St. Louis County Medical Society records

The St. Louis County Medical Society was founded on July 16, 1886. Local doctors met to form a county association for mutual protection and improvement and agreed to meet on a monthly basis. Original officers of the organization were: President, Dr. V. Smith; First vice President, Dr. A. F. Ritchie; Second Vice President, Dr. S. C. McCormick; Secretary, Dr. Stocker; Treasurer, Dr. McComb; Censors, Drs. Sherwin, Magie and Speier.

The Society's constitution lists the following as the primary objectives of the organization: " The object of the Society shall be: First; the association of the profession for mutual recognition and fellowship; Second; the maintenance of union, harmony and good government among the members, thereby promoting the character, interests, honor and usefulness of the profession. Third; The cultivation and advancement of medical science and literature and the elevation of the standard of medical education. Fourth; The enforcement and improvement of the laws of the state relating to the practice of medicine." Active membership was for physicians residing in St. Louis, Lake, Cook, and Itasca counties, physicians residing in other counties could be associate members. Meetings were held monthly. Membership was based on application and approval by existing members. The Society eventually organized the David L. Tilderquist Memorial Library.

The collection consists of minutes and rosters from the Regular and Executive Committee meetings from 1906 to 1985, minutes for the Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology subsections from 1941-1951. Also included are materials relating to the Procurement and Assignment Service during World War II including an indexed list of doctors, and financial and administrative records for the Society's D.L. Tilderquist Memorial Library from 1960-1972, as well as miscellaneous materials including obituaries, newspaper clippings, and Society financial statements.

The organization continues by the name Lake Superior Medical Society with an office in downtown Duluth. http://www.lsmedsoc.org/