Tag Archives: event

“Die Free”: Black Soldiers in the Civil War

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By Lisa O’Sullivan, Director

Surgeon's Certificate for Dick Parker Wills 1903

Surgeon’s Certificate for Dick Parker Wills 1903

More than 200,000 African men served in the Union Army’s United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. Among them were James Wills, Mack Wills, Dick (Wills) Parker, Andy Wills and Richard Wills, who fled the Tennessee plantation of Edmund Wills to join the 4th Heavy Field Artillery of Columbus, Kentucky.

In Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale acclaimed journalist Cheryl Wills explores the story of her great-great-great grandfather, Sandy Wills, and his companions. In unearthing her family history, she uncovers the discrepancies, disparities, and decisions “great and small, careless and deliberate” that impacted the treatment and care of black soldiers.

Black soldiers died from disease at a disproportionate rate to their white compatriots, and, as documented in Die Free, their higher burden of mortality continued after the end of the war. Evidence from medical records and surgeon’s certificates indicates that many black soldiers also struggled to have their conditions taken seriously and to be granted pensions.

We are delighted to be welcoming Cheryl Wills to the New York Academy of Medicine on December 10. She will appear in discussion with the renowned Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, to explore the experiences of her family, and reflect on the ongoing legacy of the discrimination they suffered.

Discover more about Die Free here. In addition to their service as soldiers, African Americans also acted as nurses, surgeons and hospital workers during the Civil War. Some of these contributions are explored in Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries, an exhibition at the National Library of Medicine.

Food Tips from the Fairies

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By Rebecca Pou, Project Archivist

Pairs of vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots, etc.) marching down a path with a fairyToday we are celebrating Food Day, “a nationwide celebration and movement toward more healthy, affordable, and sustainable food.” Concerns about good food, and encouraging children to enjoy it, are nothing new. In 1921, Dr. Beatrice Slayton Herben’s Jack O’Health and Peg O’Joy: A Fairy Tale for Children included jingles written by students of Public School 15 in New York City such as:

“Sing a song of coffee, rich foods and cakes,
these will make sick children with bad stomach-aches
Sing a song of clean milk, butter, fruit and bread,
these will make strong children with their cheeks all red”

In the story, a succession of health-conscious fairies teach Jack and Peg to follow good health habits throughout the day. They learn to brush their teeth, comb their hair, drink plenty of water, get a good night’s rest, and, of course, eat nutritious food.

When Peg despairs at the thought of a life without cake, the eat-clean-food fairies reassure her that she may have cake after eating fruits and vegetables, but “be careful not to eat too much.” In fact, the fairies tell her, even the fairy queen eats a special cake, made from mist and decorated with stars, which is made just once a year.

Fairies bringing cake to fairy queen

The foods promoted in the book include fresh fruits, carrots, potatoes, spinach, and lima bean soup —all nutrient-dense foods that support health, in line with Food Day’s recommendations.

Many of the lessons in Jack O’Health and Peg O’Joy, are featured in today’s Food Day celebrations. Beyond promoting a healthy diet, Food Day also calls attention to the broader context of food production, such as the environmental impact of farming and food and farm workers’ rights. Learn more about Food Day’s priorities here.

To celebrate Food Day, NYAM, Mt. Sinai, and El Museo del Barrio have organized a Healthy Food Walking tour, highlighting a number of establishments in our neighborhood. These include: Lane Farmer’s Market, Pure Food, Champignon Cafe, Mt. Sinai Greenmarket, El Aquila, El Paso Restaurant, and East Harlem Cafe. The next time you are at NYAM or in the neighborhood, visit these businesses for a healthy bite. The eat-clean-food fairies would be proud.

NYC History of Medicine Events in October — Hildebrandt, Tresch, Largent, and Warner

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By Lisa O’Sullivan, Director

This month sees an exciting line up of history of medicine (and science) events in NYC. In fact, almost a festival. Hope to see you at some or all…

On October 10, NYAM’s Malloch lecture series begins with an exploration of the practice of anatomy under the Third Reich, with Dr Sabine Hildebrandt discussing the impact and legacy of the 1933-1945 period. More details here.

At the NYPL’s Cullman Center, John Tresch discusses his new book “The Romantic Machine” on October 11. Tresch explores the connections between Romanticism and industrialization in Paris after Napoleon, drawing on examples from art, literature, opera, scientific discoveries, and technological advancements. Find details here.

On October 17, Mark Largent is appearing at NYAM to discuss his new book “Vaccine: The Modern American Debate”. In it he explores the history of the vaccine-autism debate and argues that it obscures a constellation of concerns held by many parents.  More details here.

And on Oct 18 the A.C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia will host Prof. John Harley Warner, who will speak on “The Image of Modern Medicine: Professional Identity, Aesthetic Belonging and the American Doctor, 1880-1950.” Prof. Warner focuses on the visual choices that American physicians made in representing their profession, their work, and themselves during 1880’s through the 1940’s. Details here.

Click for larger size (possibly disturbing) images from Prof. Warner’s work with James Edmonson, Dissection.


University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, 1895. European-American dissecting teams (left) and African-American teams (right) were racially segregated after the medical student body at the University of Pennsylvania was integrated. DHMC

More upcoming events can be found on our Calendar. Please feel free to get in touch at please email history@nyam.org if you have an event you would like to see featured.

Meeting for Drug and Addiction Researchers

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FDA prescription drug imageAn invitation from our good friends at the Drug Policy Alliance:

Interested in innovative, critical, and creative research on addiction, drug use, criminology, and drug policy?  If so, please join us for an informal meeting of NYC-area researchers who want to share ideas and talk across disciplines about these issues.

We especially welcome researchers whose work is relevant to the drug policy reform movement.  All disciplines and levels of experience welcome!

The gathering is:

September 12th at 5:30
Drug Policy Alliance
131 W. 33rd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY  10001

To RSVP or for more information, contact:

Julie Netherland, PhD | Deputy State Director, New York
131 West 33rd Street, 15th fl. | New York, NY 10001
Voice: 212.613.8063 | M: 347.781.5435 | Fax: 212.613.8021