1876 Diary of a Future Doctor Detailing His Education at Bowdoin College in Brunswick and Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts

On offer is a super, original 1876 manuscript diary handwritten by student Edwin Flye Stetson (1853-1924) while he was completing his sophomore year at Bowdoin College and then transferring to Harvard Medical School to complete his education.

Stetson was born in Damariscotta, Maine to Abner Stetson, a shipbuilder, and Betsey (Riggs) Stetson. He was educated at preparatory schools and graduated from Lincoln Academy before entering Bowdoin College. In 1883, Edwin married Mary Chapman (1856-1944). 

Stetson entered Bowdoin in 1874 and was meant to graduate from in the class of 1878, but left Bowdoin at the end of his sophomore year. He entered Harvard in fall of 1876 and graduated with the Harvard class of 1879.  Dr. Stetson practiced medicine in Indiana from 1879-1885 and then moved back to Maine, practicing in his hometown of Damariscotta until he retired due to poor health. Dr. Stetson’s son, Dr. Rufus Stetson, graduated from Bowdoin in 1908 and went on to specialize in blood transfusions in New York City. 

This diary covers the second half of Stetson’s sophomore year at Bowdoin (January-April, 1876), his summer working at a physician’s office and then his move to Massachusetts on September 24, 1876 and his first semester as a student at Harvard (Sept-Dec, 1876). Interestingly, at the end of his sophomore year at Bowdoin, Stetson is uncertain whether he will return, even once he returns home for the summer:

“...Is this my last full day at Bowdoin. I hope not surely…” [April 3, 1876].

“...I suppose I have made my last recitation at Bowd. Started for home at 3…” [April 4, 1876].

“I wish I could decide about going back to Bowd…” [April 7, 1876].

As we know, he will ultimately decide to say goodby to Bowdoin and attend Harvard a few months later. It is neat to know with hindsight that the next generation of Stetson doctors would graduate from Bowdoin only 32 years later. 

At Harvard he describes many experiences in the medical school such as attending autopsies. Throughout the diary, Stetson proves himself to be a social, active man of many interests, involved in a fraternity and with many friends and a packed work schedule. He writes daily and provides enough detail to get a clear picture of his life as a medical trainee across two states. 

The 7.5 x 3.25 inch leather 100+ page diary, written in pencil, filled for the entire year with the day to day activities, studies, socializing making for a fascinating look at the training of this young man. Diary is in overall G+ condition save for normal signs of aging, with all pages, spine and covers intact.