Object

Statuary

Bust of Richard Tracy MD on marble stand. White carrara marble bust by Charles Summers of Richard Thomas Tracy MD mounted on a dark green (granite) pedestal. Dr Tracy was one of the founders of the Lying-in Hospital and served it until shortly before his death in 1874.

This has now been accessioned as A1990/43/01 (4/10/2006).

Illuminated Address

Bound manuscript

Illuminated address presented to Dr Richard Tracy in 1873 recording a resolution passed at the Annual Meeting of the Lying-in Hospital

Transcription:

Melbourne Lying in Hospital
The Sixteenth Annual Meeting held in Friday the 31st Jan 1873.
The Honorable Thomas T A,Beckett in the Chair,
The following RESOLUTION moved by Mr. Macredie,
Seconded by Mr Jennings and carried unanimously was ordered
to be Engrossed on Vellum and Presented to
Dr. TRACY
before his departure for England.
"That this meeting of Supporters of the
Lying in Hospital has learned with much regret that for
reasons connected with his health Dr Tracy is obliged
to leave the Colony for a time.
That they take the present opportunity of
expressing the deep sense they entertain of the labour he
bestowed in assisting to found this Institution, of the
untiring zeal and kindness he has ever since displayed in its
behalf, and of the high professional skill he has exhibited as
Honorary Physician in the treatment of his patients,
That they cordially wish him a speedy and
perfect restoration to health and that he may be soon back
among them."

Signed Tho T a'Beckett, Chairman.

The document is beautifully hand written and is mounted between two gold embossed leather covered boards.

Illuminated address

Bound manuscript

Large illuminated address presented to the widow of Dr Richard Tracy after his death in 1874.

Transcription:

"Melbourne November 1874

To Mrs R T Tracy

Dear Madam,
We, friends and patients of the
late Dr TRACY, deem it fitting that we should
offer you our heart felt condolence upon the sad af-
liction which has deprived you of a beoved husband,
and us of an admirable and trusted friend and physician.
Conscious that no expression of ours could
add anything to a deserved professional reputation,
in our opinion unequalled in this hemisphere, we
still think that this memorial of our sympathy with
you and your family in your great sorrow may not
be unacceptable.
Trusting that you may find succour and
consolation in your berreavement where alone such
can be obtained,
We remain,"

Following are 294 signatures on 4 pages. The front page is beautifully decorated with art work and caligraphy. The heavy boards binding the document are covered in black, gold embossed leather.

There is water damage particularly to the front page (blank) following a water leak above the display cabinet it was in during the 1980s. The pages are edged with fine purple silk fabric from which the die has run into some of the silk moiree backing of the adjacent sheets.

Object

Surgical instrument set

This boxed set of instruments was selected and sent from England by Tracy's mentor, Spencer Wells, the surgeon who developed the successful procedure of operating to relieve women of ovarian tumours. Tracy corresponded with him from Melbourne and leant the technique, operating successfully in 1864.

Tracy’s success rate ultimately exceeded his Spencer Wells’, with only four deaths from twenty operations, performed both in the Lying-in Hospital and in private homes; this despite never having seen the operation performed.

When presented to the hospital in 1963 the set contained pins and thread, scalpel and bistoury, scissors, Spencer Wells’ pedicle needle and his needle holder, a vulsellum forceps, Adams’ double sharp hook for raising the peritoneum, Spencer Wells’ pedicle clamps with detachable handles and most interestingly, one form of Spencer Wells’ ovariotomy trocar and cannula. Regretably the trocar and canula have been removed from the case at some time and are now lost.

Object

Sculpture

This bust, from carrara marble was sculpted by the highly regarded artist Charles Summers in Rome in 1873/74 during the period Tracy spent in Europe shortly before his death. Summers, a British born sculptor made a successful career in Melbourne for several years (1854-67) before basing himself in Rome. It is highly probably that Tracy and he were aquainted during the years they both lived in Melbourne, and he would have been a logical choice of artist for the bust Tracy commissioned with the money given to him after his untimely retirement from medical practice.

The bust was damaged during the 1960s by overly energetic medical students who knocked it from its pedestal, breaking the head from the body. It has been repaired but its value is considerably reduced.

A full size plaster cast is also owned by the hospital (A1990/43/02).

Object

Sculpture - plastercast

This plaster bust has been cast from the original marble sculpture by Charles Summers. When or how it was made is unknown. The original sculpture is also owned by the hospital (A1990/43/01).

