Oregon Health & Science University, Historical Collections & Archives
Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland records
2021-001
14.7 linear feet
1884-2020
The Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland was founded in 1884 in order to support fellowship among medical professionals in the city. Over the 136 years of its activity—and through multiple iterations of growth and expansion—the activities of the Society included advocacy for standards of practice and public health; coordination with other state, national, and international medical organizations; exploration of the political and economic aspects of medicine; and charitable works. This collection spans from 1884 to 2020, and includes records, minutes, photographs, correspondence, and more that document the history and practices of the Society.
English
.
The Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland was founded as the Portland Medical Society in 1884 in order to support fellowship among medical professionals in the city. Over the 136 years of its activity, the name of the Society had several iterations, reflecting the growth and expansion of the Portland metropolitan area: the Portland Medical Society, Portland and Multnomah County Medical Society, Multnomah County Medical Society, and finally, the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland. The activities of the Society also grew and evolved over the years, including advocacy for standards of practice and public health; coordination with other state, national, and international medical organizations; exploration of the political and economic aspects of medicine; and charitable works.
The primary activity in the earlier years of the Society consisted of regular dinner meetings at which physicians presented papers on various medical topics, including case studies and surgical techniques, followed by discussion. In addition, the advocacy efforts of early Society members influenced the establishment of the University of Oregon Medical School in 1887, and a state board of health in 1902. By 1947, the Society maintained eighteen standing committees which addressed issues of public health, the operation of Society services and activities, and special medical concerns such as cancer, tuberculosis, and maternal welfare.
From 1927 to 1998, the Society operated the Physician's Answering Service, meeting a crucial need for patients and professionals in the community. By the 1980s, the Society also operated a medical staffing service, grievance and peer review committee, debt collection services, and facilitated medical credentialing. In 1992, the Metropolitan Medical Foundation of Oregon was established to grant funds to community health programs. In 2015, the Society began its Physician Wellness Program, which provided counseling services and wellness education to area clinicians.
Over the years, the Society maintained several journals, newspapers, and resource guides for its membership, beginning in 1946. These publications included developments and news from the wider medical community, as well as the activities of the Society and its members. From 1967 to 2000, the annual conference at Salishan Lodge provided members with a crucial networking and fellowship opportunity, and featured guest speakers who addressed socioeconomic, political, and professional issues.
In 2020, financial difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland to cease operations. Those interested in more detailed historical overviews can refer to The History of the Multnomah County Medical Society by George M. Robins, as well as the December 2020 issue of The Scribe.
The Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland records span the years 1884 to 2020. This collection includes financial records, meeting minutes, activity ledgers, publications, membership records, member portraits, photographs of society events, correspondence, and artifacts. The collection is divided into five series: 1. Foundational and operational records, 2. Meeting minutes, 3. Publications, 4. Images, and 5. Crawshaw papers.
The "Foundational and operational records" series spans from 1903 to 2005, and includes most of the documents and artifacts contained within this collection related to the foundation and operations of the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland. These include records such as membership applications and annual dues, certificates and award plaques, amendments to the organization's by-laws and articles of incorporation, and a history of the organization written by George Robins, M.D. Other items of interest include two maternity ledgers, as well as an embosser and candlestick telephone from the organization's telephone exchange. This series is arranged chronologically. Some items in this series have restrictions on access.
The "Meeting minutes" series spans from 1884 to 1984, and is arranged into two subseries: "2a. Board of Trustees and administrative meetings, 1925-1984" and "2b. General meetings, 1884-1980." Records within this series document the matters discussed and decisions made during the organization's various meetings at all levels of function, the most general and common of which occurred on a monthly basis. There is a noticeable gap of records in the "General meetings" subseries, from 1905 to 1930, but otherwise the series documents organizational changes chronologically over time. Several minute books are housed within this series, including the minutes of the organization's first meeting in 1884. This series is arranged alphabetically, with further chronological arrangement when needed.
