Southern Oregon Medical Society records

Collection

Identifier: 2004-012

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of three journals of minutes, along with registration and finance books. The books include interleaved, glued, or taped-in news clippings and programs of the annual meeting, photographs, receipts, applications for membership, obituaries, and correspondence.

The minutes record the first annual meeting in 1894 to the seventieth annual meeting in 1961. The book also contains the members’ addresses, medical schools, graduation dates and admission dates, and a name index of members.

Dates

1892-1961

Creator

Southern Oregon Medical Society (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access. This collection is open to the public.

Conditions Governing Use

OHSU Historical Collections & Archives (HC&A) is the owner of the original materials and digitized images in our collections, however, the collection may contain materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials. Consult with HC&A to determine if we can provide permission for use.

Historical Note

The Southern Oregon Medical Society was organized on May 16, 1892, at a meeting in Medford, Oregon with Dr. F. W. Van Dyke as the chair. The Society members, all doctors of medicine residing in Southern Oregon communities, represented nearly every well-known school of medicine in North America. The organization, formerly named the Southern Oregon Medical Association, was later renamed the Southern Oregon Medical Society (SOMS). The first president of SOMS was Dr. E. P. Greary, with Dr. E. B. Pickle as secretary and treasurer. The membership consisted of fifteen doctors from Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, and Lake Counties.

SOMS was the first district society in the state. The average attendance at meetings for the first ten years was from five to nine members, with two or four visiting doctors. In 1900, the society took an active part in urging the organization of a State Board of Health, preparing resolutions according to the sentiments of physicians in southern Oregon. From time to time, evening public meetings were also held. By 1910, its members numbered fifty-five, and by 1940, eighty-six. Presently, county medical societies are affiliates of the Oregon Medical Association.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 document boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Southern Oregon Medical Society, founded in 1892 in Medford, OR, represented nearly every well-known school of medicine in North America. The collection consists of three journals of minutes as well as registration and finance books, created and kept by the Society from 1892 to 1961.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

J. E. Campbell, M.D. alerted library staff that these records were in the custody of Joseph Schweinfurth, M.D. of Grants Pass, OR. Dr. Schweinfurth turned the collection over to Bertha Hallam and Mararet Hughes of the UOMS Library in 1969. They were finally inventoried in 1978, accessioned on November 30, 2004 and added to the archives in 2005.