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1871 NYU G. KUHN MEDICAL LETTERS DISSECTING DEAD BODIES
An interesting group of SEVEN old letters, most from 1871 (5 from 1871, one from 1 Jan 1872, one from 1904), written by medical student George R. Kuhn, who was attending the University of the City of New York (later New York University). The letters mention Tammany Hall politics & Boss Tweed, a lecture by Mark Twain, and various activities at NYU. They also go into interesting detail concerning the then controversial practice of dissecting bodies of NYC dead. The seven letters are described as follows:
--Reading, PA, 13 August 1871. [Before becoming a student at NYU.] George Kuhn to Mrs. Charles E. Kuhn, East Berlin, Adams County, PA. Four page letter 5.5 x 8”, written in fine, legible ink, with stamped cover. This letter written before George becomes a student at NYU has little content of interest. It mostly concerns family news, including mention of “two Berks County Dutch Girls,” peaches, watermelon, and “the only sober man in Conewago.” George expected to go to St. Louis, as “Times are awful dull in Philadelphia.”
--Brooklyn, NY, 14 October 1871. [As a student at NYU & living with his brother in Brooklyn.] George Kuhn to “Dr. Charley” (probably his brother Charles E. Kuhn).
Two page letter 5.5 x 8”, legibly written in dark ink, NO cover, on stationary bearing the letterhead of George’s brother John R. Kuhn, Attorney & Counsellor at Law. Content concerns family news, matriculating at the University of the City of New York, and DISSECTING DEAD BODIES. Partial transcription as follows:
“I have again come to an anchor. Have cut loose from the Drug Trade & come down to Physic Proper Medicine. I have taken out the tickets at the University & have been with the Lectures for the last week. They give me credit for the branches I have graduated in so I save that much, $80 in two years. So I have that advantage over those who have never attended…. We have every advantage here of LEARNING TO TAKE PEOPLE TO PIECES. Everybody that dies at any of the hospitals in the City of New York, or that are found dead on the street and not claimed, are given to us to operate on. There is not much want of material as there sometimes is in smaller places…. John wants me to come along with him to see his Rabbit [apparently period slang for visiting his girl friend] that had him take his whiskers off…. Write to Geo, University of New York, East 26th St. New York City.”
-- Brooklyn, NY, 30 October 1871. [As a student at NYU & living with his brother in Brooklyn.] George Kuhn to Mrs. Charles E. Kuhn, East Berlin, Adams County, PA. Four page letter 5.5 x 8”, legibly written in dark ink, with stamped cover, on stationary bearing the letterhead of his brother John R. Kuhn, Attorney & Counsellor at Law. Content concerns family news, HOLLOWEEN, and DISSECTING THE DEAD BODIES OF GIRLS IN CLASSES AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. Partial transcription as follows:
“We have had some cold days but they did not last. They are like HONEST POLITICIANS REIGN SHORT. Tomorrow will be HOLLOW EVE. Who will torment old Squire Mundorff this year? I guess he will not be forgotten if there are none of the Kuhn boys there to do it. I have helped to torment the old chap many a time on Hollow Eve and at other times. I remember carrying a cord of wood in front of his door one night while he was away with the band & when he came home he had to move it all before he could get into the house. We thought it was good fun. I don’t hope they play such jokes on him now. He is getting too old for it now….
John has gone out RABBIT HUNTING this afternoon … he asked me to go but I did not want to… I always was afraid of the girls & I guess will never get over it, UNLESS IT IS DEAD ONES. I AM BEGINNING NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THEM. I CAN CUT THEM UP RIGHT LIVELY NOW WHEN THEY ARE BROUGHT TO THE DISSECTING ROOM. We have no want for subjects to learn that. Our college is directly opposite the ‘MORGUE AND DEAD HOUSE’ where all the dead in the city are brought to who are not claimed or known & after remaining on exhibition for 72 hours, they are given to us to dissect.”
