Massachusetts Medical Society records, 1781-1971

Massachusetts Medical Society records, 1781-1971

The Massachusetts Medical Society was founded in 1781. Early members of the society published its transactions and papers presented at meetings; in 1812 they began publishing New England Journal of Medicine and Surgery. In the early 19th century Harvard College and the society agreed that both organizations could examine candidates and award a degree or a certificate of approval, as appropriate. Committees of the Society have been active in improving the quality of health care in Massachusetts. For example, the Committee on Ethics and Discipline was organized in 1871 to crusade against practioners of irregular medicine.
Contains records of the Board of Censors of the Massachusetts Medical Society, licensing members to practice in the state. Also includes records of meetings of district medical societies; correspondence, minutes, and other records of such committees as the Committee on Ethics and Discipline; secretary's files with correspondence, reports, and minutes of meetings; and treasurer's records. Other records include questionnaires and correspondence concerning medical malpractice; notices of deaths of members; scrapbooks of society presidents; photographs; manuscripts of publications; and directories and catalogs. Additional accession includes Celebrating Our History, Shaping the Future, a film on DVD commemorating the Society's 225th anniversary.