Background
Edward Hickling Bradford a descendant of William Bradford, governor of Plymouth Colony. He was the son of Charles F. Bradford, a Boston merchant, by his wife Eliza E. Hickling, and was born on June 9, 1848, in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
educator public servant Surgeon
Edward Hickling Bradford a descendant of William Bradford, governor of Plymouth Colony. He was the son of Charles F. Bradford, a Boston merchant, by his wife Eliza E. Hickling, and was born on June 9, 1848, in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Bradford was prepared for college at the Roxbury Latin School. Entering Harvard, he received his A. B. in 1869, and after a brief trial of business, matriculated at the Harvard Medical School, won an M. A. in 1872, and was graduated as M. D. in 1873, while serving as a surgical house pupil (1872 - 73) at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
In 1873-75, Bradford pursued his medical studies overseas in the clinics of Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Strassburg, and London.
After pursuing his medical studies overseas in the clinics of Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Strassburg, and London, in 1875 he began general practice in Boston and was made a member of the staff of the Boston Dispensary in 1876, and of the Boston Children's Hospital in 1878. He also served as surgeon to out-patients at the Boston City Hospital and was appointed to the visiting staff in 1885.
As the years went by, his broad view of medicine focused more and more sharply upon the cripple. He finally resigned from all his important hospital positions except that at the Children's Hospital, and eventually was appointed a chief of its orthopedic staff. He became a member of the teaching force in the department of surgery in the Harvard Medical School in 1881, and as a result of brilliant work in his chosen field, was made an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery in 1889.
A new chair was created for him in 1903. He was the first full professor of orthopedic surgery. This chair he occupied until 1912. During these years, he was an alert, resourceful, constructive, persuasive member of the Faculty of Medicine.
In 1887, conscious of the need of some national association to foster the growth and raise the standards of this fast developing specialty, he was influential in founding the American Orthopedic Association and was elected its president in 1888. Bradford and Lovett's textbook on Orthopædic Surgery, published in 1890, was the standard for many years and ran through numerous editions.
Bradford founded in 1893 the Boston Industrial School for Crippled and Deformed Children, the first of its kind in America. This school still remains a model. It was Bradford who persuaded the State of Massachusetts, in 1904, to establish its unique Hospital School at Canton. Until his death, as chairman of the trustees, he guided the academic and vocational training of the physically handicapped minor wards of the state.
In 1912, when he gave up his active hospital duties and was made emeritus professor, he accepted the appointment of a dean of the Harvard Medical School. Through the trying war years, he increased the usefulness of the institution and did important work on the supervising committee of the selective service commission of the State of Massachusetts.
In 1918, he relinquished the duties of the deanship and became a chairman of the medical committee at Harvard College. In 1919, Bradford was made a member of the board of overseers of Harvard College.
Bradford had a number of significant achievements throughout his career. After he became a member of the teaching force in the department of surgery in the Harvard Medical School in 1881, so as a result of brilliant work in his chosen field, he was made an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery in 1889. A few years later a new chair was created for him in 1903. Another achievement came in 1912, when he became the first full professor of orthopedic surgery, and over the years in this capacity he demonstrated himself as an alert, resourceful, constructive, persuasive member of the Faculty of Medicine. In 1887 he became influential in founding of the American Orthopedic Association and was elected its president in 1888. Bradford and Lovett's textbook on Orthopædic Surgery, published in 1890, was the standard for many years and ran through numerous editions. However, his chief achievement occurred in 1893 when Bradford founded the Boston Industrial School for Crippled and Deformed Children, the first of its kind in America. This school still remains a model. He was also the one who persuaded the State of Massachusetts to establish its unique Hospital School at Canton.
Bradford was a man of deep religious faith.
In Bradford's personality were combined humor, generosity, urbanity, patience, and humility. His open mind sought and found the truth which he shared with others. To serve his fellow men with intelligence and kindness was the activating motive of his life.
Bradford was married to Edith Fiske of Boston on June 20, 1900. Two of his son, Charles H. and Edward, gained fame on the Harvard Crimson football team in their senior years, playing guard and end, respectively.
5 March 1806 - 31 August 1887
1 February 1825 - 27 July 1916
16 February 1854 - 17 February 1890
Died on 26 October 1932.
5 June 1846 - 12 February 1870
1860 - 30 March 1955
7 March 1906 - 29 April 2007
2 August 1904 - 17 May 2000
2 August 1904 - 13 June 1970