--Brooklyn, NY, 13 November 1871. [As a student at NYU & living with his brother in Brooklyn.] George Kuhn to Mrs. Charles E. Kuhn, East Berlin, Adams County, PA. Four page letter 5.5 x 8”, legibly written in dark ink, with stamped cover. Content concerns family news, the recent BOSS TWEED & TAMMANY HALL election, Henry Ward Beecher’s preaching, and a MARK TWAIN LECTURE. Partial transcription as follows:
“The cold weather will set hard on the Southern boys that are here. There are many attending lectures from the South. One young man from Georgia very much like Billy, asked me to go with him to buy an over coat. He had never had one on before. He wondered if it ever got any colder here than it is now. I rather think it will.
The election has passed over though it was an exciting one. TAMMANY RING SUCEEDED IN ELECTING SOME OF THEIR MEN, TWEED AMONG THE REST, but they lost the State. TWEED HAS BEEN UNDER ARREST & bail for one million, for STEALING THE PUBLIC MONEY. I guess he has pocketed enough to pay many such little (?) as that and still be rich. He is not a first class man to be at the head of the Democratic Party in New York. Of course it is not the party that is to blame for his election. He can afford to buy any office within the City, though not in the State. Honest Democrats as Seymour are opposed to him & all dishonest politicians….
Last night I went down to the Franklin Literary Society to hear Pocket(?) be delivered of an address. I was a little late and did not hear the first part of it. He did right well considering he had been out the night before &c. The house was crowded and all seemed pleased. On next Tuesday evening the Society gives an entertainment in Henry Ward Beecher’s church (A LECTURE BY MARK TWAIN).
I was down last Sunday TO HEAR BEECHER PREACH. He does it well and always has a crowded house. He don’t abuse any other denomination as all other ministers do, but thinks if they belong to any or no denomination, they will get along well if they do what is right.”
--Brooklyn, NY, 9 December 1871. [As a student at NYU & living with his brother in Brooklyn.] George Kuhn to Mrs. Charles E. Kuhn, East Berlin, Adams County, PA. Four page letter 5.5 x 8”, legibly written in dark ink, with stamped cover. Content concerns much family news from East Berlin, mention of Thanksgiving, playing dominos, hiring servants, warm weather, etc. George is considering spending four dollars to go see a woman singing in Brooklyn.
--Brooklyn, NY, 1 January 1872. [As a student at NYU & living with his brother in Brooklyn.] George Kuhn to Mrs. Charles E. Kuhn, East Berlin, Adams County, PA. Three page letter 5.5 x 8”, legibly written in dark ink, with stamped cover, on stationary bearing the letterhead of his brother John R. Kuhn, Attorney & Counsellor at Law. Content concerns family news, and the custom of students making “Calls” to their Professors houses on New Years Day. Partial transcription as follows:
“People do call on one another whether they know them or not. If they know the name it is sufficient. They go in, wish the party a happy New Year & drink their wine and eat their cake, and leave. If it did not rain I would CALL ON SOME OF THE PROFESSORS first to see how it is done. They have invited all the students & expect them to call.”
--Brooklyn, NY, 15 July 1904. [As a medical doctor practicing at 122 Clinton Ave., Brooklyn, NY.] George R. Kuhn to Edward, Sallie &c. Three page letter 8.5 x 11”, legibly written in dark ink, with NO cover. Content apparently concerns describing the elements of an insurance policy & some family news. Each page of the letter is written on stationary with Dr. Kuhn’s printed letterhead. This letter may have to do with Dr. Kuhn being a charter member of the Catholic Benevolent Legion, a fraternal assessment life-insurance society that was founded in 1881.
An article on local politics in the 1892 New York Times mentioned that: “Dr. George R. Kuhn is also a Shepardite. He lives on Clinton Avenue and has a large He is prominent in Catholic Church affairs, and especially in the Catholic Benevolent Legion. Two years ago he was the nominee for Coroner on the ticket headed by Shepard for Mayor.”
George was the son of Joseph J. Kuhn (1803-1879) and Jane R. McCabe of Adams County, Pennsylvania.
All letters & stamped covers are in the generally good condition as shown in scan. An interesting group of letters with strong content about human dissection in the Medical School at New York University in the early 1870s.
Buyer pays $5.00 postage & handling in US, plus USPS insurance.
VA residents add 5% sales tax to selling price.
Price= $295.00
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