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The History of the Missouri State Medical Association
The following can be found in the Preface, extracted from the original "History of the Missouri State Medical Association," edited by Robert E. Schlueter, MD, St. Louis, original printing by the Ovid Bell Press, Inc., Fulton, Missouri, 1950:
As the centenary of the Association was looming before the eyes of its officers and members, it was deemed most appropriate that some description of the Association’s past work should be a part of the centennial celebration. A comprehensive record, however, would be quite cumbersome, so this more practical summary of evidently apparent essentials was thought to serve the purpose of a commemoration better. Of course this modest effort is certainly not immune to that sort of criticism to which all abstracts are exposed.
Most of the transactions of the Missouri State Medical Association, up until 1904, were found in the Library of the St. Louis Medical Society, where the Librarian, Miss Audrey L. Kargus, assisted materially. The transcriptions for two of the missing years (1896 and 1897) were provided by Miss Marion A. Murphy, from the Library of Washington University, School of Medicine. The Army Medical Library, Washington, D.C., provided the needed records of the Association for 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1875. That left only the years 1870 and 1871 to be found. After failing to locate them elsewhere, the notices of those meetings in the Missouri Republican, in the files of the Missouri Historical Society, provided the material to complete this narrative in a fashion. The whole effort would have been definitely impossible had it not been for the assistance and services of Miss Helen Penn.
As the Association approached its Sesquicentennial year, it was thought to complete a historical record begun by Dr. Schlueter. The remaining 50 years were compiled from the minutes of the Annual Sessions, 1950-1999, and the Delegate’s Handbook of 2000. The Ovid Bell Press, Fulton, Missouri, printed the original "History of the Missouri State Medical Association" in 1950. The 40-page long document described years of achievements, wars, medical discoveries and legislative victories.
To further this tradition, the Ovid Bell Press upheld its position as "Official Printer of Record" and sponsored the printing of this Sesquicentennial History, completing the document with the years 1950-2000. The original history was published in Missouri Medicine, but the anniversary volume was distributed only at the Annual Banquet in the honor of Past Presidents on March 28, 1950. Following tradition, only a limited number of this Sesquicentennial History was printed, and only those who attended the 2000 Presidential Inauguration Celebration received a copy.
The MSMA Sesquicentennial Committee was comprised of Stephen Vilmer, MD, Chair, of North Kansas City; Joni Scott, MD, of Rogersville; Octavio Chirino, MD, of St. Louis; and Mrs. Roberta Goldman, of St. Louis. Mrs. Carol Jean DeFeo, of Kansas City, was appointed as the Alliance representative, with Alliance History presented by Mrs. Sandra Mitchell, of Kansas City. Staff Editor was Lizabeth R. Starnes, Jefferson City.
MSMA thanks the Ovid Bell Press, Inc., for continuing a tradition begun in 1904 when it became the printer for MSMA’s medical journal, Missouri Medicine. Just recently, Ovid Bell celebrated its 75th Anniversary with the staff of MSMA. We appreciate the service and dedication you’ve shown throughout your years of printing.
Limited copies of the History of the Missouri State Medical Association are available. Please email Lizabeth Fleenor, MSMA Director of Communications or call 800-869-6762.
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