The "Images" series spans from 1920 to 2004, and includes photographs of the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland's main headquarters, the telephone exchange, and portraits of board members, presidents, and general members of the organization throughout its 136 years of operation. Objects of interest include the aforementioned presidential portraits, which document every president of the organization from 1920 to 1978, as well as candid portraits from various meetings in the early 1990s. This series is arranged alphabetically.
The "Publications" series spans from 1947 to 2020, and contains copies of most known publications distributed by the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland. These include the Bulletin (1947-1968), The Doctor's Little Black Book (2010-2012), the Member Photo Rosters (1969-1993), the Physician's Resource Guide (1993-2012), and the Portland Physician/The Scribe (1969-1984; 1983-2012; 2013-2020), as well as assorted brochures and a written history of the annual Salishan conferences (1967-2000). MSMP's archived website is also available in the OHSU web archive. The bound volumes of the Portland Physician/The Scribe may be of interest to researchers seeking to see the organization's "public" positions on health and medical issues throughout the mid-to-late 20th century. This series is arranged alphabetically by publication title, with each publication being further arranged chronologically.
The "Ralph Crawshaw papers" series spans from 1961 to 2007, and contains personal papers and correspondence from Ralph Shelton Crawshaw, M.D. (1921-2014) documenting his involvement with the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland, including his tenure as the organization's president in 1975. These papers may be of interest to researchers seeking more information about Crawshaw and his individual contributions to the organization. This series is arranged alphabetically. Some items in this series have restrictions on access. Additional records for Crawshaw are also held at OHSU in the Ralph S. Crawshaw papers.
Some materials in this collection may be restricted due to the presence of protected health information (PHI) or other confidential information. Please contact Historical Collections & Archives for more details regarding access.
OHSU Historical Collections & Archives (HC&A) is the owner of the original materials and digitized images in our collections, however, the collection may contain materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials. Consult with HC&A to determine if we can provide permission for use.
Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland records, Collection number 2021-001, Oregon Health & Science University, Historical Collections & Archives
This collection is arranged into five series: "I. Foundational and operational records, 1903-2005," "II. Meeting minutes, 1884-1984," "III. Images, 1920-2004," "IV. Publications, 1947-2020," and "V. Ralph Crawshaw papers, 1961-2007." Each series within the collection is arranged alphabetically. The "I. Foundational and operational records," "II. Meeting minutes," and "IV. Publications" series are further arranged chronologically at the sub-series level after alphabetization.
Some records from this collection have been digitized and are available in the OHSU Digital Collections.
Crawshaw, Ralph, 1921-
Oregon Wellness Program
American Medical Association
Oregon--Portland
Societies, Medical
Delivery of Health Care
Medicine and Health
Physicians
I. Foundational and operational files
1903-2005
Membership dues
circa 1903-1907
1
1
Library records
1906 January 3-1916 March 4
1
2
Insurance endorsements and cancellations
1926 October 29-1929 January 2
1
3
Membership applications
1927 January 2-1928 November 21
1
4
Member dues
1928 January 31-1928 December 28
1
5
Auxiliary certificates, directories, by-laws, standing rules, and cookbook
1962-2005
1
6
Cooperative agreement with Sapporo Medical Society
1963 December 5
1
7
"100th Anniversary Celebration" event program
1984 December 13
1
8
