Dr. James Alba Johnston Collection (Byron), 1875-1949 | Northern Illinois University

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Collection Overview

Title: Dr. James Alba Johnston Collection (Byron), 1875-1949

ID: RHC/RC/181

Extent: 5.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 05/29/1987

Subjects: Byron (Ill.), Johnston, Dr. James Alba, Medical care

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Dr. James Alba Johnston Collection documents medical practice and theory from 1875 to1949. Little biographical information on Dr. Johnston is included in the collection.

Material related to Dr. Johnston and his practice can be found in Series I: Business and Personal Papers. This material includes some correspondence, certificates appointing him company doctor for several firms, drug inventories, ledgers and cash books, and public health notices. Advertisements for medical products, article reprints, and Dr. Johnston’s handwritten reading notes complete the series.

The major part of the collection are sixty-seven volumes found in Series II. These publications’ contents reflect medical theories current during their publication dates (1890-1944). In addition to general medical and reference works, the volumes cover such topics as electrical and vibratory therapy, sexual problems & childhood diseases, vaccine therapy and pharmaceuticals, and various specialities including geriatrics and surgery.

Collection Historical Note

Dr. James Alba Johnston was born December 31, 1859 on the family farm northwest of Byron, IL. Dr. Johnston attended Wheaton College where he met his future wife, Carrie Nash of Belvidere, IL. After their marriage in Belvidere on December 23, 1886, the couple farmed near Storm Lake Iowa for several years. Dr. Johnston entered medical school at the University of Nebraska where he received his degree in 1894. He practiced medicine in Craig, Nebraska until December 1897 when the couple moved to Byron, IL. Dr. Johnston was past president of the Ogle County Medical Association, past president and clerk of the Byron Public School Board, and active in the Congregational church. Dr. Johnston practiced medicine and was a civic leader in Byron until his death in April 1949.

Subject/Index Terms

Byron (Ill.)
Johnston, Dr. James Alba
Medical care

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: Mrs. Robert (Cleo) Boger

Acquisition Method: Mrs. Robert (Cleo) Boger donated the Dr. James Alba Johnston Collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on May 29, 1987.

Separated Materials: A list of Dr. Johnston’s medical instruments which have been separated out of the collection is at the back of this inventory.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Business and Personal Papers],
[Series II.: Volumes],
[Oversize UA 11: EDWARD C. PAGE MUSEUM COLLECTION (UA 11)],
[All]

Series I.: Business and Personal Papers

Box 1

Folder 1: Biographical; Certificates and Correspondence, 1936, 1949, 1894-1896, 1937-1939
Folder 2: Orders and Inventories for Opium, etc., 1931-1947
Folder 3: Public Health Notices and Legislation, 1937-1941
Folder 4: Cash Book - Dodge & Oakland, Nebraska, 1875, 1889, 1894-1897
Folder 5-6: Ledger - Dodge, Nebraska, 1889-1890
Folder 7: Expenses, 1941-1948

Box 2

Folder 1: Advertisements: Allergies & Skin Problems, 1906, 1934
Folder 2: Advertisements: Cancer, Arthritis, & High Blood Pressure, 1937-1938
Folder 3: Advertisements: Gastro-Intestinal Problems, 1927-1936
Folder 4: Advertisements: Nutrition, no date
Folder 5: Advertisements: Pharmaceutical Products, 1915, 1937
Folder 6: Advertisements: Venereal Disease & Sexual Problems, 1937
Folder 7: Advertisements: Vitamin & Mineral Products, 1934-1939
Folder 8: Reprints, Clippings & Circulars, 1900-1938
Folder 9: Handwritten Notes, no date

Series II.: Volumes

Sub-Series A.: General Medical & Reference Works

Box 3

Volume 1: Bartholow, Robert. A Practical Treatise on Materia Medica and Therapeutics. 7th ed. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1890
Volume 2: Loomis, Alfred L. A Text-book of Practical Medicine. 8th edition New York: William Wood and Company (1 volume), 1892
Volume 3: Ellingwood, Finley and Prof. John Un Lloyd. A Systematic Treatise on Materia Medica and Therapeutics. Chicago: Chicago Medical Press Company (1 volume), 1902
Volume 4: The Medical World. Philadelphia: C.F. Taylor and A.L. Russell, Vol. XXII Number 1 (December 1903)-Vol. XXIII Number 12 (December 1905). (1 volume)
Volume 5: White, W. Hale. Edited by Reynold W. Wilcox. Materia Medica, Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Company (1 volume), 1892
Volume 6: Hughes, Dan'l E. A Compend of the Practice of Medicine. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Company (1 volume), 1892
Volume 7: Boericke, William. Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica. 8th edition New York: Boericke & Runyon (1 volume), 1924

