John Shaw Billings
American surgeon, statistician, United States Army officer, designer of New York Public library (1838-1913) · United States · On the map · Doctors · Died at 74
John Shaw Billings was an American librarian, building designer, and surgeon who modernized the Library of the Surgeon General's Office in the United States Army. His work with Andrew Carnegie led to the development and his service as the first director of the New York Public Library.
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A typical day, 30 days to 28 June 2026
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Surgeon General's Library developed by John Shaw Billings
Portrait in the National Library of Medicine by Cecilia Beaux 1895![An exterior view of the Octagon Ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, which became one of Billings' premier designs of the hospital.[14]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Octagon_ward_-_Johns_Hopkins_Hospital_-_exterior_Wellcome_L0040935.jpg/1280px-Octagon_ward_-_Johns_Hopkins_Hospital_-_exterior_Wellcome_L0040935.jpg)
An exterior view of the Octagon Ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, which became one of Billings' premier designs of the hospital.[14]![John Shaw Billings' architectural plans for Soldier's Home Hospital in Washington, D.C., which utilized a basement with fresh air ducts and a heating apparatus and was incorporated in Billings' designs of Johns Hopkins Hospital.[15]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Page_from_book_-_illustration_of_soldiers_home_hospital_Wellcome_L0040877.jpg/1280px-Page_from_book_-_illustration_of_soldiers_home_hospital_Wellcome_L0040877.jpg)
John Shaw Billings' architectural plans for Soldier's Home Hospital in Washington, D.C., which utilized a basement with fresh air ducts and a heating apparatus and was incorporated in Billings' designs of Johns Hopkins Hospital.[15]Awards
About this person
Billings oversaw the building of the Surgeon General's Library, which was the nation's first comprehensive library for medicine.
