Frederick Schafhirt, the Army Medical Museum, and the Origins of Federally Funded Scientific Research in America

Before the Civil War, there was little scientific research and no federally funded scientific research in America. William Hammond, a US Army surgeon, organized a small group of young Philadelphia-based physicians and established the Philadelphia Biological Society while on sick leave in December 1857. It was a short-lived society that promoted self-funded biomedical research. Hammond, after his appointment as Surgeon-General during the Civil War, realized that by utilizing his new top-down authority and military funding, he could conduct scientific research and envisioned producing an all-inclusive Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. On May 21, 1862, Hammond ordered Union Army doctors to diligently collect and forward to him "all specimens of morbid anatomy, surgical or medical, which may be regarded as valuable … in the study of military medicine or surgery." The Army Medical Museum was established on August 1, 1862, to receive these materials. In addition to the officers in charge, the Museum required a small technical staff with highly specialized skills. A German immigrant anatomy technician who had been working at the University of Pennsylvania, Frederick Schafhirt, was hired as a "bone cleaner" on July 24, 1862. Soon, his sons Adolph and Ernest were working with him. Of the little that has been written about these colorful individuals, much is historically incorrect. This paper documents their lives and work at the Museum. Frederick Schafhirt was almost certainly the first federally funded research employee, and the Army Medical Museum represents the beginning of federally funded research in America.