See quotation, 1836. Dr. Caspar Wistar (1760–1818) originated these gatherings.
1818. His [Dr. Wistar’s] weekly conversation parties during the winter, were the means of concentrating and diffusing every kind of useful intelligence in the philosophical world.—Analectic Mag., xi. 160 (Feb.).
1829. I shall never forget these agreeable and instructive Wistar parties at Philadelphia.—Basil Hall, ‘Travels in North America,’ ii. 340.
1836. There exists here [in Philadelphia] a club of twenty-four philosophers, who give every Saturday evening very agreeable male parties; consisting of the club, twenty invited citizens and any strangers who may happen to be in town. [Note.] Called Wistar parties, in honour of the late Caspar Wistar, M. D., Professor of Anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania.—P. H. Nicklin, ‘A Pleasant Peregrination,’ pp. 24–5 (Phila.).
1857. The remark which old Dr. Chapman (once of his tremendously large village) made one night at a ‘Wistar-Party’ held at his house.—Knick. Mag., l. 528 (Nov.).
1858. You know, dear Knick, that ‘Philadelphia Wistar Parties’ are famous.—Id., li. 106 (Jan.).
