Documents
- Absolom Jones and Richard Allen, “On Black Philadelphians’ Conduct During the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793-1794”Absolom Jones and Richard Allen, “On Black Philadelphians’ Conduct During the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793-1794,” ExplorePAhistory.com, https://explorepahistory.com/odocument.php?docId=1-4-169.
- Matthew Carey, A Short Account of the Malignant Fever Lately Prevalent In Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1793), excerptsMatthew Carey, A short account of the malignant fever, lately prevalent in Philadelphia: with a statement of the proceedings that took place on the subject in different parts of the United States... (Philadelphia, 1793), U.S. National Library of Medicine Digital Collections, https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-8710344-bk. Edited by Shannon Duffy.
Books
- An account of the terrible effects of the pestilential infection in the city of Philadelphia... byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1793
- Additional facts and observations relative to the nature and origin of the pestilential fever byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1806
- A description of the malignant, infectious fever prevailing at present in Philadelphia... byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1793
- An enquiry into, and observations upon the causes and effects of the epidemic disease... byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1794
- Letters of Benjamin Rush-"Greatest Battle: Rush & Yellow Fever 1793-1800" byCall Number: E-Book- V. 2 Chapt. 3ISBN: 0691200769Publication Date: 2019
- Medical inquiries and observations byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1805 (2nd Edition)Rush wrote several editions of this work.
- Medical sketch of the Synochus maligna, or malignant contagious fever byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1794
- Meditations written during the prevalence of the yellow fever, in the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1793 ... byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1803
- Observations on the Cause, Nature, and Treatment of the Epidemic... byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1793
- Short account of the malignant fever, lately prevalent in Philadelphia byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1830 (5th Edition)
- A short account of the yellow fever in Philadelphia : for the reflecting Christian byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1794
- Wisdom taught by man's mortality, or, The shortness and uncertainty of life, the certainty and suddenness of death considered... byCall Number: E-BookPublication Date: 1795
Articles/Documents/Websites
- Letter From a Yellow Fever Victim, Philadelphia, 1793Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Biography, 86 (1962) p. 205-207.
- Pandemic Reading: Yellow Fever in PhiladelphiaBlog by librarian at the Library Company of Philadelphia on Yellow Fever sources, many of which are linked on this guide.
- Diary of Elizabeth Drinker [Aug-Oct. 1793]Philadelphia Quaker Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker (1735-1807) wrote in her diary almost continuously from 1758 until her death. This excerpt provides eyewitness information on Yellow Fever in the city.
It was taken from Print edition of diary listed below. Library also has ebook versions, please consult the catalog for more options.
The Diary of Elizabeth Drinker (3 volumes) by Call Number: Alkek General, Floor 5 F158.9.F89 D75 1991ISBN: 9781555530938Publication Date: 1991
- Wrestling the "Pale Faced Messenger": The Diary of Edward Garrigues During the 1798 Philadelphia Yellow Fever EpidemicEdward Garrigues, a wealthy Quaker carpenter, remained in Philadelphia during the yellow fever epidemic of 1798 in order to assist its victims. In addition to personal efforts, he served as a member of a 12 member committee of the Quaker Board of Hospitals and the Guardians of the Poor to help those unable to leave the city. Garrigues's wife contracted the fever but recovered. The journal he kept during this experience, printed here, reflected his religious motives for remaining in the city.
Based on the diary in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Article has 55 footnotes for exploring additional sources.
African Americans in the Epidemic
In the early days of panic, two men stepped forth to help—the Black clergymen Richard Allen and Absalom Jones.. Jones would become the first Bishop of the African Methodist Church of North America. During the crisis, the Free African Society, which Allen and Jones founded, was the major relief agency.