Central Surgical Association Archives

Collection

Identifier: MS C 563

Abstract

The Central Surgical Association (CSA) was originally organized by Dr. Roy D. McClure in 1940 in order to provide surgeons in the central states and Canada with a regional professional organization. The archives contain original documents, correspondence, proceedings, minutes, programs, photographs, membership information, and published material by members of the group.

Dates

Creation: 1940-2007

Extent

28.95 Linear Feet (25 boxes)

Creator

Central Surgical Association (Organization)

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

Donor's copyrights were transferred to the public domain. 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 Central Surgical Association (CSA) was originally organized by Dr. Roy D. McClure in 1940. Dr. McClure organized the first group of surgeons that formed the CSA because he felt there was need for a regional association for surgeons for the central states. In 1940, he wrote to several colleagues about the need to follow the example of other regional surgical associations around the country and form one for the central states. These surgeons met at in Detroit after Dr. McClure received much interest in forming the group. It was at this meeting that they decide to form the CSA. They later met in St. Louis where McClure presented a list of names to be identified as founders. Suggestions and drafts for the first constitution and by-laws were started at this meeting. It is also where they officially named the group Central Surgical Association, which included the central states and parts of Canada. McClure was named as the first president of the group.

The president serves for one year and is succeeded by the vice president/president elect once the term is over. However, during WW II, the members decided to forego this tradition due to the war efforts. Dr. Roscoe Graham served as president during this time and ended up serving for four years (1942-1946). The first constitution and by-laws were officially adopted in 1946. The constitution was been revised several times since it was first adopted, most recently in 2004, but has remained true to the original. Membership is by nomination, endorsement, and member vote, with a maximum of 250 members.

One of the most vital aspects of the CSA is the annual meetings the group holds. The first of these meetings was held in 1941. The CSA hold their annual meeting every spring, usually in March. During these meeting, which last for a few days and held at a different place every year, they present papers, hold meetings for the executive council, business session, and it is where the transition of the president takes place. There is also a meeting of the executive council that is held in the fall, usually in November. The group also use these meetings to honor colleagues, memorialize deceased members, and celebrate significant milestones, like the 25th (1966) and 50th (1991) anniversaries of the Central Surgical Association.

Collection Summary

Correspondence, photographs, biographical information, minutes, and publications (1940-2007; 28.95 l.f.) document the activities and membership of the Central Surgical Association. The bulk of the collection contains materials created for the CSA's annual meeting such as official proceedings, papers presented, and meeting minutes, and biographical information on individual members.

The bulk of the Annual Meetings are proceedings and registration information. The CSA holds its annual meeting in the spring, with an additional executive council meeting in the fall. Found in this series are programs of the meetings, proposals and abstracts for papers to be presented, and evaluations. There are also two ledgers used to keep track of all attendees and guests for the annual meetings from 1953-67.

The Members series contains three subseries: biographies; committees; and lists, and includes information about both elected and potential members. The biographies subseries is arranged chronologically, beginning with founders biographies and then chronologically from 1940-2003. The names are further arranged alphabetically by last name under each year. Many of these files contain member portraits.

The Correspondence series contains letters primarily concerning annual meeting development, membership, and letters between and to CSA officers. The Member Writings series is comprised of a small collection of published and non-published work created by CSA members. Included in this series are articles from various journals (most are photocopies), manuscripts and thesis, and copies of the CSA Newsletter from 1974-2003.