Overview of the Collection
SUNY Upstate Medical University766 Irving AvenueSyracuse, NY 13210
Boden, Edwin R.
and Pfaff, Otto
The Otto Pfaff and Edwin R. Boden MD Papers
1879-1940
3.30 linear feet
This collection contains the papers of
Edwin R. Boden, who was the health officer of Oneida and graduated from the Long Island
College Hospital in 1881, and Otto Pfaff, who graduated from the City University of New
York in 1888 and held many medical positions in Oneida beginning in 1891. The collection
has two series, Writings and Oneida Health Officer.
2000.0006
Collection materials are in English.
Biographical Note
Edwin Rushton Boden (1860-1913) MD was the health officer of Oneida and graduated from
the Long Island College Hospital in 1881. He was born in Southfields, Orange County, New
York and grew up in the town of Turner (now known as Harriman) with Jabez Boden, who
adopted and educated him. He attended Trinity School in New York City and began
practicing medicine in the village of Munnsville after receiving his MD before
relocating to Oneida in 1885. That same year, he married Lena L. Rockwell, with whom he
had John Francis and Frank Rockwell Boden. In addition to being the city’s health
officer, he served as the village clerk and auditor and opened a general merchandise
house. He died at the age of 54 in 1913.
The notebooks of Edwin R. Boden were collected by Otto Pfaff (1864-1948) MD, who
obtained a medical degree from the City University of New York in 1888 and began
practicing medicine in Oneida in 1891. He held many positions in that city, including
county coroner, postmaster, city health officer, water commissioner, village trustee,
and was the first mayor of Oneida in 1901. In addition, he was president of the Fifth
District Branch of the Medical Society of the State of New York, president of the Lewis
County Medical Society, president of the New York State Sanitary Officers’ Association,
dean of the Madison County physicians and surgeons, served on the first board of
directors for the Oneida City Hospital, and was a member of Medical Society of the
County of Madison and the American Medical Association. He was a surgeon for New York
Central Railroad for many years and a medical officer during WWI. In 1891, he married
Adella (or Della) T. Williams (1866-1930) of Rome, NY and later married Bessie Rose
(1883-1963) before his death at the age of 84 in 1948.
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the papers of Edwin R. Boden, who was the health officer of
Oneida and graduated from the Long Island College Hospital in 1881, and Otto Pfaff, who
graduated from the City University of New York in 1888 and held many medical positions
in Oneida beginning in 1891. There are two series in this collection.
Writings: this series contain nine notebooks that are primarily from Boden’s academic
career at Long Island College Hospital.
Oneida Health Officer: these materials include documents and ledgers from the late
1890s to 1940.
Arrangement of the Collection
The Otto Pfaff and Edwin R. Boden MD papers have been arranged into two series.
Separated Material
Several hundred books and journals from this donation can be found in the rare books and journals collections.
Subject and Genre Headings
Boden, Edwin R., 1860-1913
Pfaff, Otto, 1864-1948
Adenology
Anatomy
Angiology
Arsenic
Arthrology
Augeiology
Autopsy
Bellevue Hospital
Bones
Cardiology
Cardiovascular system
Chemistry
Circulatory system
City University of New York
Communicable diseases
Dermatology
Diseases
Elements
Endocrinology
Eye and Ear
Gynecology
Harriman (N.Y.)
Long Island College Hospital
Medical education
Muscles
Myology
Nerves
Nervous System
Neurology
Obstetrics
Oneida (N.Y.)
Ophthalmology
Osteology
Periodic table
Physiology
Pregnancy
Prescriptions
Splanchnology
State University of New York. Health Science Center at Brooklyn
Syndesmology
Therapeutics
Trinity School (New York, N.Y.)
Veins
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on this material.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from the Archives and Special Collections of the SUNY Upstate
Health Sciences Library and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations,
excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
The Otto Pfaff and Edwin R. Boden MD Papers, Archives and Special Collections in the Health Sciences Library,
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Acquisition Information
Gift of James D. Rose MD ’58 and Marie C. Rose MD ‘57, 2000. Collected by James' grandfather, Otto Pfaff MD.
Inventory
Writings
Anatomy, chemistry, and physiology notebook with class notes, sketches, and quizzes.
c. 1880
Box 1
Physiology notebook with class notes, sketches, and quizzes.
1880-1881
Box 1
Anatomy, osteology, myology, neurology, angiology, splanchnology,
adenology, and physiology notebook with notes and sketches.
c. 1880
Box 1
Miscellaneous lectures notebook with class notes, notes from clinics,
and sketches.
1879
Box 1
Diseases and injuries notebook with notes, sketches.
c. 1880
Box 1
Obstetrics, physiology, surgery, electricity, communicable diseases,
and therapeutics and materia medica notebook with class notes, notes from
clinics, and sketches.
1879
Box 1
Materia medica and therapeutics, practice of medicine, and diseases
notebook with notes and sketches.
c. 1880
Box 1
Practical medicine and diseases notebook with notes.
c. 1880
Box 2
Prescriptions notebook.
1879-1880
undated
Box 2
Oneida Health Officer
Account book for medical services.
1890-1893
Oversize shelving
Account book for medical services.
1897-1898
Oversize shelving
Account book for medical services.
1898-1909
Oversize shelving
Account book for medical services.
1905
1915
1918-1921
Oversize shelving
Account book for medical services.
1893-1896
Oversize shelving
Ledger with Health Board Report for Oneida.
1901
Box 2
Correspondence, memos, reports, and notes on insurance and health
issues, such as asbestos and dust hazards, malignant diseases, mental hygiene,
examinations, accounts, hospitals, pregnancy, Wassermann test for syphilis,
railroads, and claims.
1925
1931-1940
Box 2
Record book of the Oneida health officer with communicable diseases,
complaints and nuisances, inspection of public buildings and school houses,
permits issued to milk dealers, and miscellaneous.
1915-1918
Box 2