According to the family tradition, the North Carolina family derived its descent from the Massachusetts family, some members of the earlier generations having migrated south on account of the bitterness of religious feeling in Massachusetts. There is yet in possession of the family an old parchment bearing date of 1740 under which is conveyed to Jacob Winslow a large tract of land in Eastern North Carolina, and it is quite probable that this Jacob Winslow was one of the earlier immigrants from Massachusetts. The family is a very ancient one in England, under two forms, Winlow and Winslow. Its antiquity is proven by the fact that of four or five coats of arms granted, not one of them bears either crest or motto, a characteristic of very ancient coat armor.

As a boy, Doctor Winslow was a healthy youngster, his life being spent in a village where, after his seventh year, he was made to perform his share of household duties, for the Civil war coming on caused all of the negroes to run away and forced the white people to do all of their own work. He attended the local school, Hertford Academy, and later the Rugby Academy, in Baltimore. He then entered Haverford College, from which he was graduated in 1871, with the degree of A.B., the degree of A.M. being conferred in 1874, after an examination on the Pauline Epistles, in Greek, his being the first degree conferred by Haverford College for an examination. Doctor Winslow, having completed his academic course, entered the Medical Department of the University of Maryland in 1871, and was graduated in 1873, with the degree of M.D. In that same year, he took a special course in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and ten years later, in order to better equip himself and freshen up on all later discoveries, he went, in 1883, for postgraduate study to the renowned medical schools of Vienna, Austria. He began practice in 1873 in Baltimore, and early and promptly won recognition. The University of Maryland, from which he had graduated, promptly utilized his services, first, as an Assistant Demonstrator of Anatomy, in which capacity he served from 1874 to 1880. In 1880 he became Demonstrator of Anatomy and served until 1886. From 1886 to 1891 he was Lecturer on Clinical Surgery. In 1891 he became Professor of Anatomy and Clinical Surgery, which post he filled until 1902, when he became Professor of Surgery, which chair he has filled up to the present time. He also served as Professor of Surgery in the Woman's Medical College from 1892 to 1893. He is now a recognized authority and a skillful operator. While not a maker of books, Doctor Winslow is the author of many excellent articles pertaining to medical subjects, which have appeared in medical journals. In religious faith, he is a member of the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers. He is a member of the Baltimore Country Club and finds his favorite relaxation in playing cricket.

On December 12, 1877, Doctor Winslow married Miss Rebecca Fayssoux Leiper, daughter of John Chew and Mary Fayssoux Leiper. Of this marriage thirteen children have been born, of whom twelve are living. Like all other professional men of standing, he has done much reading, both along professional and other lines, but he places as the most valuable single work to him in all of his reading, " Gray's Anatomy." In looking back over the past, he is impressed that his choice of a vocation was largely due to heredity and environment, but in view of his eminent success as a surgeon, there must have been a large measure of natural aptitude and personal predilection, though even these may have been due to heredity. Doctor Winslow sums up his advice to young men desiring to win success in life in one word, "work." He might have added something to this, but it is certain that he could not have given a better foundation upon which to build.

Doctor Winslow holds membership in the American Medical Association, Southern Surgical and Gynecological Association, Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, of which last named society he has been vice-president, and the various local medical and college associations. He is also a member of the University Club of Baltimore. He is Chief Surgeon of the University of Maryland, and is one of the visiting surgeons of the Hebrew Hospital, Consulting Surgeon at the Hospital for Crippled Children of Baltimore, Consulting Surgeon to General and Marine Hospital, Crisfield, Maryland, and Surgeon to Union Hospital, Elkton, Maryland. Doctor Winslow is a member of the North Carolina Society of Baltimore, of which he has been president. In recognition of his attainments, St. John's College, at Annapolis, on the celebration of its 125th anniversary in 1909, conferred upon Doctor Winslow the honorary degree of LL.D.

See also, MEMOIR-RANDOLPH WINSLOW 1852-1937, Shipley AM, Ann. Surg. 106(5), 955, 1937.