Medical Society of the County of New York Records, 1806-1989

Historical Note

The Medical Society of the County of New York (MSCNY) was officially established in 1806. Its forerunner, the Medical Society of the State of New York, formed in New York City in 1794 and proposed legislation to establish a state society as well as local county societies. The legislation was passed in 1806. At this point, the group in the city changed its name to the Medical Society of the County of New York.

The county societies were mandated to regulate the practice of medicine by: examining students and others wanting to practice medicine in New York City for membership in the society, which in turn would authorize them to practice “physic or surgery;” disseminating scientific knowledge and enhancing the practice of medicine; and suppressing unlicensed practitioners while promoting public health.

Regulating the practice of medicine was difficult. The original legislation provided no penalties for medical practitioners who failed to comply. An act of 1827 recognized the MD degree as a license to practice medicine, but also required practicing physicians and surgeons to belong to the county society. The only discipline for misconduct was expulsion from the society. The society’s authority was further weakened since applicants rejected by the county society could appeal to the state society.

The society continued to examine candidates for licenses until 1880 when legislation reserved the licensing power for the state. The society’s role was then “to aid in regulating the practice of physic and surgery.”

Between 1890 and the 1920s the society’s legal counsel, working with the district attorney and the courts, vigorously pursued “quacks” and irregular medical practitioners. Further legislation removed responsibility for regulation from the county society.

Although the society was not successful as a regulatory agency, it was influential in several ways. It was instrumental in the founding of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in establishing a code of ethics for the profession, in setting up a national pharmacopeia, and in organizing the American Medical Association. In the 1840s, the society’s influence began to wane. It was eclipsed by other groups such as the New York Academy of Medicine, the Medical and Surgical Society, the Pathological Society, and the AMA.

In the 20th century, the work of the MSCNY focused on education. Its primary purposes were “to extend medical knowledge and advance medical science,” and also to act in the interest of the medical profession regarding legal issues and public opinion. In the post-war era, the society worked to advance the private practice of medicine and protect the financial situation for its members. The society was concerned with and opposed the advent of government sponsored health insurance programs. With the increasing regulation of the profession the society became a participant in many mandated agencies.

In 1980 the society changed its name and organizational structure. The society became the New York County Medical Society.

Collection Description

The collection is largely comprised of administrative records, committee records, subject files, membership records, and financial records. Images and photographs, publications, resource and reference materials, publicity files, and miscellaneous other items are also present.

The Organization and Administration records include versions of the Society’s Constitution and By-laws through 1987and early records of the society, including minutes and reports. The collection does not contain the minutes of the stated and annual meetings beyond 1906, but there are notices and programs of meetings up to 1965.

Committee records make up a large part of the collection. The minutes of the executive committee known as the Comitia Minora go up to 1951 and reflect the society’s effort to enforce state regulations for medical practitioners. In addition to protecting professional interests, the Society was interested in the science of medicine, especially understanding contagious diseases as seen in these records beginning in the mid-19th century. There is little material related to the work of the Society in the early 20th century, but beginning in the late 1920s, the records of the committees begin to reflect the changing activities of the Society.

Among the largest committee records are those of the Committee on Public Relations and its subcommittees. The work of this committee was aimed at educating the public on new medical information through various media and presenting a positive image of the medical profession. Other committees with a significant volume of records are: the Advisory Committee on Malpractice, the Special Committee on Medical Economics, and the Special Committee on Maternal Welfare.

The second largest group of records are the Subject Files. These files again reflect the society dealing with many changes in the practice and regulation of medicine. They contain correspondence, reports, minutes of various committees with interest in the subject, and resource and reference materials such as clippings. The papers in two subject files reflect the development of the use of blood transfusions. The largest of the subject files covers the biennial Joint Congresses held by the Society and the Tokyo Medical Society, 1962-1986. The files include correspondence, notices to members, arrangements for travel, financial records, texts of papers, copies of invitations, menus, photographs, etc.

The section on Publicity is a useful and convenient record of the 20th century work of the Society. There is duplication of the some of the clippings from the scrapbooks and many duplicate clippings in the committee and subject files.

The Images and Photographs group is mostly portraits of the presidents and other officers of the society.

Administrative Info

Collection processed and described by Dorothy Truman.

Researchers wishing to use these materials must have a letter of permission from an officer of the Society.

Requests for permission to quote from or publish any materials should be directed to the reference librarian or curator in writing.

Preferred Citation

Medical Society of the County of New York Records. The Drs. Barry and Bobbi Coller Rare Book Reading Room, New York Academy of Medicine.

Provenance

Records indicate that much of this collection was placed on deposit at the New York Academy of Medicine in 1936 with additions made in 1959 and 1965.

Collection Contents

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of The New York Academy of Medicine Library. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.