Joseph Meredith Toner

Background

Joseph was born on April 30, 1825 in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was the son of Meredith and Ann (Layton) Toner, descendants of early Irish settlers in that state.

Education

He attended the Western University of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, and Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Md. After two years' study under Dr. John Lowman at Johnstown, Pa. , he spent the winter of 1849-50 at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, then for three months attended the Vermont Medical College at Woodstock, from which he received a medical degree in 1850. After periods of practice at Summit and Pittsburgh, and at Harpers Ferry, Va. , he settled in Washington, D. C. , in 1855. In the meantime he had obtained the degree of M. D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1853.

Career

For many years thereafter he was one of the capital city's leading practitioners, though his strong bent toward historical and literary pursuits caused him virtually to abandon medical practice during his later years.

In 1861 he aided the Sisters of Charity in founding Providence Hospital, which he long served as attending physician. He inspired the founding of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, and was its physician, in which capacity he served also St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum and St. Ann's Infant Asylum. He was on the board of directors of Garfield Hospital and of Columbia Hospital, and for years was consultant and member of the board of managers of St. Elizabeth's Hospital.

As a writer and collector that Toner is best known. His first book, Maternal Instinct, appeared in 1864, and his other early writings, mainly professional, discussed the necessity for vaccination, yellow fever, public health problems, and vital statistics. Later he turned his attention to medical history and biography. He wrote Contributions to the Annals of Medical Progress and Medical Education in the United States before and during the War of Independence (1874), Annual Oration before the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland . Contribution to the Medical History and Geography of Maryland (1875), The Medical Men of the Revolution (1876), and Address on Medical Biography (1876).

Subsequently he concentrated his research upon the career and writings of George Washington. He edited Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior (1888), Journal of My Journey over the Mountains 1747-8 (1892), The Daily Journal of Major George Washington in 1751-2, Kept while on a Tour to the Island of Barbadoes (1892), Journal of Colonel George Washington in 1754 (1893), describing his part in the ill-fated Braddock expedition. He also published "Wills of the American Ancestors of George Washington" (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1891); George Washington as Inventor and Patron of the Useful Arts (1892), an address; "Some Account of George Washington's Library and Manuscript Records" (Annual Report of the American Historical Association 1892, 1894); and "Washington in the Forbes Expedition of 1758" (Records of the Columbia Historical Society, vol. I, 1897). He left in manuscript an uncompleted biographical dictionary of deceased American physicians.

Toner's collection of books and pamphlets was the work of years. He began collecting generally, though with an especial interest in medical, historical, and biographical material. Later becoming keenly interested in early American physicians, he sought to build up a library as complete as possible of books, pamphlets, and journals to cover America's contribution to medical history. In 1882 he turned over twenty-seven thousand volumes, together with related pictures, charts, and medals, to the Library of Congress, which has kept his collection intact.

He made a subject index of the contents of all American medical journals up to 1870. In 1868 he started a library for the American Medical Association in the Smithsonian Institution; when the collection had reached six thousand volumes and had outgrown its quarters, it was transferred to the Newberry Library in Chicago. In 1871 he founded the Toner Lecture Fund for the Smithsonian Institution which for a number of years provided semi-annual lectures upon medical and scientific progress. He also donated medals for scientific research performed by students of Jefferson Medical College and the medical school of Georgetown University. He was repeatedly offered teaching positions in medical schools, but always set them aside.

He died unexpectedly while visiting at Cresson, Pa. , and was buried in the family plot at Derry, Pa.

Achievements

• Dr. Joseph Meredith Toner is remembered as a practicing physician of Washington, D. C. ; president of American Medical Association and American Public Health Association; medical historian; active in literary, research, and historical societies in the District of Columbia and a collector of a large library.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Some Account of George Washington's Library and Manuscript Records and Their Dispersion From Mount Vernon: With an Excerpt of Three Months From His ... Congress, With Notes (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Some Account of George Washington's Library ...)

  • The Journal of Major George Washington

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • The Complete Works of George Washington: Military Journals, Rules of Civility, Writings on French and Indian War, Presidential Work, Inaugural Addresses, Messages to Congress, Letters & Biography

    (This thoroughly edited collection gives a complete insigh...)

  • The Medical Men Of The Revolution: With A Brief History Of The Medical Department Of The Continental Army

    (This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)

Membership

He took a leading part in the local medical societies and was chosen to the presidency of the American Medical Association in 1873 and to that of the American Public Health Association in 1874.

In 1894 he participated in the founding of the Columbia Historical Society and was chosen its first president.

Personality

A sympathetic contemporary describes him as the soul of geniality, without brilliancy or depth of learning, but eminent in sincerity of purpose and industry.

Connections

Though a bachelor, he maintained a spacious home on Louisiana Avenue where, among his collections, he dispensed a warm and far-reaching hospitality. His Washington's Birthday receptions were famous.

Father:

Meredith Toner

Mother:

Anna Layton

( b. 1785)

References

• Biographical Sketch of Joseph M. Toner, M.D., Of Washington: Reprint From the Memorial Volume of the Rocky Mountain Medical Association (Classic Reprint)