The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. . , Approximately 5,000 Philadelphians , 10% of the city's population , died from yellow fever between August and November 1793. Burial records for Arch Street would list the "American Plague," another name for yellow fever, as the cause of death. More detailed records show whether the deceased was a Quaker or belonged to another faith. These records also show that Arch Street's burial grounds were opened to everyone during the epidemic and that people of diverse races, religions and nationalities were buried here. The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 remains one of the deadliest public health crises in American History., A First-Hand Account , Elizabeth Drinker (1735-1807) was a famous Quaker who wrote in her diary about Arch Street's burial grounds during the yellow fever epidemic. On September 12th, 1793, Drinker writes that "two or three bodys were thrown into friends [Arch Street] burying ground over the wall." On the 27th, she saw "10 graves open'd," with 13 more opened the next day. Drinker survived the yellow fever epidemic and died in 1807. She is buried on our grounds., [Caption:] , "Girard's Heroism" shows Philadelphia merchant Stephan Girard personally helping a man infected with yellow fever into his carriage to take him to a hospital.