"A Century of Public Service" plaque
1984
1
9
Drafting of the History of the MSMP
1985-1991
1
10
Benefits of membership pamphlets
1988, 1993
1
11
History of the Multnomah County Medical Society by George Robins MD
circa 1989
2
1
Sports Medicine Committee certificate
1993
2
2
Annual meeting, "Message from Dr. Keith Marton with Rob Delf"
2005 April 20
2
3
Maternity ledger
1883 June 3-1917 January 7
3
1
Maternity ledger and office expenses
1896 March 25-1927 May 6
3
2
Purchase of 2164 SW Park Place
1945-1981
3
3
MSMP by-laws and articles of incorporation, 1 of 3
1960-1981
3
4
MSMP by-laws and articles of incorporation, 2 of 3
1960-1981
3
5
MSMP by-laws and articles of incorporation, 3 of 3
1960-1981
3
6
Mortgages and deed, 2164 and 2188 SW Park Place
1963, 1975-1978
3
7
Candlestick telephone
undated
4
"Doctor's Official Telephone Exchange" embosser
undated
5
MSMP gavel
undated
5
Membership files
circa 1961-1986
6
Membership files
circa 1961-1986
7
Thomas Leister medical license
1905 April 20
26
1
II. Meeting Minutes
1884-1984
IIa: Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1925-1984
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1960 August 1-1960 December 13
8
1
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1961 January 10-1961 December 20
8
2
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1962 January 17-1962 December 19
8
3
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1963 January 16-1963 December 18
8
4
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1964 January 16-1964 December 16
8
5
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1965 January 27-1965 December 25
8
6
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1966 January 19-1966 December 21
8
7
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1967 January 18-1967 December 20
8
8
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1968 January 17-1968 December 18
8
9
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1969 January 16-1969 December 17
8
10
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1970 January 21-1970 December 16
8
11
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1971 January 20-1971 November 17
8
12
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1972 January 12-1972 November 21
8
13
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1973 January 17-1973 November 28
8
14
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1974 January 22-1974 November 20
8
15
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1975 January 22-1975 November 19
8
16
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1976 January 20-1976 November 17
8
17
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1977 January 19-1977 November 30
9
1
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1978 January 18-1978 November 15
9
2
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1979 January 17-1979 November 21
9
3
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1980 January 16-1980 November 19
9
4
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1981 January 21-1981 November 18
9
5
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1982 January 20-1982 November 17
9
6
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1983 January 19-1983 November 16
9
7
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings
1984 January 25-1984 April 18
9
8
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings (Secretary notes)
1925 January 21-1926 May 19
9
9
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings (Medical Society Telephone Exchange)
1946, 1950-1965, 1969
9
10
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings (Articles of Incorporation)
1960 July 26-1960 December 29
9
11
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings (Board of Directors)
1961 April 14-1963 January 17
9
12
Board of Trustees and administrative meetings (action summaries)
1963 January 13-1963 May 15
9
13
IIb: General meetings
1884-1980
General meetings
1884 June 10-1894 October 3
9
14
General meetings
1894 October 3-1897 June 2
9
15
General meetings
1897 October 6-1901 February 20
10
1
General meetings
