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Victor C. Vaughan

Victor C. Vaughan Victor Clarence Vaughan (1851-1929) was best known as the dean of the University of Michigan Medical School from 1891 to 1920. A biochemist, hygienist, public health authority, medical educator, and administrator, Vaughan was a leading figure in US medicine during the late 19th century and through the Progressive Era. For example, in 1889 (along with Michigan bacteriologist Frederick Novy), he developed one of the first systematic courses on bacteriology and germ theory for medical students. He was instrumental in the implementation of medical educational reforms years before the landmark Flexner report on medical education of 1910. In the laboratory, Vaughan applied biochemical methods to identifying putrefactive bacteria in food products in order to significantly reduce the incidence of "ptomaine poisoning" in Michigan and beyond . At Michigan, Vaughan made major strides in the improvement of the clinical, library, and laboratory facilities and in solidifying the international stature of the medical school. Henry Sewell, who was recruited from Johns Hopkins University to serve as professor of physiology from 1881 to 1889, credited Vaughan for assembling "perhaps the ablest faculty in the country." Nationally, Vaughan received acclaim as one of the principal authors (with Walter Reed and E. O. Shakespeare) of a landmark, two-volume report on the origin and spread of typhoid fever in the US military camps during the Spanish-American War of 1898. 1915 was a banner year in the productive career of Victor Vaughan. He helped to found the National Board of Medical Examiners, which continues to the present to examine medical students and interns in the United States for intellectual competency, and was completing a term as president of the American Medical Association (1914-1915). Coinciding with his 25th year as dean of the medical school, the medical faculty decided in the spring of 1915 to solicit the funds among themselves for a formal portrait at an estimated cost of $1500. By October, some 150 people responded with donations totaling $1100. (As a point of reference, Dr Vaughan's annual salary as dean that year was $5000.) The chair of the Dean's Portrait Committee, Professor of Physiology Warren Plimpton Lombard, nominated Gari Melchers (1860-1932), who had trained in late 19th-century France but was born and resided in Detroit. Melchers was an award-winning artist of landscapes and portraits, with works hanging in the Library of Congress, international exhibitions, and museums. The son of Dutch parents, Melchers was working in Egmond aan-den Hoef, Holland, when he received a letter from Professor Lombard announcing that the committee unanimously selected Melchers because he was considered the "foremost artist of Michigan, and it is important that the University should possess a portrait from your brush." The same letter also noted the amount of money they had raised—$1100—and asked if Melchers could do such an important portrait at this reduced amount. Melchers wrote back that he would be delighted to take the commission but asked for a fee of $1200 and assurances from Dr Vaughan that he would be willing to sit for the portrait. Once these terms were agreed on, Melchers proposed a visit to Ann Arbor to discuss all the details of the painting's execution with Vaughan and to begin work as soon as possible. By mid October 1915, Melchers was firmly ensconced in Vaughan's laboratory, which throughout his career was located down the hall from his administrative offices. Melchers refused to allow Dr Vaughan to see the painting until its completion. Painting a man of Vaughan's girth was no easy task—he weighed well over 275 pounds. The painting's composition shows Vaughan seated sideways in a cross-legged pose to distract the viewer from his rotund mien. Especially striking in this painting, which is rich in colors of an almost-impressionistic application, is that Vaughan is seated in front of his laboratory bench complete with reagent bottles, glass wash bottle, separator funnel, and a thermometer resting in a water bath to signify the importance of scientific investigation in the subject's life. When Melchers finally was ready to show Dr Vaughan the painting, the artist described it as follows: The distinguished physician watched with great interest the progress of the picture. When finally completed, I showed it to Dean Vaughan and awaited the sitter's impulsive first reaction—a suspense always fraught with conjecture—Vaughan eyed the portrait, turned to the painter and said, ‘Melchers, someday this will be known as the portrait of an unknown man by Gari Melchers.' The painting was formally unveiled and presented to the university on February 22, 1916, at the 65th Founder's Day Celebration of the medical school, and remains one of the most vibrant and telling portraits in the university's art collection. It has hung in Alumni Memorial Hall (the University of Michigan's art museum), in the university hospital, and, after its restoration for the sesquicentennial, it will hang in the medical school. REFERENCES Gari Melchers (1860-1932), Victor C. Vaughan, 1915. American. Oil on canvas. 117.7 × 96 cm. Vaughan VC, Novy FG. Ptomaines and Leucomaines, or the Putrefactive and Physiological Alkaloids. Philadelphia, Pa: Lea Brothers & Co; 1888 (2nd ed, 1891; 3rd ed, 1896). Vaughan VC. A Doctor's Memories. Indianapolis, Ind: Bobbs-Merrill Publishing Co; 1926. Davenport HW. Victor Vaughan: Statesman and Scientist. Ann Arbor, Mich: Historical Center for the Health Sciences; 1996. Monograph No. 4. Sewell H. Victor C. Vaughan. In: Dictionary of American Biography. New York, NY: Charles Scribners Sons; 1936;19:236-237. Reed W, Vaughan VC, Shakespeare EO. Origin and Spread of Typhoid Fever in US Military Camps During the Spanish War of 1898 (in two volumes). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office; 1904. See also Vaughan VC. Conclusions reached after a study of typhoid fever among the American soldiers in 1898. JAMA. 1900;34:1451-1459. Vaughan VC. Remarks by the President. JAMA. 1915;65:63. Cortissoz R. Gari Melchers. In: Dictionary of American Biography. New York, NY: Charles Scribners Sons; 1933;12:512-513. Watson JL. Melchers' Portraits at Michigan: Three Examples of American lust-Milieu [master's thesis]. Ann Arbor, Mich: Department of the History of Art, The University of Michigan; November 1982. The other two Melchers portraits at Michigan are of G. Carl Huber, professor of anatomy and former university regent; and the governor of the State of Michigan, Chase Salmon Osborn. pp. 14-23. The papers of the Faculty of the University of Michigan Medical School, including Warren P. Lombard, G. Carl Huber, and Frederick Novy pertaining to the Vaughan portrait committee of 1915-1916, are in the Michigan Historical Collections of the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan. Donaldson B. An appreciation of Gari Melchers. In: Gari Melchers: A Memorial Exhibition of His Work. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (January-February 1938), p 20. Quoted in Watson JL. Melchers Portraits at Michigan. p 17. Gari Melchers(1860-1932)Victor C. Vaughan 1915. American. Oil on canvas. 117.7 × 96 cm. Courtesy of the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Victor C. Vaughan