Diary

Manuscript

This is the diary kept by Richard Tracy during his trip to England and the continent after his resignation from the Lying-in Hospital due to illness. He died not long after his return to Australia.

Visiting Card

Card

Card measuring 78 mm X 38 mm with the manuscript inscription:
Richd T Tracy M.D.
190 Collins St East
The card must date between 1864 when Tracy built this house and his death in 1874

Correspondence

Manuscript

A letter from F. Kashings(?) Toone to Richard Tracy.
Transcription:

Ballincor Sept'r 28 1849
My dear Sir
I enclose a cheque for Ten
Pounds which I should be glad to have presented
in our joint names to Dr Tracy as a testimony
of our acknowledgement, that he gave his services
to the Poor of Lorha, with no niggard hand.
I am glad to see by this days Times that a
decided abatement of the Cholera in the London
district is ascertained. We are very lucky to
be free from the Disorder in these parts of Ireland.
I remain
---------------
---------------
F. Kashings(?) Toone

A little detail regarding the author was found in the online publication of "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" By Samuel Lewis, 1837 found at http://www.booksulster.com/library/topog/index.php.

There is a detailed description of Lorah (or Lorragh), a parish, in the barony of Lower Ormond, county of Tipperary, and province of Munster 8 1/2 miles (W.) from Parsonstown, on the road to Portumna; containing 4004 inhabitants, of which 195 were in the village. A national school was erected in 1832 on a site given with a liberal subscription by Mr. Toone. (He is referred to in A2005/14/04.)

Francis Toone was a great benefactor to the poor of the parish (modern Shinrone and Ballingarry, formerly Shinrone, Kilcommen, Kilmurry-Ely and Ballingarry) during the Great Famine of 1845 - 1848.
From http://myhome.iolfree.ie/~arrow/housebh.htm

Correspondence

Manuscript

A reference from J.Moore Neligan MD for Richard Tracy
Transcription

Having had constant oppor-
tunities of being well acquainted
with Dr Richard T Tracy
during the entire time that
he was a student at
the Dublin School of Medicine,
I feel great confidence
in bearing my testimony
to his uniform diligence
and attention as also
to the knowledge which he
possessesof his profession,
this especially evidenced (or enriched)
by the character which
he obtained as a physician

in this school
His demeanour and general
character have also been
uniformly such as to deserve
the highest commendation.

J.Moore Neligan MD
Physician to Jervis St
Hospital, Lecturer
on the Practice of
Medicine etc

London and Dublin
October 19 1848

Idedntity of the author confirmed by Mary O'Doherty, Archivist, The Mercer Library, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 10 Oct 2005.

John Moore Neligan, 1815-1863, Physician, Jervis St Hospital, Dublin.

Correspondence

Manuscript

A reference from Smith Madden L.R.C.S.I. for Richard Tracy
Transcription

Mr Richard Thomas Tracy
has attended my lectures
for a period of two years, both
as a public & private pupil;
especially in the latter capacity
I have had had ample opportunities
of judging his abilities, and I
do not hesitate to pronounce
them of the first class. This
opinion is born out by the
fact of his having carried
off several prizes at the
close of each professional
session. His industry and

general conduct give evidence
that he is possessed of a well
regulated and honorable
mind. I believe him to be
calculated to fulfil the duties
of any medical appointment
with honour to himself and
advantage to the public.

Smith Madden
L.R.C.S.I.

Lecturer on Surgical
Anatomy at the School
of Medicine Dublin

October 2nd 1848

Correspondence

Manuscript

Letter from Edmond Knox, Lorrah Glebe, to Richard Tracy
Transcription:

29 --- 49

My dear Sir
I have much pleasure
in enclosing for Mr
Toon check for L10
and his/this? note by which
you will see he ----
it to appear as our
just? gift tho he
gave it all -
I would advise you
(if you have time)

to ride over and thank
him in person He
has taken a fancy
to you and he only
be of use to you
hereafter and ---------
but you ----------
trips to this neighborhd
may in the end
turns out the worse(?)
Most sincerely on this
it may be the case
When do you think

of leaving us, the poor
invalids are in despair
at your departure
With? -------- from your(?)
friends in the -----
--- ------- in the
next ----- me
your sincere friend
Edmond Knox

Name of the author and his address clarified from an online index to "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" By Samuel Lewis, 1837 found at http://www.booksulster.com/library/topog/index.php.

