James Law papers, 1862-1914-(bulk 1895-1908)
Collection Number: 24-1-3329
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
James Law papers, 1862-1914-(bulk 1895-1908)
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
24-1-3329
Abstract:
Correspondence relating to James Law's duties as Dean of the New York State Veterinary
College.
Creator:
Law, James, 1838-1921.
Quanitities:
4 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
James Law was one of the first faculty members of Cornell University, the first dean
of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, and a pioneer in veterinary
medicine and public health in the United States.
Law was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, February 13, 1838. He was educated at Edinburgh's
Veterinary College and the medical school at Edinburgh University. He received additional
training in France at the veterinary schools in Alfort and Lyons. When Andrew Dickson
White approached him in 1868 to join the faculty at newly founded Cornell University,
Law was an experienced teacher and practitioner with a firm belief in sound scientific
training for veterinarians. Law brought his beliefs to fruition at Cornell through
high entrance requirements, rigorous courses, and exacting state licensing requirements.
Law was also a leader in public health. His work on tuberculosis, foot and mouth
disease and other epizootics had a profound effect on animal and human health in America.
His fight against superstitious animal care practices rampant in rural America also
had significant influence. His Farmer's Veterinary Advisor was read widely by practitioners and lay people alike for its practical and medically
sound advise on the treatment of common ailments.
For more biographical information about James Law, see the essay in American National Biography as well as Ellis Leonard's description in A Cornell Heritage.
Correspondence relating to James Law's duties as Dean of the New York State Veterinary
College. Significant topics include standards for entrance requirements to veterinary
colleges, state licensing regulations, and bovine tuberculosis control. Significant
correspondents include William Henry Kelly, in his role as the New York State Veterinary
Medical Society's representative to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners;
James Russel Parsons, Jr., Director of the Examination Department of the University
of the State of New York; and Charles P. Lyman, Dean of Harvard University's veterinary
college.
Includes paper-mache horse leg that was produced by Louis Thomas Jerome Auzoux, a
pioneer of three dimensional teaching models. It was used by Professor Law in teaching
the anatomy of the horse.
Also Law's microscope (1862) and woodcuts from 1876 book "The Farmer's Veterinary
Advisor: A Guide to the Treatment of Disease in Domestic Animals."
PROVENANCE
This collection was removed from the Veranus A. Moore papers during processing in 2003-2004. See the Collection Arrangement note in that guide
for further explanation.
RMC Collection # 24-1-119. Veranus A. Moore papers
RMC Collection # 2541. New York State Veterinary Medical Society records
RMC Collection # 6370. Letters to Samuel Campbell, 1869-1871.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
James Law papers, #24-1-3329. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell
University Library.
This collection was removed from the Veranus A. Moore papers during processing in 2003-2004. See the Collection Arrangement note in that guide
for further explanation.
Names:
Law, James, 1838-1921.
Lyman, Charles Parker, 1846-1918.
Parsons, James Russell, 1861-1905.
Kelly, William Henry.
New York State College of Veterinary Medicine
New York State Veterinary Medical Society
Subjects:
Models, Anatomic.
Paper-mache.
Veterinary medicine -- Study and teaching.
Veterinarians -- Legal status, laws, etc.
Tuberculosis in cattle.
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Biography
|
1905-1909 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Incoming Correspondence
|
1895-1908 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Outgoing Correspondence
|
1884, 1896-1908, 1914, n.d. |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Miscellaneous
|
1885, n.d. |
| Box 2 |
2 Notebooks
|
n.d. | |
| Box 2 |
Loose Notes
|
n.d. | |
| Box 3 |
James Law's Microscope
|
1862 | |
| Box 3 |
Woodcuts from book "The Farmer's Veterinary Advisor: A Guide to the Treatment of Disease
in Domestic Animals"
|
1876 | |
| Box 3 |
Two cooper print wooden block photo negatives of James Law
|
Undated | |
| Box 4 | MU-1509 |
Paper Mache Horse Leg Model
|
Undated |
|
Scope and Contents
Produced by Louis Thomas Jerome Auzoux, a pioneer of three dimensional teaching models.
It was used by Professor Law in teaching the anatomy of the horse.
|
|||