JAMA , Volume 283 (7) – Feb 16, 2000

Victor C. Vaughan

Abstract

Victor Clarence Vaughan (1851-1929) was best known as the dean of the University of Michigan Medical School from 1891 to 1920. A biochemist, hygienist, public health authority, medical educator, and administrator, Vaughan was a leading figure in US medicine during the late 19th century and through the Progressive Era. For example, in 1889 (along with Michigan bacteriologist Frederick Novy), he developed one of the first systematic courses on bacteriology and germ theory for medical students....
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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.283.7.848
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Victor Clarence Vaughan (1851-1929) was best known as the dean of the University of Michigan Medical School from 1891 to 1920. A biochemist, hygienist, public health authority, medical educator, and administrator, Vaughan was a leading figure in US medicine during the late 19th century and through the Progressive Era. For example, in 1889 (along with Michigan bacteriologist Frederick Novy), he developed one of the first systematic courses on bacteriology and germ theory for medical students. He was instrumental in the implementation of medical educational reforms years before the landmark Flexner report on medical education of 1910. In the laboratory, Vaughan applied biochemical methods to identifying putrefactive bacteria in food products in order to significantly reduce the incidence of "ptomaine poisoning" in Michigan and beyond . At Michigan, Vaughan made major strides in the improvement of the clinical, library, and laboratory facilities and in solidifying the international stature of the medical school. Henry Sewell, who was recruited from Johns Hopkins University to serve as professor of physiology from 1881 to 1889, credited Vaughan for assembling "perhaps the ablest faculty in the country." Nationally, Vaughan received acclaim as one of the principal authors (with Walter Reed and E. O. Shakespeare) of a landmark, two-volume report on the origin and spread of typhoid fever in the US military camps during the Spanish-American War of 1898. 1915 was a banner year in the productive career of Victor Vaughan. He helped to found the National Board of Medical Examiners, which continues to the present to examine medical students and interns in the United States for intellectual competency, and was completing a term as president of the American Medical Association (1914-1915). Coinciding with his 25th year as dean of the medical school, the medical faculty decided in the spring of 1915 to solicit the funds among themselves for a formal portrait at an estimated cost of $1500. By October, some 150 people responded with donations totaling $1100. (As a point of reference, Dr Vaughan's annual salary as dean that year was $5000.) The chair of the Dean's Portrait Committee, Professor of Physiology Warren Plimpton Lombard, nominated Gari Melchers (1860-1932), who had trained in late 19th-century France but was born and resided in Detroit. Melchers was an award-winning artist of landscapes and portraits, with works hanging in the Library of Congress, international exhibitions, and museums. The son of Dutch parents, Melchers was working in Egmond aan-den Hoef, Holland, when he received a letter from Professor Lombard announcing that the committee unanimously selected Melchers because he was considered the "foremost artist of Michigan, and it is important that the University should possess a portrait from your brush." The same letter also noted the amount of money they had raised—$1100—and asked if Melchers could do such an important portrait at this reduced amount. Melchers wrote back that he would be delighted to take the commission but asked for a fee of $1200 and assurances from Dr Vaughan that he would be willing to sit for the portrait. Once these terms were agreed on, Melchers proposed a visit to Ann Arbor to discuss all the details of the painting's execution with Vaughan and to begin