New York Ophthalmological Society Records, 1864-2012

Historical Note

Historical Statement

The New York Ophthalmological Society first met on March 7, 1864. The founders were Cornelius R. Agnew, Herman Althof, Freeman Bumstead, William R. Carmalt, John H. Hilton, Henry D. Noyes, D. B. St. John Roosa, Henry B. Sands, Francis Simrock, and William Stimson. Membership was limited to 44 men and meetings were held on the second Monday of the month, except June through September. Over time, meetings moved from the homes of host members to local hotels and clubs. Scientific sessions involved the discussion of cases and, in later years, the examinations of patients.

The Society is still in existence and is the oldest ophthalmological society in the United States.

Collection Description

Scope and Content

The bulk of the collection is made up of minutes; correspondence and other documents are found interspersed in some of the minutes. In addition to correspondence, ther materials include membership proposals, obituaries, and financial records.

Administrative Info

The collection is open to researchers with permission from 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

New York Ophthalmological Society Records. The Drs. Barry and Bobbi Coller Rare Book Reading Room, New York Academy of Medicine Library.

Provenance

New York Ophthalmological Society.

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.