Camden People - Dr. Arthur J. Casselman

DR. ARTHUR JAY CASSELMAN was born in Camden on March 14, 1888 to William S. and Annie Casselman. His father was a prominent lawyer in Camden, who partnered briefly with Thomas French before leaving to found the West Jersey Title & Guaranty Company. His mother was an early member of the Camden Womans Club. The William S. Casselman family lived at 314 State Street when the Census was taken in 1900. Besides Arthur there were three other brothers, William, Mark, and Paul. By 1910 the family had moved to 317 Penn Street.

After graduating from Camden Manual Training and High School in 1907, he went on to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he received his doctorate in 1911. He interned at Cooper Hospital at St. Agnes Hospital in Philadelphia in 1911 and 1912. He was appointed Assistant Pathologist at Philadelphia general Hospital in 1913, a was a Demonstrator of Clinical Pathology and an Instructor of Serology at Philadelphia Polyclinic Hospital in 1913 and 1914. Dr. Casselman did post-graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania in 1914 and 1915. In 1915 he went overseas and worked at the American Women's War Hospital in England. When the United States entered World War I he was commissioned as a captain in the United States Army Medical Corps.

A general practitioner, upon his return to the United States in 1919 Dr. Casselman returned to his parents home on Penn Street. He soon became interested in public health. From 1919 through at least 1956 he was the Director of the Laboratory of the Camden City and Camden County Health Departments. He also served as the Chief Consultant of the New Jersey Health Department's Bureau of Venereal Diseases from 1949 through 1952, and also served as the New Jersey Health Department's Laboratory Director.

Around 1924 Dr. Casselman married the former Zula Mae Boyd. They had two children, Catherine and Arthur Jay Jr. Mrs. Casselman was quite active in civic affairs in her own right. The Casselman family made their home for many years at 301 North 2nd Street.

Last a resident of Haddonfield, Dr. Casselman died in September of 1979. His wife joined him in December of 1981.

Letter from Catherine Casselman Grenhart - June 2009

Dear Mr. Cohen,

I grew up in Camden at 301 North Second Street. Your history was sent to me by one of my former students whose parents, under 400 Line Street, the Gentiles, also are part of Camden's history. I lived at 301 North Second Street where my Father, Arthur J. Casselman, M.D., Director of Public Health and Director of Laboratories at Lakeland General, Cooper Hospital and West Jersey Hospitals, had his offices and a laboratory as well. It was called Public Hygiene Laboratory.

My Father was born and raised at 317 Penn Street. His Father was William S. Casselman founder of the West Jersey Title and Guaranty Company. His bank was located, as I remember, across from the Masonic Temple and was torn down in the 30's I think. I remember going to visit Grandad at the bank. They always had a Christmas party for the children of the bank employees. This is all documented at the Camden County Historical Society.

My Father was born 3/18/1888 during the famous blizzard of '88. He had three brothers, Mark, Paul and William S. Jr. Grandad is buried in Harleigh Cemetery. The monument is facing Haddon Avenue in the front across from the Chocolate Factory. [The building referred to was the former A.N. Stollwerck chocolate factory which stood at 1651 Haddon Avenue. It has been gone for many years.- PMC]

William S., Jr. worked in the bank, Mark became a lawyer and had his offices on Market Street. Paul was an engineer and worked at the Franklin Institute. The ejection seat for pilots in Army planes was his idea, although I don't think he ever took (got) the credit.

My Father met my Mother in Rochester, Minnesota where she was head operation supervisor for the famous Dr, John Stokes (brother of the famous Philadelphia pediatrician Dr. Joseph Stokes). She came East and married him in 1924. My Mother, Zula Boyd Casselman, was president of many organizations in Camden...the Camden Woman's Club, the YWCA, the American Cancer Society, the TB Society and others whose names I have forgotten.. She and Miriam Lee Early Lippincott founded the Woman's Field Army for the Detection of Cancer, later the American Cancer Society of New Jersey) She was the second recipient of South Jersey Woman of the Year sponsored by the Best Market, adjacent to the old Sears Building on Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

They had two children...Arthur, who never married, and Catherine who married Robert F. Grenhart, attorney, son of Dr. George Grenhart of Haddon Avenue, Camden.

I, Catherine, graduated from Camden High School, as did my (deceased) husband, Robert, in June of 1942.

