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National Society for Medical Research Archives

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 417

Abstract

The National Society for Medical Research was established in 1946 with the purpose of insuring the freedom of investigators and teachers to use laboratory animals, whenever such use is justified. Over three hundred organizations supported NSMR. Correspondence, minutes, photographs, publications, clippings, printed matter, and legal cases and legislation covering the society's entire history. Includes extensive materials from antivivisection groups from 1924 to 1983, and a large collection of animal pound laws, federal legislation, and government regulations relating to the research use of animals.

Dates

  • Creation: 1946-1984

Extent

40.1 Linear Feet (75 boxes, one oversize folder)

Creator

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access.

Copyright and Re-use Information

NLM does not possess copyright to the collection. Archival collections often contain mixed copyrights; while NLM is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. It is the user's responsibility to research and understand any applicable copyright and re-publication rights not allowed by fair use. NLM does not grant permissions to publish.

Privacy Information

Archives and manuscript collections may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in any collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications for which the National Library of Medicine assumes no responsibility.

Historical Note

The National Society for Medical Research was established in 1946 with the purpose of insuring the freedom of investigators and teachers to use laboratory animals, whenever such use is justified. Over three hundred organizations supported NSMR. The official publication was the Bulletin of the National Society for Medical Research. The Board of Directors of the National Society for Medical Research was also active in lobbying for or against legislation involving the use of animals in research. NSMR also monitored the impact of mandated testing required by regulations on the use of human subjects in research. In 1984 the National Society for Medical Research merged with the Foundation for Bio-Medical Research.

In 1946 the National Society for Medical Research instituted the "Research Dog Hero Award," awarded annually to one particular research dog used for heart surgery or cancer research. An honorary collar was put around the "Research Dog Hero's" neck.

The National Society for Medical Research sponsored the Claude Bernard Science Journalism Award which gave recognition to responsible science reporting which has made a significant contribution to public understanding of basic research in the life sciences, including but not limited to experimental medicine. The Science Journalism Awards were established in 1967 by the Board of Directors of the National Society for Medical Research in the name of Claude Bernard, the great 19th century Frence physiologist and "founder of modern experimental medicine."

The National Council of the National Society for Medical Research was conceived as an instrument to permit many organizations to conduct a joint program of public education on the methods and needs of biological and medical research. The purpose of the program was to educate the public about the need for animal research, in an effort to halt the growth of anti-vivisection, anti-dissection and other related anti-science cults.

Collection Summary

Correspondence, minutes, photographs, publications, clippings, printed matter, and legal cases and legislation covering the society's entire history. Includes extensive materials from antivivisection groups from 1924 to 1983, and a large collection of animal pound laws, federal legislation, and government regulations relating to the research use of animals.

Abstract

The National Society for Medical Research was established in 1946 with the purpose of insuring the freedom of investigators and teachers to use laboratory animals, whenever such use is justified. Over three hundred organizations supported NSMR. Correspondence, minutes, photographs, publications, clippings, printed matter, and legal cases and legislation covering the society's entire history. Includes extensive materials from antivivisection groups from 1924 to 1983, and a large collection of animal pound laws, federal legislation, and government regulations relating to the research use of animals.

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Provenance

Gift from the FASEB offices of Bethesda in 1984.

General

Processed by
HMD Staff
Processing Completed
1985
Encoded by
Electronic Scriptorium
Title
Finding Aid to the National Society for Medical Research Archives, 1946-1984
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
HMD Staff
Date
1985
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latn
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
1.0

Revision Statements

  • July 2004: PUBLIC "-//National Library of Medicine::History of Medicine Division//TEXT (US::DNLM::MS C 417::National Society for Medical Research Archives)//EN" "nsmr" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
8600 Rockville Pike
Bldg 38/1E-21, MSC 3819
Bethesda MD 20894 US
1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656)