Temporary record

Dr. Dwight C. Dewey was the son of Dr. R. Dwight Dewey, who practiced in Turin, N.Y. between 1812 and 1850. R. Dwight had four children, Dwight C., Duane, Maria, and Jane. He was also a partner in a general store, Holden and Dewey. Son Dwight went to medical school in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1849, where he took notes from two fo the most illustrious doctors of his time, Austin Flint and Corydon La Ford (later the second head of Anatomy at the University of Michigan.

In 1855, Dwight Dewey moved his practice from New York Mills, N.Y. to Keokuk, Iowa, and later to Iowa City. He accepted a post as assistant physician at the Iowa Hospital for the Insane in Mt. Pleasant from its founding in March, 1861, until 1865, when he moved to Washington, D.C. He practiced in Washington for a brief time before returning to Turin, N.Y.

His practice was never as successful as his land speculation which led him to buy property in each of the areas in which he lived. He also settled the estate of his brother Duane, who died of tuberculosis in 1862 and was a partner in the family store.

Scope and contents:

The Dewey Papers consist of more than 300 items relating to the Dewey family. In addition to the notebooks kept by R. Dwight Dewey while in medical school, the collection contains student essays and penmanship exercises, some of Dwight Dewey's medical school notes, ledgers from the family store, property tax receipts, and invitations to open houses. There are no accounts of Dwight's medical practice.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of letters written to Dwight by his brother Duane; his business partner, E.B. Holden; his uncle, Anson Hart, a banker and realtor in Iowa City; his Keokuk pastor, Rev. John H. Day, and many nieces and cousins. Only a few letters were written by Dwight Dewey.

Though almost no mention is made of the Civil War, the letters help to provide insight into civilian life during the war. A substantial number of items relate to property and mercantile values, taxes, and business practices.

M-3174.2

Iowa--Description and Travel 1846-1950.
Iowa Hospital for the Insane (Mt. Pleasant, Iowa).
Iowa State University--Faculty.
Flint, Austin.
La Ford, Corydon.
Physicians--Iowa--19th century.
Turin (N.Y.)--19th century.

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