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| National Library of Medicine |
Was Your Ancestor a Physician?
At a3Genealogy we are hooked on researching “off-beat” collections. When researching U. S. Army Surgeon General’s Office Autobiographical Sketches of Medical Officers, or the National League for Nursing records, or the U. S. Army Surgeon General’s Office Autobiographical Sketches of Naval Medical Officers we turn to the U. S. National Library of Medicine Archival and Manuscript (NLM)Collections.
Our favorite collection at the NLM is The American Medical Association (AMA) Deceased Physicians Master Card File.
At a3Genealogy we are hooked on researching “off-beat” collections. When researching U. S. Army Surgeon General’s Office Autobiographical Sketches of Medical Officers, or the National League for Nursing records, or the U. S. Army Surgeon General’s Office Autobiographical Sketches of Naval Medical Officers we turn to the U. S. National Library of Medicine Archival and Manuscript (NLM)Collections.
Our favorite collection at the NLM is The American Medical Association (AMA) Deceased Physicians Master Card File.
What Are Deceased Physicians Master Card
File?
Did
your physician ancestor disappear? Or, are there large holes in your ancestor’s life story? The 350,000 physicians biographical
cards may hold the answers. Physician biographical cards were collected
and maintained by the AMA.
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| Physician Overton: From New York to Newfoundland |
The
American Medical Association, established in 1847, created a medical directory
of its members. The first woman became a
member in 1876. African American physicians were not included until about 1888. Read: African
American Physicians and Organized Medicine, 1846 - 1968. The American Medical Directory was expanded to all
physicians in 1906.
The original collection of physician information was written on cards which were compiled into The
Medical Directory. The information
on these 4x6 cards included those who died between 1906-1969,. Researchers
will find death notices and biographies of their physician ancestors who were
born as early as 1850ish, to include those who graduated after 1865.
These
350,000 physical files were archived in the AMA Deceased Physicians Masterfile
and published in two volumes: Directory of Deceased American Physicians 1804 -
1929. Once compiled these original cards
were discarded and not salvaged. However, the 1864 - 1968 AMA Deceased Physician File (AMA) cards are digitized and can be retrieved from FamilySearch.org. Biographical notes of physicians after 1969 to present are maintained in a computer database.
What to Expect?
In
addition to “education,
state licensing, and place of practice," researchers may also find their ancestors’ obituary
citations, and even a noted cause of death. a3Genealogy researchers have crashed more than one brickwall
while conducting immigrant research. From where in Germany was that
ancestor? Did they practice
overseas? We have also seen ancestor’s card chocked full of controversial notes. Researchers
may find a photo of their ancestor, immigrant’s place of birth, overseas
practices, and even immigration information.
One ancestor’s file had a cryptic hint of why he moved from New York to South Carolina. A subsequent newspaper search was able to confirm and fill in the physician’s life experience.
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One ancestor’s file had a cryptic hint of why he moved from New York to South Carolina. A subsequent newspaper search was able to confirm and fill in the physician’s life experience.
African American Physicians
For those looking for their African American ancestors the cards may not list early hospital practices since only AMA physicians could practice in the hospitals. It is important to note that the National Medical Association (NMA) founded in 1895 was an alternative to the "white-only" American Medical Association (AMA). For more information read: Creating a Segregated Medical Profession: African American Physicians and Organized Medicine, 1846 - 1910.
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| Note: High School and Places of Residence (KY, MO, AR) |
Researchers
will also note their African American ancestors were listed as “colored” in the
Directory until 1939. For more
information read the following:
Where are the Files?
· 1804 - 1929
Directory is held at the AMA Archives in Chicago. This collection holds 149.000 physician
biographical information. Original cards
are not available. Ancestry.com has extracted the information from the
Masterfile database.
The Newberry has “special indexes to African-American, female, homeopathic and osteopathic practitioners.”
The Newberry has “special indexes to African-American, female, homeopathic and osteopathic practitioners.”
· 1864 - 1968 AMA
Deceased Physician File (AMA) cards are digitized and can be retrieved from FamilySearch.org.
· 1906 - 1969 National Library
of Medicine
and AMA Collections (may overlap with the 1864 - 1968 Collection.)
· 1969 - Present.
The AMA Unified Service Center, Chicago, IL, holds and maintains the 1969 to
present biographical information on computer database.
Be
sure to review the Finding Aid at the U. S. National Library of Medicine:
Thanks
to the Archival Librarians for a3Genealogy interview on Dec 2016.
Kathleen
Brandt
Accurate,
Accessible Answers
