This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 3.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 1600 items) |
Abstract | William Stump Forwood was a physician of Darlington, Harford County, Md. Forwood, who attempted to justify slavery on medical grounds, served as president of various local medical societies and was a local historian of his home town. The collection includes correspondence, speeches and writings, magazine and newspaper clippings, financial papers, and pictures of William Stump Forwood. Included are letters, 1864-1865, from Forwood's brother Henry Hays Forwood (born 8 November 1842), who was a prisoner in Camp Morton, Ind., during the Civil War, and Forwood's father Samuel (fl. 1800-1890), in Gosport, Clarke County, Ala. materials. Among the clippings are advertisements for medical devices, most notably several for uterine supporters. Among the photographs are two pictures of a device for treating a fractured clavicle. |
Creator | Forwood, W. Stump (William Stump), 1830-1892. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
William Stump Forwood, son of Samuel Forwood, was a physician and local historian of Darlington, Md. He was born 27 January 1830 in Darlington and remained there most of his life. At his father's urging, he moved to Gosport, Ala., in 1848, returning to Maryland in 1851. He again lived in Gosport during the period 1870-1873. He married Pamela Wilson, probably in June 1857. She died in childbirth on 19 March 1860. On 6 May 1863, Forwood married Addie Bond. Forwood and his second wife had two children, Lizzie and Katie.
Forwood served as president of the Clarke County, Alabama, Medical Society; the Pennsylvania and Maryland Union Medical Association; and the Harford Historical Society, of which he was a charter member. He was also president and founder of the Medical Society of Harford County.
Forwood wrote extensively on the "ethnological" justification for slavery. He also published articles in medical journals on a variety of topics. He was the author of An Historical and Descriptive Narrative of the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, first published in 1870.
Forwood remained active in his medical practice until his death, apparently in 1891.
Back to TopCorrespondence, speeches and writings, magazine and newspaper clippings, financial papers, and pictures of William Stump Forwood. Included are letters, 1864-1865, from Forwood's brother Henry Hays Forwood (born 8 November 1842), who was a prisoner in Camp Morton, Ind., during the Civil War, and Forwood's father Samuel (fl. 1800-1890), in Gosport, Clarke County, Ala. materials. Among the clippings are advertisements for medical devices, most notably several for uterine supporters. Among the photographs are two pictures of a device for treating a fractured clavicle.
Addition of February 1999
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Mostly personal and professional correspondence of William Stump Forwood with family members, friends, and professional associates.
Mostly letters from family members, especially from Forwood's father, Samuel, who moved to Gosport (Clarke County), Ala., in 1832. These letters concern health matters and farming conditions in Alabama. Also of interest are Samuel Forwood's references to slavery and the impending Civil War.
In a letter dated 8 October 1846, Samuel Forwood advised his son to become a doctor because "it will not prevent you from being a Farmer, you could attend to both...and it is an easy profession to acquire."
Numerous letters, beginning 4 April 1857, discuss the alleged intellectual inferiority of the black race.
Most notable correspondent is Forwood's brother Henry Hays Forwood (born 8 November 1842), who was a prisoner in Camp Morton, Ind. His letters are dated from 23 May 1864 until his release 26 February 1865.
Letters from Samuel Forwood continue, except for the periods 1870-1873, when William Stump Forwood was in Alabama, and 1873-1875, a break in correspondence apparently due to a disagreement between Forwood and his father leading to Forwood's return to Maryland.
Forwood's interest in local history and Mammoth Cave also apparently began during this period. Letters beginning in 1868 concern a lawsuit involving the Mammoth Cave book.
Correspondence beginning in 1874 reflects Forwood's almost constant financial troubles. In a letter dated 10 September 1876, he wrote of his difficulties collecting payments, and stated, "my profession is not a profitable one ...." Letters beginning in 1883 concern a lawsuit against his brother Henry over a financial matter.
Letters during this period also mention Forwood's unnamed illness, a recurrent topic in letters from 1875 until his death in or about 1891.
Letters of this period concern medical and historical society matters and family genealogical matters. There are few letters from family members.
Acquisitions Information: Accession 98306
Typed transcriptions of letters in the William Stump Forwood Papers as well as photocopies of pictures of William Stump Forwood and his father, Samuel Forwood. The letters were transcribed from microfilm by William Miller in 1998.
Folder 133 |
Transcriptions and copies #00260, Series: "1A. Transcriptions of Letters, 1854-1881 (Addition of February 1999)." Folder 133 |
Arrangement: chronological.
Writings, speeches, and notes by William Stump Forwood on medical, historical, and other topics. Many of the medical writings were published in medical journals. See Folder 101 for a partial list of published articles. This subseries also includes minutes and proceedings of medical societies, historical and genealogical materials, and writings about slavery and the black race.
Arrangement: chronological.
Holograph versions of writings collected and/or copied by William Stump Forwood on medical, genealogical, and historical topics.
Arrangement: chronological.
Mostly bills and receipts of William Stump Forwood for various items, including bills from chemists and druggists for medical supplies. Folder 117 contains two Confederate pay vouchers, one for Lieutenant James H. Brooks for May 1864 and one illegible, dated March 1864.
Arrangement: chronological.
Newspaper clippings; advertisements; brochures for medical and other items; historical and genealogical items; and other materials. Of particular interest are the advertisements for medical devices, most notably several for uterine supporters.
Folder 132 |
Clippings, advertisements, and other papers, 1871-1890 and undated #00260, Series: "4. Clippings, Advertisements, and Other Papers, 1871-1890 and undated." Folder 132 |
This series contains a daguerreotype of William Stump Forwood in a case ornamented with mother of pearl inlay. Also included are two prints made from the daguerreotype and two pictures of a device for treating a fractured clavicle.
Processed by: Gina Overcash, February 1988
Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
Updated by: Nancy Kaiser, October 2020 and January 2021
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