Bennett Medical College - Em Dee Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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HISTORY OF BENNETT N March 25, l869, a charter was granted by the State Legislature to the Bennett College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery. November l, l869, Dr. F. Cook delivered the inaugural ad- dress to a student body consisting of thirty lrifrrbers. The honor of the first presidency was conferred upon Dr. L. S. Major, which position he held until l872. Dr. Anson L. Clark was elected the next president and very success- fully and earnestly fulfilled the duties of the office until IQO5, a period of thirty-three years. The first home of the college was on Kinzie and La Salle Streets, but owing to an increase in the student body, larger and more pleasant quarters were obtained the following year at I80 East Washiiigton Street. The great Chicago fire of l87l which destroyed the college building did not halt the progress of the school, for within a week lectures were resumed in temporary quarters at State and Twenty-second Streets. and within a month the college occupied a building at 46l South Clark Street. This building, however, was too small for the ever growing classes, so a large, commodious structure was erected in 1874 at SI I-513 State Street, as the future home of the institution. To better facilitate the clinical and bedside teaching, a hospital was built con- nected directly with the college building. ln order to obtain better clinical advantages, in l899 the college was transferred to the present location at the corner of Fulton and Ada Streets. At this time the Faculty consisted of twenty-four professors and eight assist- ants. The same year the Cook County Commissioners gave the college rep- resentation on the attending staff of the Cook County Hospital and interneships were allotted to the school. ln 1906 jefferson Park Hospital became affiliated with the college, thereby aiding greatly in the clinical facilities of the institution. Following the death of Dr. Clark, Dr. E. Farnum was chosen president for the remainder of the year. Dr. N. A. Ciraves assumed the duties of the ofihce during the year l906-l907, and was followed by Dr. E.. M. Reading, who then held the presidency until l908. ln 1908 Bennett Medical College took over the faculty and school of the Bennett College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery and became a Regular school with Dr. D. Robertson, president, which chair he filled till this year, being succeeded by Dr. C. Whalen. ln l9l0 Bennett purchased the illinois and Reliance Medical Colleges, adding a number of leading members of the faculties of these two schools to Bennett. This same year Bennett affiliated with Loyola University, becoming its medical department. The student body then became too large for the quarters then occupied and a new laboratory building was erected. Bennett has always stood for advanced ideas and as long a course as was consistent with the times and general impression of medical educators. With the present administrative officers, coupled with the excellent clinical and teaching staff, Bennett will continue going Onward and Forward. ll

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BENNETT MEDICAL COLLEGE 10

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