CELEBRATING JOHN MCALLISTER
A recount from Dick Whitney
A Personal Recollection of the McAllister Event
Written by Museum Exec. Director, Dick Whitney - 2022
On August 21st, 2022 a Historic Marker honoring John McAllister and his family legacy was dedicated in the Central Downtown area of Philadelphia in front of the US Customs House.
Representing the Optical Heritage Museum (one of the sponsors of the event), my wife Peg and I drove to Philadelphia and participated in the activities of that day.
The Marker, honoring John McAllister
By far, the days headline was the marker unveiling, which was the culmination of years of work from Eyeglass professionals, an effort begun by Dr. David Fleishman a retired Ophthalmologist. John McAllister and his family were optical pioneers in the early 1800s and although it seems strange by todays standards, actually began to apply science to eyeglass dispensing.
The McAllister’s had customers that included Presidents Jefferson, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.
About 70 people were in attendance, including 30 descendants of John McAllister! The group photo shows the McAllister descendants at the unveiling. This unveiling was even covered by a Philadelphia TV News Station, and everyone was most excited by the event.
In the other group photo, I am shown with some of the team who spent months putting this together. Dr. Ron Ferrucci (Second from left) did an outstanding job chairing this committee as there were many details that had to be worked out. All went smoothly, apart from being notified a week before the unveiling that there had been a mix up by the vendor and the marker might not be ready in time!!
Ron pushed back and ultimately had it successfully delivered and installed 3 days before the event! Talk about a stressful time leading up to this event!
Chuck Letocha, M.D. - an optical historian and valuable contributor to the Ocular Heritage Society
Prior to the unveiling, Chuck Letocha, M.D., a retired ophthalmologist from Pennsylvania, gave an in-depth Historical presentation at the nearby Wills Eye Center. His knowledge and in-depth presentation of the impact of the McAllister family on the birth of Optical dispensing in America was fascinating. This was a perfect start to the days event, and everyone I am sure learned much about this important start to the US optical Industry. Chuck also brought his collection of McAllister artifacts and displayed them in the Wills Eye Center where he spoke.
As an aside, Chuck has been an important member/contributor to Ocular Heritage Society. I am assuming the Presidency of this group from Chuck. A meeting in Southbridge is planned for next April of next year and the Museum will be its host. Anyone who has interest in Antique Spectacles should consider joining and coming to this event.
About the Family Legacy
In the early 19th century, Philadelphia Optician John McAllister, Sr. sold custom eyeglasses for Thomas Jefferson and other famous luminaries of the day. John’s knowledge and skill were such that he and his descendants continued to advance the discipline of opticianry as well as the professions of ophthalmology and optometry. The work of four generations of the McAllister family has influenced the practice of ophthalmology at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Hospital and led to the evolution of optometry as a profession. Fourth-generation Francis McAllister helped found the American Optometric Association.
About the Ocular Heritage Society
The Ocular Heritage Society was founded in 1984 by Audrey Davis at the Smithsonian Institute. The Society is a friendly rather than competitive group composed of members who appreciate, conserve and collect items relating to the ophthalmic sciences. Many are accomplished historians specializing in such topics as spectacles, quackery, instrumentation and the personalities of the ophthalmic sciences.
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