Handwritten note from Phineas Gage to Warren Anatomical Museum, August 26, 1854

Dublin Core

Title

Handwritten note from Phineas Gage to Warren Anatomical Museum, August 26, 1854

Alternative Title

Handwritten note by Phineas P. Gage instructing the Warren Anatomical Museum to transfer his tamping iron to B. R. Sweatland.

Subject

Gage, Phineas
Warren Anatomical Museum
Brain -- Wounds and injuries
Brain -- Localization of functions
Head Injuries, Penetrating
Neurosciences

Description

A handwritten note asking for the removal of the iron bar at the request of Phineas Gage. The date written appears to be "August 24th, [18]54." Gage had been living in Chile since 1852. The message is from Gage; however, there is skepticism towards whether the handwriting is in fact Gage's or his cousin who delivered the note to the Warren Anatomical Museum. If the note is Gage's handwriting, then this is the only known evidence of his script. Document inscription is "3106 / Mr. B. R. Sweatland / Please deliver my iron / bar to the bearer / P. P. Gage / Aug 26th, 54"

Abstract

August 26, 1854 note to Warren Anatomical Museum staff from Phineas Gage (1823 - 1860) governing the transfer of his tamping iron to Benjamin Richards Sweetland (or Sweatland), a second cousin of Gage's mother. "3106" is the Warren Anatomical Museum object number for the tamping iron that resulted in Phineas Gage's injury.

Date Created

1854 August 26

Rights

The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all the materials in the collection. For use information, contact the Warren Anatomical Museum Curator at chm@hms.harvard.edu

Access Rights

Accessing collections in the Warren Anatomical Museum and the Warren Anatomical Museum archive requires advanced notice. Please submit a request to Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu to access the displayed item

Is Part Of

Handwritten Note of Phineas Gage, August 26th, 1854. Records of the Warren Anatomical Museum, AA 192.5. Countway Library of Medicine, Center for the History of Medicine.

Format

text

Extent

1 note

Language

English

Type

text

Identifier

00012_013_005_ref

Scripto

Transcription

Mr B. R. Sweatland
Please deliver my iron
bar to the bearer.
P. P. Gage.
August 26th, 54

Files

00012_013_005_ref.pdf

Citation

“Handwritten note from Phineas Gage to Warren Anatomical Museum, August 26, 1854,” OnView, accessed March 28, 2024, https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/index.php/items/show/25398.

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