Catherine Grenhart
June 19, 2009

Camden Courier-Post * June 9, 1933

Mrs. Casselman Head-Elect Of N. J. Medical Auxiliary
Camden Woman Chosen for 1934-35 Term at Atlantic City Convention; Mrs. Hubbard President for Coming Year

Mrs. Arthur J. Casselman of this city has been chosen president-
elect of the Woman's Auxlliary to the Medical Auxillary to the New Jersey State Medical Society to serve for the 1934-35 term.

Mrs. Casselman's election took place at the annual meeting held at Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Atlantic yesterday in conjunction with the convention of the State Medical Society.

The president-elect is active in club work in this city and in the state. Her term of office as president of the Camden Womens Club expired this year. She served as State Chairman of the Department of Public Welfare for the State Federation of Women's Clubs for several months, later resigning, and for the last year has acted as chairmain of public relations for the State as well as for the Camden County Auxiliary.

Mrs. Harry Hubbard of Plainfield succeeds Mrs. Charles F. Adams of Trenton in the presidency for the coming year. In addition to Mrs.
Casselman, officers elected were Mrs. Daniel S. Renner of Skillman,

MRS. ARTHUR J. CASSELMAN

first vice president; Mrs. George A. Rogers of Newark, second vice-president; Mrs. William Freil of Jersey City, third vice president; Mrs. William H. Guillium of Asbury Park, recording secretary, and Mrs. Edward Clark of Englewood, treasurer.

The annual meeting yesterday was followed by a luncheon at which the physicians and members of their families were guests. In the evening the auxiliary members attended a dinner-dance given by the Medical Society in honor of its new president, Dr. Frederick J. Quigley of Union City.

In Mrs. Adams' address she urged the auxillary to assist with the children's health program of the state welfare board and to increase the membership. As a result of her talk, the auxiliary passed resolutions adopting both projects for the coming year.

"The program of the auxiliary for the coming year is proof that physicians wives are not merely the voice on the telephone," Mrs. Adams said, "but are clever women, wide-awake to the things that are new."

In closing the retiring president urged co-operation with the State Federation of Women's Clubs.

Among the Camden County women attending the meeting are Mrs. Casselman, Mrs. A. Haines Lippincott, Mrs. Thomas P. McConaghy, Mrs. Harold Westcott. Mrs. William C. Raughley, Mrs. William A. Wescott and Mrs. E. C. Pechin.

Camden Courier-Post - June 15, 1933

Mrs. Murray Named To Y. W. C. A. Presidency

Mrs. Charles T. Murray, of Haddon Heights, has been named to fill the un-expired term of Mrs. Guy C. Morrill, of Merchantville, as president of the board of the Camden Branch, Young Women's Christian Association. Mrs. Morrill resigned from office last month.

Mrs. Murray is a former vice president of the board, and will now serve as president until February when election of officers will take place.

Mrs. Arthur J. Casselman, member of the board, has been recommended by the Camden group for member ship on the committee for the new program for younger girls which the national Y. W. C. A. is organizing for activity in the Fall. The program will be developed along educational lines to particularly interest girls of college and high school ages.

Camden Courier-Post - June 24, 1933

SALVATION ARMY NAMES LIPPINCOTT
Camden Unit Makes Real Estate Broker Chairman of Advisory Boards

Earl R. Lippincott, real estate broker, has been named chairman of the advisory board of the Camden unit of the Salvation Army, succeeding William D. Sayrs.

Elections of officers for the group were held yesterday following a luncheon meeting at Hotel Walt Whitman. Vice chairmen of the organization include John J. Robinson and Mrs. Arthur J. Casselman.

Other officers include Mrs. Charles A. Wolverton, treasurer, and Miss Elizabeth Magill, secretary.

Members of the executive committee selected the following committees: Woman's committee, Mrs. Arthur H. Holl and Mrs. Wilfred W. Fry; finance committee, Dr. F. William Shafer, William D. Sayrs, Frank C. Propert, Mrs. Wolverton and Mrs. Holl; property committee, Howard Hemphill, John J. Robinson, Herman E. Hensgen, Arthur J. Casselman and George C. Baker; public relations and publicity, Rev. John Pemberton, Joseph G. Tweedy, Mrs. Mary W. Kobus, Dr. Albert B. Pancoast and Patrick H. Harding; program committee, Dr. James Rodger, Propert, Robinson, Tweedy and John L. Shannon.