Series 4: Executive Committee Meetings, 1921-1992

This series consists of the official meeting minutes of the Executive Committee. Also included are minutes of the Executive Committee and Annual meetings. The Executive Committee met at the request of GMI's Chairman of the Board and exercised all powers of the Board of Directors when the Board was not in session. This body was responsible for the development of policies that governed GMI/GML, including supervision of expenditures, budget management, and supervision of the Endowment Fund. They also reviewed and approved GMI/GML scientific research objectives, approved any actions that might have had international implications, and approved/disapproved program changes recommended by the Director of GML.

The series includes the minutes of the provisional committee on the Gorgas Memorial Institute held in Washington, DC, January 31, 1921. The participants consisted of its founders, the Honorable Joseph Lefevre (Chargé d'Affaires and Acting Minister of Panama), Dr. L. S. Rowe, Director General of the Pan American Union, the Honorable John Bassett Moore, Surgeon General M. E. Ireland, US Army, Rear Admiral Surgeon General E. R. Stitt, US Navy and Rear Admiral William C. Braisted, US Navy. Surgeon General H. S. Cumming (Ret.) of the U.S. Public Health Service was also present and appointed to the committee. Their charge was to plan the establishment of the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory (Republic of Panama), at the request of President Belisario Porras, President of Panama. Several more meetings were held in Washington, DC and on September 19, 1921 a charter was established for the Gorgas Memorial Institute.