Box 4

Volume 1: Powell, Thomas. Fundamentals and Requirements of Health and Disease. Los Angeles: Powell Publishing Company (1 volume), 1909
Volume 2: Butler, Glenworth Reeve. The Diagnostics of Internal Medicine. New York: D. Appleton and Company (1 volume), 1901
Volume 3: Loomis, Alfred L. Lessons in Physical Diagnosis. 10th edition New York: William Wood & Company (1 volume), 1893
Volume 4: Flint, Austin. A Text-book of Human Physiology. 4th edition New York: D. Appleton and Company (1 volume), 1891
Volume 5: Pratt, E.H. The Composite Man. Chicago: The New Age Publishing House (1 volume), 1902
Volume 6: Witthause, R.A. The Medical Student's Manual of Chemistry. 3rd edition New York: William Wood & Company (1 volume), 1890
Volume 7: Chittick, Alexander. Biochemistry and Physiological Therapeutics. Newark, New Jersey: Physicians Drug News Company (1 volume), 1913
Volume 8: Guyer, Michael F. Being Well-Born: An Introduction to Eugenics. Childhood and Youth Series. Edited by M.V. O'Shea. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company (1 volume), 1916
Volume 9: Blanchard, Charles Elton. Medical Dollars and Sense: The Story of the Building of a Large Office Practice. Racine, Wisconsin: Western Printing & Lithographing Company (1 volume), 1912
Volume 10: Burdick, Gordon G. and Theodore C.F. Abel. Rational Medicine: From a Physiological Standpoint. Chicago: By the Authors (1 volume), 1914
Volume 11: Carrington, Thomas Spees. Fresh Air and How to Use It. 2nd edition New York: The National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis (1 volume), 1914
Volume 12: Vallery-Radot, Rene. The Life of Pasteur. Translated by Mr. R.L. Devonshire. Introduction by Sir William Osler. The Star Series. Garden City, New York: Garden City Publishing Company, Inc. (1 volume), no date
Volume 13: Blanchard, Charles Elton. Wayside Experiences: A Collection of Plain Tales as Heard Along the Road. Newark, New Jersey: Physicians Drug News Company (1 volume), 1913

Sub-Series B.: Electrical & Vibratory Therapy

Box 5

Volume 1: Neiswanger, Chas. S. Electro-Therapeutical Practice. 22nd edition Chicago: Ritchie & Company (1 volume), 1922
Volume 2: Gottschalk, Franklin B. Practical Electro-Therapeutics. Chicago: T. Eisell (1 volume), 1904
Volume 3-4: Eberhart, Noble M. A Working Manual of High Frequency Currents. 4th and 7th edition's. Chicago: New Medicine Publishing Company (2 volumes), 1916, 1921.
Volume 5: de Cholnoky, Tibor. Short Wave Diathermy. New York: Columbia University Press (1 volume), 1937
Volume 6: Eberhart, Noble M. A Brief Guide to Vibratory Technique. 2nd edition Chicago: New Medicine Publishing Company (1 volume), 1910
Volume 7: Pilgrim, Maurice F. Mechanical Vibratory Stimulation. New York: The Lawrence Press (1 volume), 1903
Volume 8: Grafstrom, Axel V. A Textbook of Mechano-Therapy: Massage and Medical Gymnastics. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders (1 volume), 1899
Volume 9: Durville, H. The Theory and Practice of Human Magnetism. Chicago: The Psychic Research Company (1 volume), 1900
Volume 10: Munro, Henry S. Handbook of Suggestive Therapeutics, Applied Hypnotism & Psychic Science. 3rd edition St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Company (1 volume), 1913

