This series contains general history of the New England Hospital from its founding in 1862 through the United Way controversy of the early 1950s to its final closing in 1969. It includes, memoranda and correspondence, information about its anniversaries and fund-raising fairs, an incomplete run of annual reports (including a bound volume, 1863-87), publications which are printed and in manuscript form, a scrapbook of clippings, miscellaneous reports arranged by date (1878-1920), and photographs. The miscellaneous reports include nurse, intern, and committee reports; visitor of the month reports; and reports of interviews. The bound volume of annual reports also included photographs which were removed and filed separately. Photographs include Ednah Dow Cheney, Susan Dimock, Elizabeth Keller, Mary G. Boardman, Emily Pope, C. Augusta Pope, Samuel E. Sewall, Emma Culbertson and Elizabeth Cushing Abbott, Marie Zakrzewska, Linda Richards, and several miscellaneous pictures. There is also a file of photographs and pictures of eminent people which was originally included with the autograph section of the records. These include William Ellery Channing, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Julia Ward Howe.

This series contains material about the physicians, nurses, and interns of the NEH. It includes minutes of physicians meetings, printed and biographical material, writings, reports, and interns applications files (1891-1926). Of particular interest are copies of 113 photographs from the nursing school class of 1904 which relate to Bessie H. Simpson. The names of the interns, by year, are listed in Appendix I. In addition to the minutes of physicians meetings, of particular interest is a report by Alice Bigelow written in 1951 about her experience at NEH beginning as an intern in 1905. Shel also writes about the experiences of her father, noted Boston physician, Dr. George Bigelow, who also worked at NEH. This report relates in part to African-American interns at the hospital.

[see also SERIES III. CORRESPONDENCE]

This series consists of finance committee minutes and reports (1877-1915), correspondence, and bills. The correspondence is arranged by author and it is mostly addressed to George Goddard, who was treasurer of NEH from 1877 to1917. It consists mostly of letters related to the physical plant, donations, audits, and the general operation of the NEH. Included is a letter book of Sarah Crawford, Resident Physician, which contains screening of applicants and patients for charity. It also contains a letter of recommendation for Mary Mahoney as nurse. The bills and invoices are arranged by date.

This series consists of general correspondence arranged alphabetically. Correspondents include Ednah Dow Cheney, Mary Putnam Jacobi, C. Augusta and Emily F. Pope, and Marie Zakrzewska. Subject matter consists mostly of resignations, applications, and general hospital business. However, the correspondence of Ednah Dow Cheney (1847-90) contains personal correspondence with Eva and Susan Channing and other friends. There is also a series of condolence letters to and from the Board of Directors.

The subject series consists of material related to an abortion controversy (1915), the use of chloroform as anesthetic (1888), African-American women interns (1911), nurses examinations (1894), rules and regulations of the hospital (1876-1914), Tufts Medical School affiliation in obstetrics (1913-1914), and the Women's Hospital Training School for Nurses in Philadelphia (1878).

This series is divided into two subseries: Letters and Autographs. The Letters are arranged by author and are mostly written to Ednah Dow Cheney and Eva Channing, although there is a small group of letters written to Gabriel and William M. Rosetti. Subject List for a list of notable people. Topics include woman suffrage, social services, abolition, freedmen's education, literature, and Civil War relief. This subseries contains letters of Susan Brudick (later Channing) while teaching in New Bedford and Lowell before her marriage (1840-50); and manuscript poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Bayard Taylor, and Adeline Dutton Whitney. The Autographs consists of autographs on cards, letter fragments, documents, short letters, and postcards as well as a catalog of prices received at the Hospital fairs. A complete list can be found in Appendix II.