The Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize was established by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia in 1898. Funds for this prize, the object of which was to further original medical research, were donated by the sons of Nathan Lewis Hatfield, Walter and Henry Reed Hatfield.
As indicated in the deed of trust of the Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize, drafted in January 1898, a committee of three trustees were responsible for administering the Hatfield Prize Fund. In addition, a Committee on the Nathan Hatfield Prize, consisting of three Fellows appointed by the President, was established to select the recipient of this triennial award. The prize, which took the form of an essay contest, was open to all members of the scientific and medical professions in the United States. The first Nathan Lewis Hatfield Prize was awarded in 1901 to Professor H. F. Harris of Atlanta, Georgia. Due to inadequate submissions, the next prize was not awarded until 1909. In 1913, the rules governing the prize were amended, and the award was converted to a lectureship. The Hatfield Lectures were discontinued in 1972, but reinstated in 1984 by Brooke Roberts, president of the College, who selected new trustees for the fund. The trustees then elected to combine the Hatfield Lecture Fund with the College's Common Discretionary Fund, thereby eliminating the trusteeship. As of 1991, the Hatfield Lectureship is administered through the College's Committee on Program.
From the description of Records, 1900-1935. (College of Physicians of Philadelphia). WorldCat record id: 122440816
