Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Medical Bill Signed by Dr. Harvey Black, Ms2009-084, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Medical Bill Signed by Dr. Harvey Black was purchased by Special Collections in May 2009.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Medical Bill Signed by Dr. Harvey Black commenced and was completed in June 2009.

Biographical Note - Dr. Harvey Black

Dr. Harvey Black (1827-1888) was the great grandson of Samuel Black and grandson of John Black who were among the original settlers of Blacksburg, Virginia. He was born to Alexander and Elizabeth McDowell Black in 1827. He served as a private in the Mexican War. Following his discharge in 1848, he attended medical school at the University of Virginia, then set up a private practice in Blacksburg in 1850. In 1852, he married Mary Irby Kent (b. 1836), who he called "Mollie." They had four children: Kent (b.1853), Elizabeth (b.1855), Alexander (b.1957), and Charles (b.1859).

During the American Civil War, Black was a surgeon with the 4 th Regiment, Virginia Infantry of the Confederate Army, and ran the field hospital of the 2 nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Black assisted in the operation on General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson after Jackson had been wounded at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

After the Civil War, Harvey Black resumed his medical practice in Blacksburg. He was elected president of the Medical Society of Virginia in 1872. He played an instrumental role in the founding of the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College in Blacksburg in 1872. He was the first rector of the Board of Visitors.

From 1876 to 1882, Harvey Black was Superintendent of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum in Williamsburg. In 1884, he was appointed to the board of a proposed state mental hospital for southwestern Virginia. In 1885, he was elected to represent Montgomery County in the House of Delegates and served two sessions. In the House, he influenced the decision to locate the new hospital in Marion. In 1887, Black became the first superintendent of the new Southwestern State Lunatic Asylum in Marion. He appointed John S. Apperson (who later married Black's daughter Elizabeth in 1889) assistant physician there. Harvey Black died in Richmond in October 1888 and was buried in Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg.

Biographical Note - William A. Wade

William A. Wade was born in Virginia about 1827. He was a Methodist Episcopal minister. Some time around 1850, he married Charlotte (Charlette) Louisa (b. abt. 1830). They had three children: Elizabeth (b. abt.1851), Willie (b. abt.1862), and Allice (b. abt. 1864). In 1860, the family lived in Blacksburg, possibly with Charlotte's extended family. In 1880, they were in Opequon, Frederick County, Virginia.

Scope and Content

This medical bill is an itemized list of the services provided by Dr. Harvey Black to the family of Rev. William A. Wade between 1865 and 1867. Many of Black's visits were for Wade's wife and children, but the list also notes service to a Black woman named Rachel. Black provided such services as cupping while also administering prescribed medicines, such as olive oil, rhubarb, chalk, and brandy.

While the price of each service and/or prescribed medicine is listed and totaled, Black wrote the following at the end, dated 1879: "The Rev W.A. Wade being engaged in the active work of the ministry the above balance is hereby canceled. The bond of $36.39 named in his statement cannot be found. While it is probably among my papers at Blacksburg, its payment is hereby acknowledged."

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by material type.

Related Material

See the following items also available at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives:

Black, Harvey, Mary Kent Black, and Glenn L. McMullen. The Civil War Letters of Dr. Harvey Black: A Surgeon with Stonewall Jackson . Army of Northern Virginia series, 3rd v. Baltimore, Md: Butternut and Blue, 1995. Spec Civil War E 605 .B53 1995

Black, Kent, and Apperson Family Papers, Ms1974-003

A digital image of Dr. Harvey Black at VT Special Collections and University Archives Online

The Harry Downing Temple, Jr., Papers, Ms1988-039 contains additional images related to Dr. Harvey Black also available on Imagebase .

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Blacksburg (Va.)
• Financial records
• Folk, historical, and patent medicine
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Medicine
• Montgomery County (Va.)
• Wade , William A., b. ca. 1827

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Medical Bill Signed by Dr. Harvey Black by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).