Dr. Musgrave was born in Farmington, Tennessee, September 12, 1869, son of William Everett and Susan Casander (Thomas) Musgrave. He was educated at George Washington University School of Medicine, and in 1901 he received his M.D. Following an interest in tropical medicine, he began his career at the Philippines Medical School, as professor of clinical medicine and applied therapeutics, as well as chief of clinics from 1902-1909. Dr. Musgrave served as the dean of the College of Medicine and Surgery at the University of the Philippines and director of the Philippines General Hospital from 1909-1917.

In 1918 Dr. Musgrave came to San Francisco to take the position as director of hospitals at the University of California. He also became editor of California and Western Medicine and Better Health magazines. At this time Dr. Musgrave lived in Ben Lomond, California, and maintained an office in San Francisco.

During his active career, Dr. Musgrave was a member of the American Medical Association (vice-president 1923), and the Public Health Association; he was acting assistant surgeon of U.S. Army 1901-1903; captain in the Medical Corps during World War I, and president of the Manilla Medical Society. A letter in the collection, dated 1926, shows Dr. Musgrave as active in his profession until his death in 1927.

Dr. Musgrave was a member of the Society of Tropical Medicine and Société de Pathologie. His research interests included amebiasis; streptothricosis; trypanosomiasis; Malta fever; beriberi; and etiology of arteriosclerosis in the tropics.