Sub-Series C.: Sexual Problems & Childhood Diseases

Box 5

Volume 11: Malchow, C.W. The Sexual Life. Minneapolis: The Burton Company (1 volume), 1904
Volume 12: Robinson, William J. A Practical Treatise on the Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Sexual Impotence. 9th edition New York: Critic and Guide Company (1 volume), 1920
Volume 13: Robinson, Byron. Colpoperineorrhaphy and the Structures Involved: the Vagina and Perineum and How to Mend Them. Chicago: The Clinic Publishing Company (1 volume), 1899
Volume 14: Woodward, Charles. An Original and Comprehensive Method of IntraUterine Medication.... Chicago: Woodward Company (1 volume), 1904
Volume 15: Griffith, J.P. Crozer. The Care of the Baby: A Manual for Mothers and Nurses. 2nd edition Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders & Company (1 volume), 1901
Volume 16: Holt, L. Emmett. The Diseases of Infancy and Childhood. New York: D. Appleton and Company (1 volume), 1901
Volume 17: Smith, J. Lewis. A Treatise on the Diseases of Infancy and Childhood. 7th edition Philadelphia: Lea Brothers & Company (1 volume), 1890
Volume 18: Candler, George H. The Every-Day Diseases of Children and Their Rational Treatment. Chicago: The Clinic Publishing Company (1 volume), 1907

Sub-Series D.: Vaccine Therapy & Pharmaceuticals

Box 6

Volume 1-2: Sherman, G.H. A Physician's Manual of Vaccine Therapy. Detroit: Bacteriological Laboratories (2 volumes), 1924
Volume 3: Allen, R.W. Vaccine Therapy and the Opsonic Method of Treatment. 2nd edition Philadelphia: P. Blakistons Son & Company (1 volume), 1908
Volume 4: Servoss, George L. The Hypodermic Syringe. Newark, New Jersey: Physician's Drug News Company (1 volume), 1914
Volume 5: Rogers, L.D. Auto-Hemic Therapy. 3rd edition Chicago: Auto-Hemic Therapy Foundation Press (1 volume), 1922
Volume 6: French, J.M. Elements of Active- Principle Therapeutics. Chicago: The Abbott Press (1 volume), 1916
Volume 7: Shaller, John M. A Therapeutic Guide to Alkaloidal-Dosimetric Medication. 2nd edition Chicago: The Alkaloidal Clinic Publishing Company (1 volume), 1879
Volume 8: Ichthyol: Its History, Properties and Therapeutics. New York: Merck & Company (1 volume), 1913
Volume 9: Gardner, R.W., edition Chemically Pure Hypophosphites. 16th edition New York: R.W. Gardner (1 volume), 1899
Volume 10: Ferguson, Burr. Facts and Phagocytes:... the Development of Hydrochloric Acid Therapy. Youngstown, Ohio: Medical Success Press (1 volume), 1936

Sub-Series E.: Various Specialties

Box 6

Volume 11: Covey, A. Dale. The Secrets of Specialists. 3rd edition Newark,New Jersey: Physicians Drug News Company (1 volume), 1911
Volume 12: Blech, Gustavus M. Practical Suggestions in Borderland Surgery. Philadelphia: Professional Publishing Company (1 volume), 1910
Volume 13: Bogue, Benjamin Nathaniel. Stammering: Its Causes and Cure. (1 volume)
Volume 14: Thewlis, Malford W. Geriatrics. Introduction by A. Jacobi and I.L. Nascher. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Company (1 volume), 1919
Volume 15: Ochsner, Edward H. Chronic Fatigue Intoxication. New York: G.E. Stechert & Company (1 volume), 1923
Volume 16: Bouchard, Charles. Lectures on Auto-Intoxication in Disease. Translated with preface by Thomas Oliver. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company (1 volume), 1901
Volume 17-18: Harrower, Henry R. Practical Organo-Therapy: The Internal Secretions in General Practice. 2nd & 3rd edition's Glendale, California: Harrower Laboratory (2 volumes), 1920, 1922.

Box 7

Volume 1: Stelwagon, Henry W. Treatise on Diseases of the Skin. 5th edition Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company (1 volume), 1907
Volume 2: Stelwagon, Henry W. Essentials of Diseases of the Skin. Saunders' Question Compends, Number 11. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders (1 volume), 1890
Volume 3: Ball, M.V. Essentials of Bacteriology. Saunders' Question Compends, Number 20. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders (1 volume), 1891
Volume 4: Jackson, Edward and E. Baldwin Gleason. Essentials of Diseases: Eye, Nose and Throat. Saunders' Question Compends, Number 14. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders (1 volume), 1892
Volume 5: Bacon, John E. Catarrh. Chicago: Alkaloidal Clinic Press (1 volume), 1897
Volume 6: Waugh, William F. The Diseases of the Respiratory Organs. Chicago: The Clinic Publishing Company (1 volume), 1901
Volume 7: Judovich, Bernard and William Bates. Segmental Neuralgia in Painful Syndromes. Foreword by Joseph C. Yaskin. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company (1 volume), 1944
Volume 8: Pottenger, Francis Marion. Symptoms of Visceral Disease. 2nd edition St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Company (1 volume), 1922
Volume 9: Montague, J.F. Troubles We Don't Talk About. 2nd edition New York: Home Health Library (1 volume), 1938
Volume 10: Herschell, George and Adolphe Abrahams. Chronic Colitis. London: Longmans, Green and Company (1 volume), 1914
Volume 11: Robinson, Byron. The Abdominal and Pelvic Brain. Hammond, Indiana: Frank S. Betz (1 volume), 1907

