MS042
Solis-Cohen Family Collection
1838-1960

IV. Myer Solis-Cohen 1872-1960
98.5 Linear Feet (230 Boxes)

Biographical Note
Myer Solis-Cohen (1877-1960) was born in Philadelphia on 24 May 1877, the son of Miriam Binswanger (1852-1909) and Jacob Da Silva Solis-Cohen (1838-1927). One of eleven children, his siblings included:

Judith Simha (1876-1927)
Sophia Rebecca (1879-)
Miriam Fonseca (1883-)
Elinor (1886-)
Rosalie Isabel (1887)
Bertha Florence (1889-)
Jacob daSilva (1890-1968)
Esther (1892-1893)
Edith (1895-)
Isidore Binswanger (1896-1925)

Educated at the Friends Intermediate School (1887-1890) and George F. Martin's School for Boys (1890-1893), Myer graduated with an AB from the University of Pennsylvania in 1897 and received his MD from the University in 1900. After internships at both the Jewish Hospital and Philadelphia Hospital, Myer began affiliations with several hospitals in the Philadelphia area.

1903-1910	Assistant Attending Physician to Philadelphia Hospital
1903-1907	Visiting Physician to the Home for Consumptives (Chestnut Hill)
1904-1907	Instructor in Medicine, Medical Department, University of Pennsylvania
1908-1918	Consulting Physician to the Home for Consumptives (Chestnut Hill)e
1912-1944	Pediatrician to the Jewish Hospital
1912-1938	Pediatrician to the Eaglesville Sanitarium for Tuberculosis
1921-1948	Assistant Professor of Medicine in Graduate School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
1922-1928	Pediatrician to the Jewish Maternity Hospital
1923-1941	Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence, Woman's Medical College
1926-1931	Pediatrician to Mt. Sinai Hospital
1929-1937	Lecturer on Toxicology, Woman's Medical College

In addition, Myer served as the Assistant Director of Public Health of Philadelphia, as Director of the Mastbaum Research Laboratory of the Jewish Hospital, and in 1948 was appointed Professor of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. An internist who also worked with infectious diseases, Myer discovered a new heart sound (the Xiphosternal crunch), invented an instrument for measuring the clotting-time of blood, devised the pathogen-selective culture and vaccine as well as new methods for administering vaccines and tuberculin. In addition, he worked to distinguish the purely bacterial from mechanical foci of infection, studied latent diphtheria and diphtheria carriers, and interstitial pneumonia. With others, he discovered the bactericidal power of whole blood and devised a method for measuring it. Other studies focused on tuberculosis, infantile paralysis, and public health problems.

Besides numerous journal publications, Myer also published three books:

Woman in Girlhood, Wifehood and Motherhood (1906)
The Family Health (1910)
Blue Book for Girl, Wife, and Mother (1911)

During World War I, Myer served in France at Base Hospital No. 59 in Rimaucourt, in Field Hospital No. 37 in Recey-sur-Ource, and with the 78th Field Artillery in Baigneux-les-Juifs. During the war years he held the rank of Captain, was commissioned a Major in the Medical Reserves in 1925, and Lieutenant Colonel in 1936.

Myer served as chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee to the Philadelphia County Relief Board and of the Committee on Benevolence of the Aid Association of the Philadelphia County Medical Society. He was a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and of the American Medical Association. In addition, he was a member of the Philadelphia County Medical, Pediatric and Pathological Societies, and an honorary member of the Philadelphia Laryngological Society.

Besides his medical associations, he was a member of numerous social, military, and religious organizations, including the Sons of the American Revolution, The American Legion, the Pow Wow, the Medical Club, and honorary frater of the Phil Lambda Kappa Fraternity. A founder and trustee of Congregation Beth-El (Philadelphia) he was also a member, vice-president (?) and corresponding secretary of Congregation Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia).

In 1925, Myer married Rosalind (Rosebud) Tescher (1903-); they had one child, Kathe, born in 1926. Myer died in 1960.

Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the papers of Myer Solis-Cohen from 1872-1960. Materials within the collection include correspondence, patient records, x-rays, medical research files, medical manuscripts, medical data charts, printed materials, programs, addresses, lectures, reprints of works by Myer, appointment diaries, financial records, legal documents, general subject files, artifacts, and photographs. The majority of the materials document Myer's medical practice as well as his clinical research and publication on various medical topics. However, the collection also contains information on Myer's World War I service, his involvement in social, political, and religious organizations, and his medical and general education.

Of particular interest is a series of letters contained in Series A.2, written to family members during a trip to Europe in 1906. In addition Series B.3 contains correspondence written during Myer's service during World War I.

The largest portion of the collection focuses on Myer's clinical research, teaching, and medical practice. Series B.4 contains lectures, addresses, faculty and hospital staff correspondence, manuscripts of his books and journal publications, subject files, and original data associated with clinical research publications. Besides his interest in women's health and pediatrics, this subseries also focuses on infectious diseases, vaccine therapy, and pathogen selective culturing.

Series B.6 contains patient records from Myers' private practice and clinical research. In addition, it contains "special" patient files, including records for members of the Solis-Cohen family.

Organization and Arrangement
The collection is organized into two series that are further divided into subseries:

1. Personal papers
   1. Early years
   2. Family correspondence
   3. Judaica, social, civic, political papers
   4. Non-medical papers
   5. Honors
   6. Historical documents and publications
      
      
2. Medical papers
   1. Biography
   2. Education
   3. Military and governmental service
   4. Clinical practice, research and teaching
   5. Published works
   6. Patient records
   7. Appointment records, clinical practice diaries
   8. Financial records
   9. Medical societies

The full finding aid (contents and box list) for Myer Solis-Cohen is under revision.