, journals, and correspondence from 1889-1912, 24 medical periodical off-prints by Chamberlain from 1910-1933, 18 diplomas and certificates, and 14 images of Chamberlain. Also contains personal items such as campaign badges, medals, medical instruments and a silver inkwell.
Diaries and journals from 1889-1912, including daily journal entries from his time at Bowdoin (1889-1893) and yearly diaries from 1897-1912. Also includes correspondance by WPC to Mrs. J.A. Chamberlain ("Mother") from 1900.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1889 Sep - 1890 Jul: journal
1890 Jul - 1892 Jun: journal
1892 Jun - 1895 Dec: journal
1897: diary
1898: diary
1899: diary
1900: diary
1903: diary
1904: diary
1905: journal
1906: diary
1907: diary
1908: diary
1909: diary
1910: diary
1912: diary
Correspondence: WPC to "Mother" (Mrs. J.A. Chamberlain). Nagasaki, Japan, 11 December 1900.
Diplomas from highschool, colleges and universities attended, including Bowdoin College Diploma and military medical commissions and appointments signed by William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
Diploma from Lincoln Academy (high school)
1893 Bowdoin diploma
1894 Royal Arch Degree in E.B. French Chapter, State of Maine
1895 Certificate of Degree as master mason, Lodge 74, Bristol Maine
1897 M.D. diploma from Harvard
1898 Commission as 1st lieutenant, signed by William McKinley
1898 Appointment as assistant surgeon, signed by William McKinley
1898 Appointment as assistant surgeon, signed by William McKinley [with letters of transmittal]
1901 Membership certificate in Association of Military Surgeons
1908 Commission as captain, signed by Theodore Roosevelt
1908 Commission as major in Med. Corps. signed by Theodore Roosevelt
1908 Certificate of attendance New Orleans Polyclinic
1912 Certificate from London School of Tropical Medicine
1912 Certificate from London School of Tropical Medicine
1917 Appt. as colonel in Medical Corp. signed by Newton D. Baker, Sec. of War
1918 Certificate from American College of Surgeons
1923 Diploma from War College
1946 Honorary membership for life from Bristol Lodge of Masons no.74
Medical periodical off-prints by Weston P. Chamberlain, the bulk of which date from 1910 to 1914 and concern tropical medicine and diseases, specifically in the Phillipines. Also includes two periodicals from 1930 and 1933 concerning the Panama Canal.
Arranged alphabetically.
No restrictions.
"Character of the Rice Which Prevents Beri-Beri and the Manner in Which it is Milled," WPC, 1913 Aug
"Contributions of the Medical Department of the United States Army to the Advancement of Knowledge," Major William Gerry Morgan, 1930 Jun
"Contribution to the Etiology of Beriberi, A," WPC and Edward B. Vedder, 1911Jun
"Critical Analysis of Operations of Third, Fourth and Fifth Armies and British Army from About August 15 to September 15, 1914," WPC, 1922-23 [2]
"Cure of Infantile Beriberi by the Administration to the Infant of an Extract of Rice Polishings, and the Bearing Thereof on the Etiology of Beriberi, The," WPC and Edward B. Vedder, 1912 Feb [2]
"Diptheria in the Philippines," WPC, 1910 Jul
"Effect of Ultra-Violet Rays on Amoebae, and the Use of These Radiations in the Sterilization of Water, The," WPC and Edward B. Vedde,1911 Nov [2]
"Etiology of Oriental Beriberi," WPC, 1914 Feb 14
"Examinations of Stools and Blood Among the Igorots at Baguio, Philippine Islands," WPC, H.D. Bloomberg, and E.D. Kilbournem, 1910 Nov
"Health Department of the Panama Canal, The," WPC, 1930 Oct 2
"Medical Activities of the Panama Canal, The," WPC, 1930 Feb [2]
"Medical Corps of the Army and Scientific Medicine," Merritte W. Ireland, undated
"Observations on the Influence of the Philippine Climate on White Men of the Blond and Brunette Type, " WPC, 1911 Dec
"Occurrence in the Philippines of Associated Spirochaetae and Fusiform Bacilli in Ulcers of the Throat (Vincent's Angina), of the Mouth, and of the Skin, and in Lesions of Lungs (Bronchial Spirochaetosis), The," WPC, 1911 Dec
"Prevalence and Importance of Uncinariasis Among Apparently Healthy Southern-Bred White Men in the United States Army, The," WPC, 1909, Apr 10
"Red Blood Corpuscles and the Haemoglobin of Healthy Adult American Males Residing in the Philippines, The," WPC, 1911 Dec
"Second Contribution to the Etiology of Beriberi," WPC and Edward B. Vedder, 1911 Nov
"So-Called X-Bodies as Artefacts in Class Slides, The," WPC and Edward B. Vedder, 1911 Nov
"Some Features of the Physiologic Activity of Americans in the Philippines," WPC, 1913 Jul [2]
"Statistical Study of Uncinariases Among White Men in the Philippines," WPC, 1910 Aug
"Study of Arneth's Nuclear Classification of the Neutrophiles in Healthy Adult Males and the Influence Thereon of Race, Complexion, and Tropical Residence, The," WPC and Edward B. Vedder, 1911 Nov
"Study of the Influence of Rice Diet and of Inanition on the Production of Multiple Neuritis of Fowls and the Bearing Thereof on the Etiology on Beriberi, A," WPC, Horace D. Bloombergh, and Edwin D. Kilbourne, 1911 Jun
"Third Contribution to the Etiology of Beriberi, A," WPC and Edward B. Vedder, 1912 Feb
"Typhoid Fever in the Philippine Islands," WPC, 1911 Oct
Images of Chamberlain throughout his life including childhood images, images from around the time of highschool graduation and college graduation, and images of Chamberlain in uniform from 1899 and 1920. Also includes negatives and a shilhouette as well as multiple copies of most images.
No restrictions.
Arranged Chronologically.
Circa 1894
Pre-1889
Circa 1899
Circa 1899 in uniform
Circa 1899 in uniform with horse
1910 with daughter, Eleanor Maria
Circa 1920
Circa 1930
Engraving [by James T. White & Company, for the National Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1950].
Silhouette
Negatives
1889
Personal miscellanous items including campaign badges, Mason Grand Lodge of Maine Veteran's medal and Distinguished Service Medal, box with medical instruments and a silver inkwell.
No restrictions.
Silver inkwell
Leather case containing medical intstruments
2 medals
Campaign badge: For Service on the Mexican Border
Campaign badge: War With Spain, 1898
Campaign badge: The Great War For Civilization
Campaign badge: Philippine Insurrection 1899