Billings, John S. (John Shaw), 1838-1913

U. S. Army surgeon and founder of the Army Medical Library.

From the description of John Shaw Billings letters, 1891, Apr. 13 and May 13, New York City, to W.R. Benjamin. (Duke University). WorldCat record id: 34992422

1860. Graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, with A.B., M.A.

From the description of General correspondence June 1862-Oct. 1901 [microform]. (Alma Public Library). WorldCat record id: 7883610

The Adjutant General of the Army had responsibility for matters relating to command, discipline, and administration of the military establishment, and has had the duties of recording, authenticating, and communicating the Secretary's orders, instructions,a nd regulations to troops and individuals in the Army. The Adjutant General's Office chiefly handled Army orders, correspondence, and other records, and it received final custody of virtually all records concerned with the military establishment.

From the guide to the John Shaw Billings Papers, in the Adjutant General's Office Records (RG 94) in the National Archives, 1861-1895, (History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine)

John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) was an American surgeon, hospital planner and librarian. He served as a U.S. Army surgeon and was responsible for creating the nation's foremost medical library, now the National Library of Medicine. He served as special advisor to the trustees of Johns Hopkins Hospital in planning and organizing that institution. After retiring from the Army in 1895, Billings was named the first Director of the New York Public Library. He helped create the NYPL by combining the Astor and Lenox Libraries into a public research library and building a branch library system for three of the boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx). He also planned and oversaw the construction of the Central Library building which was opened to the public in 1911.

From the guide to the John Shaw Billings papers, 1862-1913, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Epithet: Editorial director of Life magazine

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001186.0x000134

Surgeon, hospital planner, librarian.

From the description of John Shaw Billings Papers at New York Public Library, 1854-1913 [microform]. (National Library of Medicine). WorldCat record id: 257349449

Librarian, surgeon.

From the description of Letters to S.S. McClure, 1891. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 48823349

Epithet: medical lecturer at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001439.0x000150

John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) was an American surgeon, hospital planner and librarian.

He served as a U.S. Army surgeon and was responsible for creating the nation's foremost medical library, now the National Library of Medicine. He served as special advisor to the trustees of Johns Hopkins Hospital in planning and organizing that institution. After retiring from the Army in 1895, Billings was named the first Director of the New York Public Library. He helped create the NYPL by combining the Astor and Lenox Libraries into a public research library and building a branch library system for three of the boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx). He also planned and oversaw the construction of the Central Library building which was opened to the public in 1911.

From the description of John Shaw Billings papers, 1862-1913. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122346189

John Shaw Billings, MD, was born in Indiana in 1838. He graduated from Miami University in 1857 and then attended the Medical College of Ohio and obtained his degree in 1860. Billings enlisted in the Union Army on April 16, 1862. He was commission an officer in the Regular Army Medical Staff Infantry Regiment. By the end of the Civil War, Billings had been promoted to Brevet Lt. Colonel.

In 1865, Billings was appointed Director of the Library of the Surgeon General's Office. In the thirty years he spent in that position, he was instrumental in expanding their collection of medical resources and compiling an index for the collection to aid in research.

Sources: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/pdf/john.pdf

From the guide to the John Shaw Billings Letters, 1880, (Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.)

John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) was born in Allensville near Vevay, Indiana. He graduated from Miami University and the Medical College of Ohio. In 1862 he joined the U.S. Army Medical Department. During the American Civil War he organized hospitals in Washington, D.C. He served in the field at the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, during the Wilderness Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg.

Staying in the Army Medical Corps after the war, Billings organized the Library and Museum of the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States Army and other army records. This organizational work led to his service with the United States Census. He was also active with the National Board of Health during this period.

Known as an expert in planning hospitals, Billings was asked to plan the hospital for Johns Hopkins University. Later he planned the six other medical institutions and was a professor of Hygiene at the University of Pennsylvania. He was chairperson of the Board of the Carnegie Institution for ten years.

Best known for his work in libraries and bibliographies Billings built the collection of the Office of the Surgeon into the world renowned National Library of Medicine; supervised the publication of the Index Catalogue of the Library of the Office of the Surgeon General and Index Medicus, parent of the computer medical index MEDLINE; and planned the New York Public Library.

Excerpted from: http://www.medlib.iupui.edu/hom/billings.html.

From the guide to the John Shaw Billings Papers, 1841-1975, (History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine)

John Shaw Billings (1838-1913) was born in Allensville near Vevay, Indiana. He graduated from Miami University and the Medical College of Ohio. In 1862 he joined the U.S. Army Medical Department. During the American Civil War he organized hospitals in Washington, D.C. He served in the field at the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, during the Wilderness Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg.

Staying in the Army Medical Corps after the war Billings organized the Library and Museum of the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States Army and other army records. This work lead him to work on the United States Census. He was also active with the National Board of Health during this period.

Known as an expert in planning hospitals, Billings was asked to plan the hospital for Johns Hopkins University. Later he planned the six other medical institutions and was a professor of Hygiene at the University of Pennsylvania. He was chairperson of the Board of the Carnegie Institution for ten years.

Best known for his work in libraries and bibliographies Billings built the collection of the Office of the Surgeon into the world renowned National Library of Medicine; supervised the publication of the Index Catalogue of the Library of the Office of the Surgeon General and Index Medicus, parent of the computer medical index MEDLINE; and planned the New York Public Library. from: http://www.medlib.iupui.edu/hom/billings.html

From the guide to the John S. Billings documents and letters in the National Archives, 1861-1895, (History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine)