Every now and then, you hear about surprising finds at flea markets, yard sales or in an attic. Items that appear ordinary are actually extraordinary, maybe even priceless. Recently, a Minnesota man had just such an experience. But the value of his find wasn't monetary. It was historical.

Watch: Lost Mayo letter from 1896 offers glimpse into Mayo values

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:22) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"This is a flower sack of Aaron Dayton's that he used on his farm. There are certain artifacts from the Civil War that he used. This is a binocular case. This is a ledger from the Ravine House. Some of the many bank statements."

For Fillmore County historian Brian Huggenvik, opening this trunk was like opening the door to the past. A treasure trove of history packed into a trunk that hadn't seen the light of day in 40-plus years and probably hadn't been opened even longer. Huggenvik discovered the trunk in a basement of a building in Lanesboro, Minnesota. The trunk belonged to Aaron Dayton, whose family owned the Ravine House, which served as a hotel and stagecoach stop in the area.

But it was another piece of paper with ties to a different Southeastern Minnesota business that caught Brian's eye.

"We found a letter from William Mayo," says Huggenvik.

Doctor William J. Mayo.

"It didn't click initially. Actually, it was just like: 'This just can't be.'"

Dr. Mayo's letter was in response to a scathing letter that Dayton had sent to him. At issue: a $50 charge for medical services Dr. Mayo provided one of Dayton's farmworkers.

"I was like, ah, just gave me goosebumps right away. I was like, 'I'm holding a piece of paper that's from the Mayo brothers.'"

Krista Reese is Brian's daughter. She is also a nurse at what is now Mayo Clinic.

"I can't believe I'm actually holding a piece of paper that W.J. Mayo, actually, you know, he typed and then signed. It still has the watermark," says Reese.

"Dear Sir, your proposition will be accepted with pleasure on our part. The question of expenses was talked over ..."

For Mayo Clinic historian Matt Dacy...

"... We have every desire to do the fair thing. With kind regards to Mrs. Rolfe, I am yours very truly, W.J. Mayo."

... These letters are a keyhole into Dr. Mayo's values.

"Where Dr. Mayo stood for what was right. He believed in making his case in doing those things, but he was not out for the ultimate financial gain. His real purpose was to serve the patient," says Dacy.

And setting the stage for the future.

"And so the nonprofit Mayo Foundation of today was exactly being created at that time, and here is a real-world daily situation of how he lived that out."

All captured in a letter tucked away for over a century.

"They went above and beyond for the patient."

"Needs of the patient came first."

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Editors' note: Matt Dacy, director of Mayo Clinic Heritage Hall and a longtime friend of In the Loop, joins us today as a guest editor/columnist/storyteller.

Nancy Reagan liked to say she had a "magical friendship" with Mayo Clinic, since it was a future surgeon's sleight-of-hand that introduced her to the institution. Mrs. Reagan, who died March 6, was a loyal Mayo patient and advocate along with her husband, former President Ronald Reagan, for more than 30 years. But her initial ties to Mayo Clinic went back much further.

In 1940, a young student named Oliver Beahrs was working his way through Northwestern University Medical School. He earned money for tuition by performing magic tricks. The faculty adviser for the school talent show that year was Loyal Davis, M.D., a prominent neurosurgeon, whose wife, Edith, was an actress. During rehearsals at the Davis home, Ollie Beahrs met his hosts' teenage daughter, Nancy.

They stayed in contact, even as their lives took separate paths. He became a distinguished surgeon at Mayo Clinic. She moved to Hollywood and supported her husband in his transition from acting to politics. When the Reagans needed medical attention, it was natural for them to reach out to their friend at Mayo Clinic. Read the rest of Mrs. Reagan's story.

Read more In the Loop stories

The post In the Loop: Remembering Nancy Reagan and a “Magical Friendship” appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

“The accomplishments on this list reflect the collective knowledge of colleagues throughout Mayo Clinic,” says Kerry Olsen, M.D., chair of the Mayo Clinic Sesquicentennial Committee. “Millions of people have received care as patients of Mayo Clinic, and millions of others have benefited from Mayo’s discoveries, advancing the standard of care throughout the United States and around the world.”

To create the list, a committee of Mayo Clinic’s senior leaders in clinical care, research and education called upon their colleagues to submit important discoveries from their respective specialty fields. Once all the submissions had been received, the committee was faced with the challenging task of processing and narrowing down hundreds of entries to a list of 150.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, Email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

“This list is not meant to be the ‘most’ important, nor are the accomplishments presented in any chronological order or priority,” says Dr. Olsen. “Rather, they were selected for their impact and enduring significance. Looking ahead, we anticipate many more advances to join the list.”

Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Olsen are in the downloads.

References from the project are preserved in the Mayo Clinic Historical Unit and Archive. “We hope this documentation will serve as inspiration for further investigation and research,” says Matt Dacy, director of Mayo Clinic’s Heritage Hall and member of the Mayo Clinic Sesquicentennial Committee.

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About Mayo Clinic
Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.org,  http://www.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

The post Mayo Clinic’s 150 Medical Contributions Span 150 Years appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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Listen to the entire speech by Edith Graham Mayo as well as the introduction by Mrs. Sara  Roosevelt, mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  American Golden Rule Mother of 1940

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Miss this show? Here is the full podcast: Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 5-3-14

On Saturday, May 3, we have a special program planned.  We'll recognize Mayo Clinic's 150th Anniversary with our guests Ian Hay, M.D., Ph.D., and Mayo Clinic historian Mr. Matt Dacy. Obviously much has happened in the world of medicine and health care the last 150 years and Mayo Clinic continues to be a leader in the field. We hope you'll join us as we reflect on the past and look to the future.

To hear the program LIVE on Saturday, click here.
Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions.
Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio.

Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines:  News Segment May 3, 2014 (right click MP3)  

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates.

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