American College of Surgeons - Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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The Permanent Administrative Home 7 Creation of the John B. Murphy Memorial Association But the horrors of a European war could not distract us from the great loss which the medical, and especially the surgical, profes- sion of the world sustained in the death of one of the most distin- guished Fellows and influential founders of our College, Dr. John B. Murphy. His death, occurring as it did at the height of his activity and influence, brought us face to face with the mutability of our transient problems. It also brought vividly to the minds of his nearest friends his transcendent interest in the American College of Surgeons and his regret that, at the time the permanent location of the College was discussed, Chicago, the city in which he had done his work, was not even seriously considered. Before he had been laid to rest, a host of his lay friends were discussing and planning a suitable memorial for this great man — something other than bronze or marble; something connected with his life ' s work; something useful; something essential; something enduring; something in Chicago. The suggestion that in the permanent home of the American College of Surgeons a memorial hall bearing his name be dedicated to his memory, as the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons commemorates a leader of surgery of England, appealed to these friends, and an organization known as the John B. Murphy Memorial Association was immediately incorporated. The plans of this Association included the securing from the municipality of Chicago or from the citizens of Chicago a gift of land on which to build the first unit of the future home of the American College of Surgeons, the building to be known as the Murphy Memorial of the College. It was obviously necessary that the tentative plans of this organization should be immediately considered by the College and a decision definitely rendered. It was mid-August and the Regents were scattered, enjoying their vacations. The Chicago contingent — the Treasurer, the Director, and the Secretary General — realized that favorable action could not be authorized concerning the tentative emergency offer of the Memorial Associa- tion without the consent of the Regents of the College. The

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6 American College of Surgeons means, and scope. The location was the most important phase on account of the spirit of contest which inevitably ensues when many individuals, who have varying ideals and who reside in widely different areas, are to be satisfied. At the Philadelphia meeting in 19 14 the Regents, as the result of a spirited discussion of the subject of a permanent home, ap- pointed a committee to consider the matter, with Admiral Charles F. Stokes, formerly Surgeon General of the United States Navy and a resident of Washington, as Chairman. This Committee presented a tentative report at the annual meeting of the College held in Washington in 19 14, which distinctly favored Washington as the home of the College inasmuch as it is the capital of the United States, the center of population of the East, and a distinctly neutral ground. Although the report was tentative and not sup- ported by a definite recommendation, it was loudly applauded by a large number of the Fellows present. It was not, however, made a subject of vote because it had not received the cordial endorsement of all the Regents. The subject of location was discussed by the College from three principal standpoints: First, should the home be situated in a medical teaching center? Second, should it be in the capital of the nation, which would also have the advantage of neutrality? Third, should it be in a geographical and medical teaching center of the United States? The greatest difference of opinion in the minds of those who discussed the matter seemed to be between the capital of the United States and one of the medical centers. After the above-mentioned Committee had submitted its report and recom- mendation, the subject of the future home of the College aroused an interest among many Fellows who had previously given it but httle thought, and it became apparent that an opinion was developing which more and more favored one of the medical centers. In the meantime the European v ar, since it was inevitable that we were to be drawn into it, was occupying our minds, and the problems of our medical societies and of the College were tem- porarily dwarfed.

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8 American College of Surgeons Director and the Secretary General visited the President of the College in Nova Scotia and, in accordance with the program formulated at this interview, the Board of Regents met on call in New York City on September 20, 1916, with the following mem- bers present: Edward Martin, George E. Brewer, Frederic J. Cotton, Charles F. Stokes, George W. Crile, Charles H. Mayo, John M. T. Finney, and Franklin H. Martin. The plan of the Murphy Memorial Association to locate the College in Chicago, on a suitable site that would be furnished the organization without cost and on which would be erected one of the first structures or units of its home, to be known as the Murphy Memorial, was presented in detail and was unanimously approved. The Regents realized, however, that their judgment should be confirmed by a referendum vote accorded to all the Fellows. This was done by mail, and out of 1,865 votes cast, 1,550 favored Chicago, the 315 scattered votes favoring other cities. The Memorial Association perfected its organization. Then came our entrance into the World War. The President of the Association, Mr. Hurley, was placed at the head of the United States Shipping Board; Judge John Barton Payne, a member of the Association, became Chief Counsel for the same Board, and other members were called to Washington for an indeterminate period. Seventy-five per cent, of our Canadian Fellows were already in France; in six months fifty per cent, of the Fellows in the United States were in uniform and fully thirty per cent, additional were doing other important work for their country. For two years, of necessity, all work of the Committee was abandoned. With the signing of the Armistice, however, the frayed ends of peace-time were gathered up. It had been deemed possible that a site might be given to the College by the Park Commissioners of Chicago. Later it developed that such a gift might be attended by many legal difficulties, and might eventually involve the College in undesirable political compl ications. Possible Site in Chicago This view of the situation, substantiated by the best legal advice that could be secured, was imparted to the Regents at their