SF Call 1Dr. Adam Shirk (December 20, 1840 – January 12, 1907) was an alienist (i.e., a doctor of psychiatry) and surgeon. He was also in charge of the Alameda County Infirmary for several years. 1
Shirk was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, graduating in 1862. He served as surgeon for a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil War. 2
Dr. Shirk was assistant superintendent of the Harrisburg Hospital for the Insane at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Then he served as the superintendent of the State Hospital for the Insane at Austin, Texas. 1 In 1888, he applied to become the resident physician at the Alameda County Infirmary 3 and took charge in 1889.
He married Virginia Harbert (Shirk) on July 11, 1867. They had a son, Adam Hull Shirk, and Virginia had two sons by a earlier marriage, E.L. and J.W. Harbert. 5
In 1900, he had a private practice at 857 Broadway with a druggist, Shirk and Simms. His son worked as a clerk for the business.
In 1900, the family lived at 163 - 10th Street. 4
His son Adam Shirk was manager at the Reliance Athletic Club.
Dr. Shirk died "after a lingering illness", and was buried in the Grand Army of the Revolution Plot in Mountain View Cemetery.
1893 5
Links and References
- Death Summons Noted Alienist San Francisco Call January 13, 1907
- Prominent Alienist Ill San Francisco Call October 25, 1906
- The Eastern Shore Daily Alta California November 3, 1888
- Husted's Oakland 1900
- Physicians and Surgeons of America by Irving A. Watson, A.M., M.D. 1893
- Adam Shirk on FindAGrave.com
- Report of Superintendent of Infirmary Oakland Tribune September 12, 1889
