Title
Physician’s Daily Memorandum for 1906
Author
Anonymous (no specific author listed)
Image
Description
This well-worn yet fascinating volume is the 1906 edition of the Physician’s Daily Memorandum—a practical, portable journal for medical professionals of the early 20th century. Crafted with a red cloth cover and striking black decorative borders, this book was designed to keep daily medical notes, expenses, and observations. Inside, you’ll find handwritten entries, ranging from daily expenses to brief medical notes—testament to the daily grind of a physician in the early 1900s. The spine is boldly marked with the year “1906,” ensuring this book never lost its way on the crowded desk of a busy practitioner.
Condition
The red cloth cover shows its age with some edge wear, faint staining, and soft fraying—exactly the kind of patina that gives it character. Inside, the pages have toned to a pleasing cream and are filled with pencil entries, adding to the authenticity and charm. The spine remains intact, though worn.
Gallery
Historical context
At the dawn of the 20th century, physicians relied on pocket diaries like this one to track everything from patient treatments to personal expenses. The meticulous records in this 1906 edition reflect an era when handwritten notes were a physician’s lifeline—and provide a window into the daily lives of early 20th-century medical professionals.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
The pages contain not only daily logs but also fascinating glimpses of historical medical practices and personal notes.
These diaries were often issued annually by pharmaceutical or medical supply companies, as promotional gifts to physicians.
The doctor who owned this one has included some personal expenditures, offering a rare peek into the social and professional life of a medical practitioner in 1906.
Excerpt
A typical entry reads:
“Wednesday, February 7 – Dr. Alfonso Betancourt, Habana, Cuba, dice: ‘…el Pepto-Mangan… con resultados muy satisfactorios…’ Expenses: sugar 50¢, coffee 20¢, bread 10¢.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
This daily memorandum isn’t just a blank ledger—it’s a living artifact, filled with a century’s worth of scribbles and notes. It represents the humdrum yet crucial record-keeping that kept a physician’s world spinning in 1906—an honest glimpse of the work, expenses, and daily rituals that defined an era.