1901 March 6-1904 February 17
10
2
General meetings
1904 March 2-1905 December 20
10
3
General meetings
1930 January 15-1930 December 17
10
4
General meetings
1931 January 2-1931 December 16
10
5
General meetings
1932 January 5-1932 December 21
10
6
General meetings
1933 January 4-1933 December 20
10
7
General meetings
1934 January 5-1934 December 19
10
8
General meetings
1935 January 2-1935 December 18
10
9
General meetings
1936 January 7-1936 December 16
10
10
General meetings
1937 January 6-1937 December 15
11
1
General meetings
1938 January 4-1938 December 21
11
2
General meetings
1939 January 3-1939 December 20
11
3
General meetings
1940 January 2-1940 December 18
11
4
General meetings
1941 January 14-1941 December 3
11
5
General meetings
1942 January 6-1942 December 16
11
6
General meetings
1943 January 5-1943 December 15
11
7
General meetings
1944 January 4-1944 December 20
11
8
General meetings
1945 January 2-1945 December 19
11
9
General meetings
1946 February 5-1946 December 18
11
10
General meetings
1947 January 7-1947 December 3
11
11
General meetings
1948 January 6-1948 December 15
11
12
General meetings
1949 January 4-1949 December 21
11
13
General meetings
1950 January 3-1950 December 20
11
14
General meetings
1951 January 2-1951 December 19
11
15
General meetings
1952 January 8-1952 December 3
11
16
General meetings
1953 January 6-1953 December 1
11
17
General meetings
1954 January 5-1954 December 7
11
18
General meetings
1955 January 4-1955 December 7
11
19
General meetings
1956 January 10-1956 December 4
11
20
General meetings
1957 January 2-1957 December 10
12
1
General meetings
1958 January 29-1958 December 10
12
2
General meetings
1959 January 28-1959 December 8
12
3
General meetings
1960 January 20-1960 July 20
12
4
General meetings
1960 October 4-1969 December 8
12
5
General meetings
1970 May 14-1980 December 17
12
6
III. Images
1920-2004
2164 SW Park Place and 2188 SW Park Place
undated
13
1
"Avison, Katy (Scribe)"
undated
13
2
"Board pictures"
undated
13
3
Black and white candid portraits from various meetings
1990-1994
13
4
Black and white contact sheets and negatives
1991
13
5
Black and white portraits
1976-1993
13
6
Black and white portraits
1983-1992
13
7
Black and white portraits
1983-1993
13
8
Black and white portraits
1984-1992
13
9
Black and white portraits
1991-1993
13
10
Black and white portraits
1987-1993
13
11
Black and white portraits, including Dr. Guy Parvaresh, and Thomas Koberstein, Director of Cascade AIDS Project
1987-1992
13
12
Color portraits
2001-2004
13
13
Executive committee retreat, Kah-Nee-Ta Resort
1985 May 18
13
14
Hospital buildings, including Sunnyside Medical Center and Emanuel Medical Center
circa
13
15
Members and patients
1961-1994
13
16
MSMP building, 4540 SW Kelly Ave
undated
13
17
Multnomah County Department of Human Services
undated
13
18
Oregon Academy of General Practice, events photographs
1959-1969
13
19
Physicians exercising, Life Flight, Telemedicine, Biojector study
1984-1992
13
20
Portraits of leadership, including Robert Elsner curriculum vitae
circa
13
21
Providers and patients, local social services [restricted]
1982-1984
13
22
Presidential portraits
1920-1928
14
1
Presidential portraits
1929-1938
14
2
Presidential portraits
1939-1949
14
3
Presidential portraits
1950-1960
14
4
Presidential portraits
1961-1973
14
5
Presidential portraits
1974-1978
14
6
Salishan
1991
14
7
Street scenes, patients at Health Bridge Northwest, Doernbecher, Multnomah County Tuberculosis Clinic
1984-1992
14
8
Unidentified group portrait
2005
14
9
Various local medical buildings, Animal Liberation Front vandalism at OSU Experimental Fur Research Station
1991, 1993 June 10
14
10
2164 and 2188 SW Park Place
undated
26
2
2164 SW Park Place painting
undated
26
3
Black and white group portrait
1961
26
4
Board group portraits
1990-2000
26
5
Board group portraits
undated
26
6
Board group portraits
undated
26
7
Portrait collage
undated
26
8
IV. Publications
1947-2020
Many publications from this collection have been digitized and are available in the OHSU Digital Collections.
