Wills Eye Hospital
| Wills Eye Hospital | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | 840 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Organization | |
| Hospital type | Specialist |
| Affiliated university | Thomas Jefferson University |
| Services | |
| Speciality | Ophthalmology |
| History | |
| Founded | 1832 |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.willseye.org |
| Lists | Hospitals in Pennsylvania |
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Wills Eye Hospital
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Wills Hospital (building located at 1601 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1932-1980)
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| Coordinates | 39°57′48″N 75°9′56″W / 39.96333°N 75.16556°WCoordinates: 39°57′48″N 75°9′56″W / 39.96333°N 75.16556°W |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1931-1932 |
| Architect | John T. Windrim |
| Architectural style | Other, Federal Tuscan |
| NRHP Reference # | 84003582 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 12, 1984 |
| Designated PHMC | October 9, 2009 |
Wills Eye Hospital is a non-profit eye clinic and hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1832 and is the oldest continually operating eye-care facility in the United States. It is affiliated with the medical school of Thomas Jefferson University.
Since 1990, Wills Eye Hospital has consistently been ranked one of the top three ophthalmology hospitals in the United States by U.S. News and World Report and its ophthalmology residency program is considered one of the most competitive residency programs in the world.
James Wills, Jr., a Quaker merchant, was instrumental in the founding of Wills Eye through his bequest of $116,000 in 1832 to the City of Philadelphia. Wills stipulated that the funds were to be used specifically for the indigent, blind, and lame. Over the years it evolved into solely an eye hospital. The first Wills Eye Hospital opened in 1834 near Logan Circle at 18th & Race Streets.
Early surgeons at Wills Eye included Isaac Parrish, M.D. and Isaac Hays, MD, George Fox, M.D., and Squier Littell, M.D., who in 1837 wrote "A Manual of Diseases of the Eye." In 1854, Littell also co-edited "A Treatise on Operative Ophthalmic Surgery" with Henry Haynes Walton.
The Centennial Building of Wills Eye Hospital was designed by noted architect John T. Windrim and built in 1931-1932. It is a six-story, brick building measuring 154 by 157 feet (47 by 48 m). The front facade features a portico with eight Tuscan order columns. The building is now residential apartments.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
In his bequest, James Wills stipulated that Wills be administered by the Mayor of Philadelphia or his representatives. In 1869, the Pennsylvania legislature established the Board of Directors of City Trusts for the purpose of administering such funds left in trust to the City.
The Board consists of twelve citizens of Philadelphia, appointed by and accountable to the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. Members of the Board, who are named for life or during good behavior, serve without compensation. The Mayor and the President of the Council of the City of Philadelphia are ex-officio members. The Board is required to report annually to the above Court, the legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Council of the City of Philadelphia on the condition and status of the trusts, which it administers.
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Wikipedia