Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Synapsis Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHY By dr. JAMES McGUIGAN ALL THINGS worth while have a history. From time immemorial, no ■A great institution has been established, no movement of recognized A V universal importance has been started and nursed from infancy to mature strength without the names oi its founders and others who were factors in its development being closely associated with it. To mention one is to suggest the other. It is fully realized that the facts, as here set forth, surrounding the establishment and early life of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy are largely chronology, and that newer and greater achievements will surely be written — accomplishments of men who will have followed the lead so ably taken by the pioneers of the profession. Like many of the large and great institutions of today, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy came into being in a very humble way. The history ot its conception dates back to early in the year 1898, when, upon a certain memorable evening, two osteopathic physicians, namely. Dr. O. J. Snyder and Dr. Mason W. Pressley, in conjunction with a Mr. Riley, assembled to discuss the necessity and desirability of establishing an Osteopathic College in the city of Philadelphia, and to lay down the plans tor its inception. Many and difficult were the problems with which they were confronted, but, their cause being worthy and just, they were inspired to formulate the necessary plans of organization and personnel for the proposed college. The work of preliminary organization entailed considerable time and labor, which they gave graciously. They wisely decided to secure the services of the best instructors procurable, and likewise, to establish the college at a central location. In due course of time, the formulation of plans having been completed, a stock company was organized and the necessary funds secured to put the proposition under way. Subsequently, the new institution was incorporated, under the laws of the state of New Jersey, as the Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy, and was formally opened on January 27, 1899. The infant college occupied two rooms in the Stephen Girard Building, Twelth Street above Chestnut, of this city. There the first classes were held. Out of that group of students comprising the first class, the Class of 1901, have come many prominent osteopathic physicians of today. The names of Lillian Bentley, W. B. Keen, Harry Leonard, Frank B. Kann, Mary Hetzell, are but a few that come to mind. By the end of the first year it became evident that more commodious quarters must be procured. Accordingly, the College was moved to the Witherspoon Building, Juniper and Walnut Streets. Here chemical and his- tological laboratories were installed and equipped to fill the needs of the student body. In addition, more than three thousand dollars ' worth of ana- tomical equipment was purchased, in the form of manikins, charts, skeletons, etc. By means of these, Dr. Snyder hoped to make the course as practicable

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PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY IN THE COLLEGE ANNEX DISSECTION ROOM

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1 1 1 I ! 1 I ! II r I I T T T T 1 r 1 T I I I r 1 t » 1 I 1 1 I I 1 M I I 1 T T I T I 1 I 1 M I M I I I 1 I 1 t II L I 1 I 11 I M I 1 1 1 1 I M 1 I 1 I I I I 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 J 1 1 I 1 I I 1 1 I I 1 1! 1 as possible, supplementing didactic work and book knowledge with laboratory experimentation and the study of anatomical specimens. Desiring to further strengthen the rapidly growing project, Dr. Snyder and Dr. Pressley determined to increase the then ' existing faculty with addi ' tional instructors. Among those men early added to the teaching staff were W. B. Keen, M.D., Charles B. McCurdy, D.O., H. B. Carter, M.D., W. M. McCally, D.O. Under the careful tutelage of these able men, the early classes received excellent training m the fundamentals of Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Histology, and the Principles of Osteopathy. Expansion again becoming necessary, due to the increased size of the student body, the College was again moved, this time into a large mansion situated at the corner of Thirty-third and Arch Streets. It was likewise necessary to enlarge upon the personnel of the faculty, and among the in- structors added were Dr. Robert Dunnington and Dr. Charles J. Muttart, the latter destined to become the third Dean of the College. Dr. Muttart is still an active member of the staff of instructors and head of the Department of Gastro-Enterology. As previously stated, the College was originally founded by a stock company, the funds and revenue of which were devoted to buying the necessary equipment. The stockholders never received any dividends from their investment; to the contrary, it frequently became necessary for Dr. Snyder and Dr. Pressley to delve into their own pockets to meet the necessary obligations. In 1907, these two pioneers sold the institution to the present organization, and the good work has thus been carried on. Through the efforts of such men as Dr. Muttart, Dr. Dufur, Dr. Pennock, and Dr. Flack, the last being Dean from 191 1 to 1924, the ideals and traditions of the founders have been perpetuated. In 1907, the College was again moved, this time to 715 North Broad Street, where it remained until 1911. From 1911 to 1917 it was located at 832 Pine Street. In 1917, the Board of Directors purchased the home of former Mayor Reyburn, a palatial residence situated on the southeast corner of Nineteenth and Spring Garden Streets, and it was quickly converted into the present college building. Large classrooms were provided on the first and second floors, while the third floor and basement were used as laboratories and dissection rooms. In 1918, the new corporate name of Philadelphia College of Osteopathy was authorized. The student body rapidly increased m size until, in 1922, it became necessary to purchase the two adjoining buildings, situated at 1818 and 1820 Spring Garden Street. The last acquisition pro- vided ample room for clinics and additional laboratories. When the present College site was obtained, in 1917, a new and mod- ernly-equipped Hospital was constructed in the rear of the College building. This Hospital was the outgrowth of an Osteopathic Dispensary which had early been established at 1617 Fairmount Avenue, and which had, on May 10, 191 1, been chartered under the laws of Pennsylvania as the Osteopathic Hospital of Philadelphia. The stock of the College had previously come to be owned by the corporation controlling the Hospital, thus eliminating individual stock ownership and placing both the College and the Hospital