Oversize UA 11: EDWARD C. PAGE MUSEUM COLLECTION (UA 11)

Access Restriction: Located in artifact room.

Series VI.: Memorabilia, Artifacts, and Ephemera

Sub-Series E.: Doctor James Alba Johnston Medical Instruments

Box 1a: Bottles & Small Items

Item 1: Prescription Bottles: Strychnine
Item 2: Prescription Bottles: Quinine Sulfa
Item 3: Prescription Bottles: Tincture for rigid cervix
Item 4: Prescription Bottles: Geireinoid for rigid cervix
Item 5: Pharmaceutical Bottles & Boxes: Staphylox
Item 6: Pharmaceutical Bottles & Boxes: Subdermuis Ergot
Item 7: Pharmaceutical Bottles & Boxes: Silver Nitrate (box)
Item 8: Pharmaceutical Bottles & Boxes: Thytuitary (full ampoules)
Item 9: Pharmaceutical Bottles & Boxes: Tetanus Antitoxin (full ampoule)
Item 10: Small Items: Horsehair
Item 11: Small Items: Black Silk Thread
Item 12: Small Items: Rubber Catheter Hose
Item 13: Small Items: Glass Slides
Item 14: Small Items: Tweezers (2)
Item 15: Small Items: Pipette

Box 1b

Item 1: Prescription Bottles: Iron
Item 2: Pharmaceutical Bottles & Boxes: Holadin
Item 3: Pharmaceutical Bottles & Boxes: Chloroform Squibb
Item 4: Small Items: Tweezers (2)
Item 5: Small Items: Probe
Item 6: Small Items: Laryngeal Mirror
Item 7: Small Items: Funnel
Item 8: Small Items: Test Tube
Item 9: Small Items: Surgical Case
Item 10: Small Items: Empty Pouch

Box 2: General Medical & Obstetrics

Item 1: General Medical: Scalpels (2)
Item 2: General Medical: Scissors (3)
Item 3: General Medical: Forceps (4)
Item 4: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Placenta Forceps
Item 5: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Uterine Forceps
Item 6: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Intra
Item 7: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Uterine Dilators (6)
Item 8: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Curettes (3)
Item 9: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Intra
Item 10: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Corkscrews (3)
Item 11: Obstetrics-Gynecology: Unidentified Pieces (2)

Box 3: Unidentified Pieces

Item 1: Unidentified metal weights (3)
Item 2: Metal and rubber with hollow tube w/ metal chamber packed with cotton
Item 3: Cotton packers (3)
Item 4: Wire basket with closed wire hoop
Item 5: Rubber and metal piece
Item 6: "M"-shaped metal piece
Item 7: Wood and metal piece
Item 8: Straight metal piece
Item 9: Unidentified metal pieces (4)

Box 4: Instruments & Gowns

Item 1: Instruments: Rubber
Item 2: Instruments: Uterine Dilators (3)
Item 3: Instruments: Hale's Vagina Speculums (4)
Item 4: Instruments: Birth Forceps (2)
Item 5: Instruments: Stirrups (2)
Item 6: Instruments: Unidentified Metal Piece (2)
Item 7: Gowns: Size Medium
Item 8: Gowns: Size 40
Item 9: Gowns: Cloth Instruments Carrier (2)

Box 5

Item 1: Doctor's Bag (poor condition)
Item 2: Ear Examiner

Box 6

Item 1: Shelton Deluxe Vibrator

Box 7: Instruments & Accessories

Item 1: Instruments: Electro-Therapeutic Kit
Item 2: Instruments: Sphygmomanometer (blood pressure measurer)
Item 3: Accessories: Distilled Water Ampoules (empty)
Item 4: Accessories: Leather Stirrups (7)

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Business and Personal Papers],
[Series II.: Volumes],
[Oversize UA 11: EDWARD C. PAGE MUSEUM COLLECTION (UA 11)],
[All]