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

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unknowTi to the stockliolders and it frequently became necessary for Drs. Snyder and Pressley to dig into their owni pockets to meet the necessary obliga- tions. The Institution was sold in 1907 by the stock company to the present organization. Through the efforts of such men as Dr. Muttart, Dr. Dufur, Dr. Pennock and Dr. Flack, the latter being Dean of the College from 1911 to 1924, the ideals and traditions of the founders have been perpetuated. In 1907. the College again was 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 purchasetl the home of former Mayor Reyburn. a palatial residence situated on the southeast corner of Nineteenth ami Spring (varden Streets, and converted it to suit the needs of the College. Large classrooms were provided on the first and second floors, while the third floor and basement were used as laboratories and dissection rooms. In 191S, the new Corporate name of Philadelphia College of Osteopathy was author- ized. The student body rapidly increased in size until, in 1922, it became necessary to purchase the two adjoining buildings, situated at 1818-20 Spring Garden Streets. The buikling at 1820 is used as a Nurses ' Home and that at 1818 is used for headqmirters for the under classes, laboratories and a modern dissection room. When the present College site was obtained in 1917, a new and modernly etiuijjped Hospital was constructed in the rear of the College building. The Hospital was the outgrowth of an Osteo])athic Dispensary which had been established at 1617 Fairmoimt Avenue, ami which had on May 10, 1911, been chartered under the Laws of the State of Pennsylvania, as the Osteopathic Hospital of Philadelphia. The stock of the College had previously been acquired by the corporation controlling the Hospital, thus eliminating individ- ual stock ownership, and placing both the College and IIos])ital under the control of a common Boartl of Directors. This i)lan has insured both the College and the Hospital the loyal supjiort of the profession, as both institu- tions are conducted for the advancement of their respective spheres of useful- ness to students, to the profession and to the public. In 1911, the Board of Directors raised the educational standards of the College by extending the course to one of four years of eight months each. ' I ' his j)ut the College on the same scholastic plane as that of Class A ISredical Colleges of this state. In 1922 the cour.se was again extended, this lime to four years of nine months each. In 1925, the reciuirenients were again raised, students desiring to practi.se in Penn.sylvania being re(|uired to have completed one year each of Chemistry, Biology and Physics of college grade. Much of the success oi the growth of the college has l)een made possible through i)ut)lic contriijutions. In 1911), a i)ul)lic campaign I ' or ruiids for both the College and the Hospital resultcil in securing .ifliO.OOO. In 1919, another f.niipiiigii raised .S102,000, while in ]i)23, .$70, 000 more were subscribeii. I ' iDiii I lie two small rooms in whir-h the flrst classes were held, the institution has come to occujjy its |)resent commodious (juarters, while from a faculty ol ' a half dozen members there has come to l)e a faculty of well o ' er fifty instruc- tors, and from a mere handful of students lo a group innnijcring close lo three hundred and flftv- -4 18 ■ m

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Historical Sketch of the Qollege r ' lIE history of The Phihuleljjhia Cullrgc of Osteopathy (hitrs Itack to the early part of the year 1898, when Dr. O. J. Snyder and Dr. Mason W. Pre.ssley, in conjunction with a Ir. Riley, met to di.scuss the neces- sity and desirability of estaljlishing an Osteopathic College in the city of Philadelphia, and to lay down j)reliniinary plans for its inception. They gave unsparingly of their time and labor in surmounting the many and difficult problems that confronted them in formulating the necessary plans of organ- ization and personnel. They wisely decided to secure the services of the best instructors obtainable, and likewise to endeavor to obtain a siutable and central location. In the due course of time, the formidation of ])lans having been completefl, a stock company was organized, and the necessary funds secured to put the proposition under way. 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 first college occupied two rooms in the Stephen Cirard Building, Twelfth Street above Chestnut. There the fir.st classes were held. Of that first group of students many are today prominent Osteopathic Physicians. Before the end of the first year it became evident that larger qiuirters must shortly be procured. Conser(uently the College was movel to the Witherspoon Building at Juniper and Walnut Streets. Here the first Chemical and Histological Lal)oratories were installed and equipped to fill the needs of the course at that time. In addition more than three thousand dollars worth of Anatomical equipment was purchased, in the form of manikins, charts, skeletons, etc. It was by the use of these that Dr. Snyder jjlanned to nuike the coTirse as practical as possible, supplementing the didactic work with lat)ora- tory experimentation and the study of anatomical specimens. The rapidly growing project was fiu ' ther strengthened by the additicm to the facidty of a number of instructors, among who were W. B. Keen, M.D.i Charles B. McCurdy, D.O.: II. B. Carter, M.D.: W. M. McCally. D.O. I ' nder the carei ' id tutelage of the.se able men the College received excellent training in the fundamentals of Anatomy, Physiology. Chemistry, Histology, and the Principles of Osteopathy. Due to the increase in the size of the slutlent l)ody the College again found it necessary to move into larger qiuirters; this time into a commodious establishment at the corner of Thirty-third and Arch Streets. It was like- wise necessary to again increa.se the ijersonnel of the faculty l y the addition of Dr. Robert Dunnington and Dr. Charles J. Muttart, the last named later to become the third Dean of the College. Dr. Muttart is still an active mem- ber of the faculty and the Head of the Dejiartment of (Jastro-Enterology. ' I ' he College was originally established by a stock company, the revenue of which was devoted to the b iying of necessary e(|uipment. Dividends were 17 Y-

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