Guide to the Allegheny County Medical Society Minute Book, 1848-1858 AIS.2017.04

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Allegheny County Medical Society Minute Book
Creator
Allegheny County Medical Society
Collection Number
AIS.2017.04
Extent
0.21 Linear Feet
Date
1848-1858
Abstract
Records consists of a single volume, containing minutes from the meetings of the Allegheny County Medical Society from 1848 to 1858. The minutes contain information about the founding and operation of the society, election of members, and proceedings of meetings.
Language
English .
Author
David R. Lewis.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

History

The Allegheny County Medical Society was formed in August 1848, after Dr. Samuel Dilworth put out a call in a local newspaper advertising the first meeting. While this minute book only records the operations of the Society until 1858, it appears to have briefly ceased operations and was re-formed in 1865 with many members from the earlier iteration of the Society. According to their 1939 by-laws, the Society exists to promote interactions among physicians, as well as to elevate and extend the practice of medicine in the county. The early leadership of the Society includes Samuel Dilworth, R.M. Pollock, George D. Bruce, John S. Irwin and Jeremiah Brooks. In 2015, the Allegheny County Medical Society celebrated its sequicentennial, thus tracing the current organizations founding to the 1865 re-organization date.

Scope and Content Notes

Records consists of a single volume, containing minutes from meetings of the Allegheny County Medical Society from its first meeting in August 1848 until April 1858. Early minutes detail the formation of the early leadership structure of the society including the adoption of by-laws, the election of officers, and the election of new members. Later meeting minutes detail the formation of new committees and brief reports on the proposal and election of members, notably the application of Martin R. Delany, an African-American physician who later became known as the father of black nationalism. Delany's nomination was tabled indefinitely, which led to considerable discussion about electing African-Americans to the Society's membership. Additoinally, the Society regularly discussed then-common communicable diseases such as cholera and scarlet fever.

Copyright

No copyright restrictions.

Previous Citation

Allegheny County Medical Society Minute Book, 1848-1858, AIS.2017.04, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Allegheny County Medical Society Minute Book, 1848-1858, AIS.2017.04, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the University of Pittsburgh's Falk Medical Library on July 30, 2012. This collection was separated from the Falk Library Medical School History Collection (UA.2012.28) in December 2016.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Allegheny County Medical Society

    Personal Names

    • Gazzam, Joseph M.
    • Delany, Martin Robison

    Genres

    • Minutes

    Other Subjects

    • Medicine -- Societies, etc.
    • Health and medicine
    • Associations

Container List

Minute Book, 1848-1858