by Beth Zak-Cohen
Did you think McCosh Health Center was named after the President of the College? Not so. In fact, McCosh Health Center was named after his wife Isabella. When James McCosh became President of the College, in 1868, he moved with his wife from Scotland to Princeton. Isabella was the daughter of a physician, Dr. Alexander Guthrie, and when she found out there was no infirmary or health supervision on campus she was appalled. So, as her bio on the McCosh website states, “she immediately became the unofficial ‘Director of Campus Health Services.’”.
Phillip Rollins, class of 1889, said of Isabella McCosh, “Every morning she received from the proctor’s office a list of the students confined to their rooms by serious malady or injury, and promptly she started on her rounds. There would be a gentle knock on the door and a gentle, ‘May I come in?’ Two alumni have told me that, but for her nursing of them in their undergraduate days, they would have died of typhoid fever. Three alumni, two of them physicians, have claimed that, but for her nursing, they would have died of pneumonia. And it was my personal privilege to hear that knock and query on three occasions at the door of my very own room.”
Isabella continued to urge her husband of the need for an infirmary on campus. Her husband pressed the trustees to carry out this request, but an actual fund for an infirmary was not instituted until 1891 after he had retired. However, the trustees decided to name the infirmary for Isabella McCosh because of the work she had put into looking out for student health and welfare on campus and her tireless campaigning for an infirmary.
The infirmary is Isabella’s most remembered contribution to Princetonian life, but not her only one. She was a favorite among Princeton students loved for her sauciness and kindliness. She often would invite students to dine at the House of the President, she was very involved in the social aspects of Princeton. Her “sauciness” and involvement in all of Princeton’s affairs is exemplified in this story from her biography:
A story is told of the Scot-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s first visit to the College when, being met at the railway station by President and Mrs. McCosh, he opened the conversation by stating: “Doctor McCosh, for a long time I’ve been much interested in Princeton.“ Mrs. McCosh instantly retorted: “Indeed, Mr. Carnegie, thus far we have seen no financial evidences of it.“ As the startled philanthropist admitted afterward, it was a fair retort because it was “Scot against Scot.“
Isabella McCosh saved the lives of an untold number of Princeton students and certified their wellbeing for years to come. Until she died at 92, she continued to take walks on Princeton’s campus and maintain an interest in Princetonian life. For years, at the McCosh Health Center, a rose was placed under her portrait every week to remember her contributions.
