In the following publication Linden F. Edwards relates the evil deeds of
Ohio’s most notorious resurrectionist, William Cunningham. The paper was
originally published in THE OHIO STATE MEDICAL JOURNAL, Volume 50, May,
1954. The author has graciously granted permission to reproduce the
article.
The Boards and the Staff of the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen
County present this publication in the hope that it will interest local
readers.
[Illustration: Linden F. Edwards]
The son of Albert R. and Mary E. (Hare) Edwards, Linden Forest Edwards
was born in Lewisville, Ohio, on November 25, 1899. He received the
bachelor of arts degree in 1922 and the master of science degree in 1923
from Ohio State University. Dr. Edwards continued graduate study at the
University of Michigan, the University of Illinois, and Ohio State
University. In 1928 the degree of doctor of philosophy was conferred on
Linden Edwards by Ohio State University.
Dr. Edwards has had considerable experience in the teaching profession.
His former positions follow: instructor in zoology, Ohio State
University, 1923-25; instructor in anatomy, University of Illinois,
1925-29. Since 1929 he has served in various capacities in the College
of Medicine at Ohio State University.
Dr. Edwards is a member of the following professional organizations:
International Association for Dental Research, American Association of
Anatomists, Ohio Academy of Science, Columbus Dental Society, American
Association of the History of Medicine, and the Franklin County (Ohio)
Historical Society. He was a member of Sigma Xi, Omicron Kappa Upsilon,
and Gamma Alpha. He is also a past president of the Ohio Academy of
Medical History.
Linden F. Edwards has published several books: ANATOMY FOR PHYSICAL
EDUCATION, CONCISE ANATOMY, and SYNOPSIS OF ANATOMY. He has also written
the chapter entitled “Anatomy” in Trapozzano’s REVIEW OF DENTISTRY FOR
STATE BOARD EXAMINATIONS and has coauthored the chapter entitled “The
Maxillary Sinus” in Orban’s ORAL HISTOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY. He has also
published scientific papers in the field of human anatomy. In recent
years he has developed an interest in the history of medicine,
particularly in the history of anatomy.
Dr. Edwards married Elizabeth Smith on September 2, 1925, and has one
daughter. He currently holds the post of professor of anatomy in the
College of Medicine at Ohio State University.
For the sake of accuracy and to be truly interpretative the historical
account of any era should include a record of the evil deeds of
disreputable characters as well as the good deeds of honorable ones,
albeit the tendency is to disregard the former in order to glorify the
latter, because of their greater appeal to the pride and esteem of their
fellow countrymen.
The medical colleges and the good citizens of Cincinnati during the
nineteenth century could well boast of their outstanding professors of
anatomy, such notables for example, as Doctors Cilley, Clendenin, Cobb,
Comegys, Gobrecht, Gross, Judkins and others too numerous to
mention—names which still grace the rolls of “Ohio’s Medical Hall of
Fame.” It is not the object of this paper to detract one iota from the
laurels of these professors of anatomy; rather, the purpose is to depict
some of the deeds and something of the character of a villainous
individual by the name of William Cunningham, a “professional
resurrectionist,” upon whom the professors relied for procuring their
anatomical material.