work as soon as possible. By mid October 1915, Melchers was firmly ensconced in Vaughan's laboratory, which throughout his career was located down the hall from his administrative offices. Melchers refused to allow Dr Vaughan to see the painting until its completion. Painting a man of Vaughan's girth was no easy task—he weighed well over 275 pounds. The painting's composition shows Vaughan seated sideways in a cross-legged pose to distract the viewer from his rotund mien. Especially striking in this painting, which is rich in colors of an almost-impressionistic application, is that Vaughan is seated in front of his laboratory bench complete with reagent bottles, glass wash bottle, separator funnel, and a thermometer resting in a water bath to signify the importance of scientific investigation in the subject's life. When Melchers finally was ready to show Dr Vaughan the painting, the artist described it as follows: The distinguished physician watched with great interest the progress of the picture. When finally completed, I showed it to Dean Vaughan and awaited the sitter's impulsive first reaction—a suspense always fraught with conjecture—Vaughan eyed the portrait, turned to the painter and said, ‘Melchers, someday this will be known as the portrait of an unknown man by Gari Melchers.' The painting was formally unveiled and presented to the university on February 22, 1916, at the 65th Founder's Day Celebration of the medical school, and remains one of the most vibrant and telling portraits in the university's art collection. It has hung in Alumni Memorial Hall (the University of Michigan's art museum), in the university hospital, and, after its restoration for the sesquicentennial, it will hang in the medical school. REFERENCES Gari Melchers (1860-1932), Victor C. Vaughan, 1915. American. Oil on canvas. 117.7 × 96 cm. Vaughan VC, Novy FG. Ptomaines and Leucomaines, or the Putrefactive and Physiological Alkaloids. Philadelphia, Pa: Lea Brothers & Co; 1888 (2nd ed, 1891; 3rd ed, 1896). Vaughan VC. A Doctor's Memories. Indianapolis, Ind: Bobbs-Merrill Publishing Co; 1926. Davenport HW. Victor Vaughan: Statesman and Scientist. Ann Arbor, Mich: Historical Center for the Health Sciences; 1996. Monograph No. 4. Sewell H. Victor C. Vaughan. In: Dictionary of American Biography. New York, NY: Charles Scribners Sons; 1936;19:236-237. Reed W, Vaughan VC, Shakespeare EO. Origin and Spread of Typhoid Fever in US Military Camps During the Spanish War of 1898 (in two volumes). Washington, DC: Government Printing Office; 1904. See also Vaughan VC. Conclusions reached after a study of typhoid fever among the American soldiers in 1898. JAMA. 1900;34:1451-1459. Vaughan VC. Remarks by the President. JAMA. 1915;65:63. Cortissoz R. Gari Melchers. In: Dictionary of American Biography. New York, NY: Charles Scribners Sons; 1933;12:512-513. Watson JL. Melchers' Portraits at Michigan: Three Examples of American lust-Milieu [master's thesis]. Ann Arbor, Mich: Department of the History of Art, The University of Michigan; November 1982. The other two Melchers portraits at Michigan are of G. Carl Huber, professor of anatomy and former university regent; and the governor of the State of Michigan, Chase Salmon Osborn. pp. 14-23. The papers of the Faculty of the University of Michigan Medical School, including Warren P. Lombard, G. Carl Huber, and Frederick Novy pertaining to the Vaughan portrait committee of 1915-1916, are in the Michigan Historical Collections of the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan. Donaldson B. An appreciation of Gari Melchers. In: Gari Melchers: A Memorial Exhibition of His Work. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (January-February 1938), p 20. Quoted in Watson JL. Melchers Portraits at Michigan. p 17. Gari Melchers(1860-1932)Victor C. Vaughan 1915. American. Oil on canvas. 117.7 × 96 cm. Courtesy of the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor.

Journal

JAMAAmerican Medical Association

Published: Feb 16, 2000

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