Bulletin, Volume 2
1947
15
1
Bulletin, Volume 3
1948
15
2
Bulletin, Volume 4
1949
15
3
Bulletin, Volume 5
1950
15
4
Bulletin, Volume 6
1951
15
5
Bulletin, Volume 7
1952
15
6
Bulletin, Volume 8
1953
15
7
Bulletin, Volume 9
1954
15
8
Bulletin, Volume 10
1955
15
9
Bulletin, Volume 11
1956
15
10
Bulletin, Volume 12
1957
15
11
Bulletin, Volume 13
1958
15
12
Bulletin, Volume 14
1959
16
1
Bulletin, Volume 15
1960
16
2
Bulletin, Volume 16
1961
16
3
Bulletin, Volume 17
1962
16
4
Bulletin, Volume 18
1963
16
5
Bulletin, Volume 19
1964
16
6
Bulletin, Volume 20
1965
16
7
Bulletin, Volume 21
1966
16
8
Bulletin, Volume 22
1967
16
9
Bulletin, Volume 23
1968
16
10
The Doctor's Little Black Book
2010-2014, 2020-2021
17
1
Member Photo Rosters
1969-1971
17
2
Member Photo Rosters
1971-1973
17
3
Member Photo Rosters
1973-1975
17
4
Member Photo Rosters
1975-1977
17
5
Member Photo Rosters
1977-1979
17
6
Member Photo Rosters
1979-1981
17
7
Member Photo Rosters
1981-1983
18
1
Member Photo Rosters
1983-1985
18
2
Member Photo Rosters
1986
18
3
Member Photo Rosters
1987-1989
18
4
Member Photo Rosters
1989-1990
18
5
Member Photo Rosters
1990-1991
18
6
Member Photo Rosters
1991-1992
18
7
Member Photo Rosters
1992-1993
18
8
Physician's Resource Guide
1993-1995
19
1
Physician's Resource Guide
1996
19
2
Physician's Resource Guide
1997
19
3
Physician's Resource Guide
1998
19
4
Physician's Resource Guide
1999
19
5
Physician's Resource Guide
2000
19
6
Physician's Resource Guide
2001
19
7
Physician's Resource Guide
2002
19
8
Physician's Resource Guide
2003
20
1
Physician's Resource Guide
2004
20
2
Physician's Resource Guide
2005
20
3
Physician's Resource Guide
2006
20
4
Physician's Resource Guide
2007
20
5
Physician's Resource Guide
2008
20
6
Physician's Resource Guide
2009
20
7
Physician's Resource Guide
2010
20
8
Physician's Resource Guide
2011
21
1
Physician's Resource Guide
2012
21
2
Portland Physician, Volume 24
1969
22
1
Portland Physician, Volume 25
1970
22
2
Portland Physician, Volume 26
1971
22
3
Portland Physician, Volume 27
1972
22
4
Portland Physician, Volume 28
1973
22
5
Portland Physician, Volume 29
1974
22
6
Portland Physician, Volume 30
1975
22
7
Portland Physician, Volume 31
1976
22
8
Portland Physician
1977
23
1
Portland Physician
1978
23
2
Portland Physician
1979
23
3
Portland Physician
1980 January-1980 June
23
4
Portland Physician
1980 July-1980 December
23
5
Portland Physician
1981
23
6
Portland Physician
1982 January-1982 June
24
1
Portland Physician
1982 July-1982 December
24
2
Portland Physician
1983
24
3
Portland Physician
1984 January-1984 August
24
4
Salishan brochures and history
1967-2000
24
5
The Scribe
1983
English.
1
Portland Physician Scribe
1984
English.
2
Portland Physician Scribe
1985
English.
3
Portland Physician Scribe
1986
English.
4
Portland Physician Scribe
1987
English.
5
Portland Physician Scribe
1988
English.
6
Portland Physician Scribe
1989
English.
7
Portland Physician Scribe
1990
English.
8
Portland Physician Scribe
1991
English.
9
The Scribe
1992
English.
10
The Scribe
1993
English.
11
The Scribe
1994
English.
12
The Scribe
1995
English.
13
The Scribe
1996
English.
14
The Scribe
1997
English.
15
The Scribe
1998
English.
16
The Scribe
1999 January-2000 April
English.
17
The Scribe
2000 April-2001 May
English.
18
The Scribe
2001 May-2002 April
English.
19
The Scribe
2002 May-2003 May
English.
20
The Scribe
2003 May-2004 May
English.
21
The Scribe
2004 May-2005 May
English.
22
The Scribe
2005 May-2006 June
English.
23
The Scribe
2006 June-2007 May
English.
24
The Scribe
2007 May-2008 May
English.
25
The Scribe
2008 May-2009 May
English.
26
The Scribe
2009 May-2010 April
English.
27
The Scribe
2010 May-2011 May
English.
28
The Scribe
2011 May-2012 May
English.
29
The Scribe (PDFs)
2013-2020
2021-001
2022.03.15
V. Ralph Crawshaw papers
1961-2007
"File #1" 1 of 2
1970-1976
25
1
"File #1" 2 of 2
1970-1976
25
2
"File #2" 1 of 2
1976-2007
25
3
"File #2" 2 of 2
1976-2007
25
4
Patient grievance file [restricted]
1961
25
5
"Dr. Benjamin Rush Bicentennial Award for Citizenship and Community Service" plaque
1990 December 2
2021-001
2022.03.15