A Brief History: the 1950's

1950s graphic 1960s graphic 1970s graphic 1980s graphic 1990s graphic
Medical librarians had been meeting informally at the Tri-State Hospital Assembly in Chicago for several years. At the 1949 meeting, plans were made for establishing the Midwest Regional Group of the Medical Library Association. A Steering Committee representing the four states of the Assembly (Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana), plus a Veteran's Administration librarian, an ex-officio MLA member, and a member-at-large was set up; these people also represented various types of medical libraries. A chairman (Gertrude Minsk) and a secretary -treasurer were designated; dues were discussed; and three annual meetings were proposed. Twentieth Annual Tri-State Hospital Assembly Poster

The organizational meeting was held in connection with ALA's Midwinter meeting in Chicago on January 27, 1950, with over seventy in attendance. The acting officers and Steering Committee were confirmed for the year; the dues approved at 50 cents; and the budget of $25.00 approved

(The treasury in 1957 was $57.38 and had risen to $788.13 by 1975). Three meeting times were established: one to be at ALA's Midwinter; one at Tri-State in the spring; and one in the fall; at least one was to be held outside of Chicago. The geographic base was extended to include Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North and South Dakota, and Ohio.

Facts
1950s Correspondences among officers include phrases such as "the mobile Mrs. librarian"
1953 Don, Washburn, DDS is Chair, MRG/MLA
1954

-Efforts underway to reactivate Chicago librarians

-Discussions on whether members must be MLA members or work with institutional members

-Meeting at AMA; half day session on "Personnel", a doctor is included on the panel.

-Meeting at Palmer House; National Programs of Interest, presentation on "Human Relations"
1957 Original document "Organizational Guide for the Midwest Regional Group of the Medical Library Association, Inc" accepted
1958 Newsletter called "Midwest Memo" includes a "Holiday Memo"; immediate past president serves as editor
1959 Membership list: 164 members
Even this first meeting had a serious educational theme: "Task Analysis for Medical Libraries." Development in medical research, book selection for medical libraries, interlibrary cooperation, audio-visual, and even automation in libraries were among the topics of our meetings in the 1950s. Many presentations were very practical; it should be remembered that there were no specifically trained medical librarians until short six-week courses in medical bibliography were first offered in some universities in 1952.