Call Number:

CPP 10/035

Repository:

Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Extent:

.2 linear feet (1 half document box)

Language:

English

Date:

1968-1973 (inclusive)

Creator:

College of Physicians of Philadelphia and Institute for Advancement of Medical Communications

Form:

Correspondence and Reports

Abstract:

The Institute for Advancement of Medical Communication (IAMC) was founded in 1958 as an independent, non-profit organization devoted solely to promoting better communication among biomedical and health science practitioners. On May 26, 1970, The Council of the College voted unanimously to assume the corporate administration of the IAMC with a Board of Directors under the Chairmanship of Dr. Francis C. Wood. The program was discontinued in late 1972 or 1973. The Records of the Institute for Advancement of Medical Communication (IAMC) span the years 1968 to 1973, and document the College's involvement with, and acquisition of, the IAMC, through correspondence as well as reports of College's Library Committee.

The Institute for Advancement of Medical Communication (IAMC) was founded in 1958 as an independent, non-profit organization devoted solely to promoting better communication among biomedical and health science practitioners.

On May 26, 1970, The Council of the College voted unanimously to assume the corporate administration of the IAMC with a Board of Directors under the Chairmanship of Dr. Francis C. Wood. Some points of the agreement included:

The College has no obligation to support any of the IAMC's formal personnel; or augment the existing collection, except to reflect the College's pre-existing interest in the acquisition and dissemination of medical information.

The College's Library agreed to maintain the IAMC Library as a public resource and to make available its materials and data bases to qualified users.

The College was responsible for bookkeeping and accounting of Institute funds and budget. The IAMC was represented on the Council of the College by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the IAMC. The Board of Trustees were appointed annually by the President of the College with the advice of the Nominating Committee.

In 1972, when the College's Executive Director, Charles Ingersoll, retired, the College was in need of additional office space, and it was unclear whether the College would continue to support the IAMC. It seems there were financial issues with the IAMC, and the program was discontinued in late 1972 or 1973.

The Records of the Institute for Advancement of Medical Communication (IAMC) span the years 1968 to 1973, and document the College's involvement with, and acquisition of, the IAMC, through correspondence as well as reports of College's Library Committee.

Included in the collection is correspondence between College staff, such as Librarian Elliot Morse and Executive Director Charles Ingersoll, and the Director of the IAMC, Richard Orr. Topics discussed range from justifications for the College taking over the IAMC, logistics of the move and staffing, and furniture. Later correspondence among Orr, Ingersoll, and the IAMC's accountant (?) Harry White, supplies little detail about the financial issues of the IAMC.

Researchers should note that little to no information about the College's decision to end the IAMC program exists in this collection.