Archives : Prescriptions and Patent Medicine Almanacs

Prescriptions 1890-1950

The collection contains over 1,000 prescriptions, mostly from Van Antwerp Pharmacy during the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. The prescription sheets were customized with the doctor’s name, address, and business hours. Many of the individual prescriptions also have the logo of a particular pharmacy. All items are in BOX #7.

Patent Medicine (Nostrum) Almanacs and Advertisement Booklets

Patent medicines, also known as nostrum medicines, reached their peak in the late 19th Century, but continued well into the 20th Century. They were not regulated and often made extraordinary claims as to their effectiveness and origins. Many of these medicines claimed to be derived from ancient recipes or secret “savage” Indian cures. These concoctions often contained narcotics and large amounts of alcohol. The booklets are located in BOX #20, but organized chronologically within the box.
1857: “Everybody’s Almanac, 18 and 57 Receipt Book” by C.M. Jackson, M.D.
1873: “Dr. O. Phelps Brown’s Shakespearian Annual Almanac”
1874: “Dr. O. Phelps Brown’s Shakespearian Annual Almanac”
1875: “Dr. O. Phelps Brown’s Shakespearian Annual Almanac”
1881: Carter’s Little Liver Pills Booklet “Happy Days”
1885: Hostetter’s Illustrated United States Almanac
c.1890: “McElree’s Wine of Cardui, a Tonic for Women: Lookout Mountain No. Two Songster” Chattanooga Medicine Co.
1892: Ayer’s American Almanac (Dr. JC Ayer & Co.)
1900: Hostetter’s Illustrated United States Almanac
1903: Herrick’s Almanac
1918: Rawleigh’s Medical Guide, Almanac, and Cookbook
1922: Dr. D. Jayne’s Medical Almanac and Guide to Health
1925: Severa’s Medical Almanac and Guide to Health
1929: “Dr. Pierce’s 1929 Almanac”
Late 1920’s: “Lydia E. Pinkham’s Medicines Booklet “Summer Time”
1930: Dr. D. Jayne’s Medical Almanac and Guide to Health
1935: Jayne’s Medical Almanac and Guide to Health 1857: “Everybody’s Almanac, 18 and 57 Receipt Book” by C.M. Jackson, M.D.