On 19 June 1856, a special meeting of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia was called to announce Thomas D. Mütter's offer of his extensive collection of anatomical and pathological specimens to the College along with a $30,000 bequest to provide for the maintenance of a museum, a curator's salary, and a lectureship in surgical pathology. Mütter stipulated that a suitable, fireproof building be erected to house his museum. A special committee, comprised of Franklin Bache, John Rodman Paul, George W. Norris, Wilson Jewell, Alfred Stille' and George Bacon Wood, was formed to consider the Mütter proposal.
Although the committee approved the proposal, no action was taken by the College, and the committee was discharged. Dr. Mütter reaffirmed his offer in 1858, and the original committee was reactivated to complete the negotiations and arrangements for the establishment of the Mütter Trust and the museum. The committee made its final report to the College on 2 February 1859 and was then released. In June 1863, when the College's new building at 13th and Locust Streets was completed and Mrs. Mary W. A. Mütter, widow of Dr. Mütter, was satisfied as to its safety, the income from the Mütter Trust was first paid to the College's Committee on the Mütter Museum.
From the description of Articles of agreement between Thomas Dent Mütter and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 1858 Dec. 11. (College of Physicians of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 122579343
