page_title: Wistar Institute
section_title: Isaac Jones Wistar
hierarchical_section_title: Wistar Institute / History / Beginnings / Isaac Jones Wistar
caption_attribution_description: Wistar institute of Anatomy and Biology
context_page_description: The Wistar Institute is an independent, nonprofit research institution in biomedical science, with special expertise in oncology, immunology, infectious disease and vaccine research. Located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Wistar was founded in 1892 as America's first nonprofit institution solely focused on biomedical research and training. The institute has historic and contemporary ties with the University, reflected in research collaboration and shared access to facilities.
  Since 1972, Wistar has been a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and its application for renewal of the Cancer Center Support Grant received the highest rating of "exceptional" in two consecutive terms in 2013 and 2018.
  Known worldwide for vaccine development, some of the Institute's accomplishments are its contributions to the creation of vaccines for rubella, rotavirus and rabies.
context_section_description: Dr. Wistar's great-nephew, Isaac Jones Wistar (1827-1905), founded The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology in 1892. He was a prominent Philadelphia lawyer who had argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, and risen through the ranks to brigadier general during the Civil War. Gen. Wistar made a fortune building railroads after the war, and became a vice-president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
  Approached by the University about making a donation toward preserving the Wistar and Horner Museum, Gen. Wistar determined to fund a new building for it himself. His vision soon expanded beyond housing the collection to creating the Wistar Institute, to sponsor and publish new medical research and "any other work for the increase of original scientific knowledge." The University provided a plot of land on the west side of 36th Street, between Spruce Street and Woodland Avenue (originally designated for the University library). Wistar hired architects George W. and William G. Hewitt to design the museum/laboratory, and the building was dedicated on May 21, 1894. Dr. Horace Jayne served as its director from January 1894 to December 1903.
  Gen. Wistar and his wife were childless, and he was a widower for the last decade of his life. He established an endowment of more than $1,000,000 for the Institute, which generated an annual income of $30,000, as noted  in his September 19, 1905 New York Times obituary. He significantly increased that endowment after death by bequeathing the bulk of his estate to the Institute. Instead of being buried beside his wife at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Gen. Wistar was interred at the Institute. In 1914, the Institute posthumously published his autobiography, to which it added an addendum detailing his generosity:
  After General Wistar had erected a fireproof museum and laboratory building at a cost of $125,000 on grounds presented by the University of Pennsylvania, on September 1, 1893, he created a trust fund of about $130,000 for the support of the Institute. This fund was increased from time to time by General Wistar and at the last inventory, December 1913, was valued at $236,708.
  In 1897, General Wistar added a new wing to the museum building at a cost of $45,000 affording additional museum and laboratory space and a complete heating and lighting equipment.
  
  On October 1, 1898, General Wistar established a second trust fund with securities amounting to $340,000 which in the December 1913 inventory was valued at $405,903.21.
  
  A third fund, known as the Contingent Fund, was established by General Wistar on January 2, 1902, the income from the second trust being used for a time to build up this fund. In the December 1913 inventory, this fund was valued at $226,998.80.
  
  In addition to these funds, General Wistar presented to the Institute improved real estate in Chicago valued at $300,000.
  
  In his Will, General Wistar made the Wistar Institute residuary legatee to his Estate, so that after certain small annuities are extinguished the Wistar Institute will receive for its support the income on an additional estate of considerable value.
  A bronze bust of Gen. Wistar by sculptor Samuel Murray is exhibited in the Institute's museum. The Institute's original building is a National Register of Historic Places contributing property in the University of Pennsylvania Campus Historic District. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recognized the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology with a state historic marker in 2007.
caption: The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, under construction, c.1894
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