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John Lambert Richmond journal

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MS-0391

Scope and Contents

The collection of physician and Baptist minister, John Lambert Richmond, consists of one small holographic journal describing his travels in southwest England, September, October 1830. The journal describes a journey from Bath (Somersetshire) to Bristol (Gloucestershire), a boat trip on the Wye to Chelton (Cheltenham), a visit to the ruins at Tintern Abbey, visits with local clergy, a visit to his family's ancestral estate at Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, and a return to Bristol. Richmond's narrative is descriptive and includes details of historical interest. The portrait of 19th-century Bath is particularly vivid.

Richmond's visit to Wiltshire was apparently motivated by his desire to find the estate known as Ashton Keynes originally owned by John Richmond (1594-1664), a direct ancestor. Richmond visited the property, met with the local vicar, visited the churchyard, and recorded in the journal as much genealogy as he could find of the Richmond family.

It should be noted that the journal is not signed, but published biographical information in the Dictionary of American Biography corresponds neatly with evidence in the journal and strongly suggests that the author is John Lambert Richmond (1785-1855).

Dates

  • Creation: 1830

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

John Lambert Richmond was an American clergyman and physician. He was born on a farm near Chesterfield, Massachusetts April 5, 1785, the son of Nathaniel and Susannah Lambert Richmond. He was sixth in descent from John Richmond (1594-1664) of Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire who had emigrated from England in 1637 and settled in Taunton, Massachusetts.

John Lambert Richmond's early years were spent working as a laborer in the fields and forests near Herkimer, NY. He was self-educated. In 1806, Richmond married Lorana Sprague Patchin of Milton, NY, and ten years later, he was ordained a Baptist minister. The Richmonds moved to Cincinnati in 1817 where John worked in laboring positions during the week and performed his pastoral duties on Sunday. In Cincinnati, Richmond was employed in a janitorial position at the Medical College of Ohio, but he turned the placement into an opportunity for study when he persuaded Dr. Daniel Drake to accept him as an medical student. He was awarded a medical diploma in 1822 and served as both physician and clergyman in Newton, Ohio. On April 22, 1827, Richmond performed the first successful Caesarean operation to be reported in the United States. A monument was erected in his honor at Newton, Ohio in 1912.

Richmond served among the doctors who cared for patients during a cholera epidemic in Cincinnati (1831), but he too contracted the disease and afterwards never fully regained his health. He moved further west to Pendleton, Indiana and to Indianapolis where he continued to preach and practice medicine. He moved finally to the home of his children in Covington, Indiana where he died, October 12, 1855.

Extent

0.167 Cubic Feet (1 volume)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection of physician and Baptist minister, John Lambert Richmond, consists of one small holographic journal describing his travels in southwest England, September, October 1830.

Provenance

The collection was the gift of Mrs. Carl Richter in 1984.

Bibliography

Transactions of the Indiana State Medical Society, 1893. p. 24; "Richmond Memorial Celebration," Indianapolis Medical Journal, May 15, 1912.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Joan Grattan in December 1997.

Title
John Lambert Richmond journal
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA