Records of the Philadelphia Dermatologic Society

The collection of the Philadelphia Dermatological Society contains minutes, corporate documents, secretarial correspondence, membership and financial records, and material relating to the Atlantic Dermatological Conference, principally the meetings held in Philadelphia. It presents a fairly comprehensive view of the activities and interests of the organization through about forty of its ninety years of existence. The early records apparently have not survived; except for a copy of the 1923 by laws, this collection spans the years 1936-1980.

The existing minutes of the monthly and annual business and scientific sessions of the PDS, November 1936 April 1979, are contained in Series 1. Business meeting minutes are more complete; however, there are none between May 1953 and May 1963, nor for much of 1968/69, 1974/75, and 1975/76. Scattered files of clinical case presentation protocols and scientific transactions, October 1962 April 1979, provide interesting insight into the practice and progress of dermatology.

Surviving corporate documents, filed in Series 2, include several drafts and printed versions of early by laws, 19231968, as well as copies of the articles of incorporation, approved July 15, 1970, and proposed corporate by laws, November 1971. The final version, modified and apparently accepted in October 1972, is not included. Rules of the Society, unchanged (even the dues) at least from 1935 to 1965, outline rotation in office and order of business. A detailed outline of the extensive duties of the secretarytreasurer, compiled by President James Graham in 1967, is also included in this series.

Series 3 contains correspondence, largely of some seventeen secretary treasurers from 1948 to 1979. (Refer to Appendix 1 for a partial list of secretary treasurers). Since the same members rotated through the various offices, otherjoffices are also represented. Correspondence between June 1953 and October 1959 is missing, and that relating to membership or finance has largely been filed with Series 4 or 5 respectively. The letters illustrate the varied responsibilities of the secretary treasurer's office outlined in Series 2, as well as the activities and attitudes of the Society, and its relationship to other dermatological organizations (Atlantic Dermatological Conference, American Dermatological Society, International Congress of Dermatology, and Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology).

Membership lists from 1943 to 1956 and 1965 to 1970 have been retained in Series 4, along with completed applications and some related correspondence, 1940-1957 and 1960-1977. Occasional information relating to members, deaths and changes of address, for example, may be found within the correspondence in Series 3.

A fairly solid financial record of the organization survives in Series 5. Two check books cover the entire period from 1944 to 1973. A ledger covering the early years, 19361962/63, includes annual statements, dues [i.e. membership] lists, and a record of military service in World War II. The ledger is updated by audited financial reports for the years 1967-1972, 1974, and 1976-1979. Files of additional financial records and correspondence, 1963-1979, have also been retained.

Series 6 reflects PDS involvement with the annual Atlantic Dermatological Conference, of which it was a founding member. Included are a copy of the original articles of agreement, summaries of Executive Council actions 1923-1965, and uneven files of material relating to specific conferences, primarily those held in Philadelphia (1943, 1959, 1966, 1973, 1980.) Variously included are Executive Council minutes; programs; and material on planning, finances, attendance, local arrangements, etc. Additional Conference material appears throughout the PDS business minutes and correspondence files.

Series 7 houses files on such miscellaneous topics as the 1941 censorship of Dr. Patricia Drant by the Philadelphia County Medical Society for "advertising," and an 18-question 1966 membership survey, with responses, regarding affairs of the Society. Also included are two newsletters of the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology, 1971-72, which include by laws changes, officers, and a list of members.

Supplementary files of miscellaneous material (programs, publications, etc.) of the Philadelphia Dermatological Society, the Atlantic Dermatological Conference, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology may be found in the general collections of the Library of the College ofjPhysicians of Philadelphia.