Knox, Rev. Edmond, Archdeacon of Killaloe, Lorrha-glebe, Borrisokane, co. Tipperary

That publication also has a detailed description of Lorah (or Lorragh). It was a parish, in the barony of Lower Ormond, county of Tipperary, and province of Munster 8 1/2 miles (W.) from Parsonstown, on the road to Portumna; containing 4004 inhabitants, of which 195 were in the village. The glebe-house of the Rev. Archdeacon Knox is noted as one of the principal seats. A national school was erected in 1832, on a site given, with a liberal subscription, by Mr. Toone. (He is the author of A2005/14/01.)

Correspondence

Manuscript

Letter from Edmond Knox, Lorrha Glebe, to Richard Tracy.
Transcription12/10/2005

Lorrha Glebe
Borrisokane
3 Nov 1849

My dear Sir
I was glad to find
from your letter received
this morning that
you are likely to
have some occupation
in your profession as
I am sure you

would not be happy
if you were not actively
employed, if I am
to judge from what
I saw of your you while
you were our doctor
in this parish. I afirm(?)
for the regret of
both poor & sick
-- -- great(?) at being
-------- of your valuable
services ----------

the poor creatures who
have been in fevers(?) lately
they miss you sadly
and justly so, as you
have so very skilful
-- --- treatment of
that disease and indeed
in all the other cases
that came under your
care Most sincerely
So I hope you may
succeed in your ----
and of this I am certain
that wherever you may

be placed you will
do your duty and
give general satisfaction
Mrs Knox joins with
me in kindest regards
------- wishes you
--- welfare
from ------ ----
Most sincerely
Edmond Knox
MD of Mill----e

Name of the author and his address clarified from an online index to “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland” By Samuel Lewis, 1867 found at http://www.booksulster.com/library/topog/index.php.

Knox, Rev. Edmond, Archdeacon of Killaloe, Lorrha-glebe, Borrisokane, co. Tipperary

That publication also has a detailed description of Lorah (or Lorragh). It was a parish, in the barony of Lower Ormond, county of Tipperary, and province of Munster 8 1/2 miles (W.) from Parsonstown, on the road to Portumna; containing 4004 inhabitants, of which 195 were in the village. The glebe-house of the Rev. Archdeacon Knox is noted as one of the principal seats. A national school was erected in 1832, on a site given, with a liberal subscription, by Mr. Toone. (He is referred to A2005/14/04 and is the author of A2005/14/01.)

Correspondence

Envelope, manuscript

A small white envelope with a wide black border and a black wax seal on the back addressed in Edmond Knox's handwriting (the author of A2005/14/04 and 05) to:

Richard Tracy Esq M D
Ballyduff

The following description of Ballyduff was found in the online publication of "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" By Samuel Lewis, 1867 found at http://www.booksulster.com/library/topog/index.php.

BALLYDUFF, a parish, in the barony of Corkaguiney, county of Kerry, and province of Munster, 7 1/2 miles (N. E.) from Dingle; containing 420 inhabitants, of which number, 92 are in the village. This parish, which is situated near the road from Dingle to Tralee, comprises 9825 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. Nearly one-half is mountain and bog, partly reclaimable; that portion of the land which is under tillage is of good quality. The only seat is Liscarney, the property of T. B. Hussey, Esq. The village contains 15 houses, and is a constabulary police station. The living is an impropriate curacy, in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, the rectory being wholly impropriate in the Earl of Cork; the tithes amount to £55, payable to the impropriator, out of which £10 per annum is allowed for the discharge of the clerical duties. There are some ruins of the church in the ancient burial-ground, near which is a small glebe. In the R. C. divisions this parish is included in the union or district of Castlegregory. On the border of the parish is a romantic glen, called Maharabo, where it is said the last wolf in this part of the country was killed; the particular spot is still called Wolf Step.

Correspondence

Envelope, manuscript

Small envelope printed with "The University of Melbourne" across the top and addressed to

Dr Tracy
Collins St East

The envelope must date between 1864 when Tracy built this house and his death in 1874.

Receipt

Printed form, manuscript entries

Transcription:

No 1554 London the 28 day of January 1874
received of Dr Richard Thomas Tracy
the sum of Six Guineas being the fee on admission into
the Royal Medical & Chirurgical Society of London.

£6:6:0 William Wegg Treasurers
E M Birkett
By B R Wheatley

Correspondence

Envelope

Small unadressed envelope. Undated but between c.1840 and 1974.