Dr. Mark Ranney Papers

Collection

Identifier: MsC0190

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Scope and Contents

The Dr. Mark Ranney Papers consists of bank account record books (1901-1909), correspondence (1876-1907), miscellaneous (1873-1889), notebook (art notes), obituaries (Dr. Mark Ranney, 1882), photographs, receipts (1854-1905), and speech (1881).

Dates

Creation: 1854-1909
Creation: Majority of material found within 1870-1909

Creator

Ranney, Dr. Mark (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical or Historical Information

Dr. Ranney was born in West Westminster, Vermont, July 7, 1827. His father was of Norman parentage. After taking his degree in medicine at Vermont Medical College in 1849, Dr. Ranney served for several years at Butler Hospital for the Insane, Providence, Rhode Island. In 1854 he was elected assistant physician of the McClean Hospital for the Insane, near Boston. He came to Iowa in 1865 as superintendent of the state hospital for the insane at Mt. Pleasant, a position he held except for a two-year period, 1873-75, when he was superintendent of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, until his death in 1882. In 1870 he was appointed lecturer on insanity in the newly established College of Medicine of The University of Iowa.

He married, October 2, 1865, Martha Wright, daughter of Thomas Sawyer, Esq. of Sterling, Mass.Note written by Margaret Schindler Bryant.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Physician and book collector. Photographs, financial records, clippings and memorabilia.

Method of Acquisition

This collection was left to the University of Iowa Libraries under the terms of Martha (Mrs. Mark) Ranney's will of 1916.

Related Materials

The Mark Ranney Memorial Collection, more than 3,700 volumes of limited editions in fine bindings, illustrated books, art books, and Dr. Ranney's personal library of 19th Century books (English and American literature and books on religion, psychology, natural science, travel, history, etc.) is no longer an active collection except for additions to Corpus Vasorum. Bequeathed in 1907 by Mrs. Martha Wright Ranney in memory of her husband, at one time a member of the University College of Medicine, the collection was one if the earliest gatherings of rare material acquired by the University Libraries.