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MG 1104
ESSEX COUNTY PATHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL SOCIETY (N.J.)
Records, 1907-1968.
2.25 linear ft.
Introduction
The collection was donated to the Society by Dr. Samuel Berg (c.1898-1990) in 1979, a life-long resident of the city of Newark, practicing pathologist since the 1920s, and a former president, patron and trustee of the Society.
Organizational History
Founded in 1907 “to provide an opportunity for the medical profession to continue the study of anatomy and pathology … in its service to humanity,” the Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society (Escopathanat) was originally marked by controversy over the rights of physicians to dissect. In 1907, the New Jersey Legislature passed Chapter 247, allowing anatomical societies to dissect unclaimed bodies. The main proponent of the legislation was Dr. Theodore Teimer (1871-1938), a 35-year old physician who graduated from the University of Vienna (1896) and came to Newark the following year. Missing the educational opportunities he had had in Vienna, Dr. Teimer invited a group to his home at 667 High Street, Newark, on December 27th, 1907 where they wrote the Society’s constitution and in the first year, held six meetings and also performed two dissections at Pfeil’s Funeral Parlor and Goldsticker’s Funeral Parlor. The founding members were Dr. Teimer, serving as president, Dr. Julius Levy, as secretary, Dr. David Kraker, Dr. Louis L. Davidson, Dr. Albert M. Baciewicz, Dr. Nathaniel Price, and Dr. Herbert Long.
In 1911, the Society moved to the newly formed Academy of Medicine at 671 Broad Street in Newark. Many prominent doctors joined the society in its first year: Dr. Edward Ill, Dr. Wells P. Eagleton, Dr. Francis Haussling and Dr. Harry Epstein. Dr. Epstein proposed that the Society work with Dr. Harrison S. Martland (1883-1954), pathologist at the newly established department of pathology at Newark City Hospital, who was able to obtain specimens and material for study and dissection.
Dr. Martland, who joined the society in 1909, became its “leading luminary” during his forty years of involvement. From 1909-1949, the Society prospered with his educational presentations and membership grew to well over 200 physicians. In the 1920s, Dr. Martland’s assistants presented lectures and became leading members of the Society as well: Drs. Samuel Berg, Asher Yaguda, Joseph Echikson, and Murray Shulman. In the 1930s, the Society sponsored the only postgraduate teaching in the state of New Jersey with Dr. Martland’s Clinico-Pathological Conferences at the Newark City Hospital. The Annual Harrison S. Martland Memorial Lectures, established in 1935, enlisted prominent medical scientists to discuss their research with New Jersey physicians.
The beginning of the Society’s decline was noted after World War II , when hospitals began staffing well-trained pathologists, and a wider range of meetings and educational conferences were proliferating. Dr. Samuel Berg, a prominent practicing pathologist since the 1920s, and a Society president, patron, and trustee, recognized the changes in the medical community and brought Escopathanat to its formal end. He served on the trustees’ executive and education committees and arranged for the dissolution of the organization. To honor his mentor for the role he played in the Society, Dr. Berg helped initiate the Harrison S. Martland Annual Award, in 1952, for the best paper relating to pathology or anatomy written by a New Jersey intern or resident, which continued until the Society’s demise in 1961.
Dr. Berg is the author of “The Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society: The First Fifty Years,” which was presented November 7, 1957 on the occasion of the Society’s 50th Anniversary and printed in The Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey (Vol. 56, No. 2, 1959).
Scope and Content Note
The records of the Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society (Escopathanat) date from 1907-1968. The strength of the collected material highlights the early organizing efforts and founding of the Society by Dr. Theodore Teimer and fellow physicians in 1907, and just as importantly, the later efforts by Dr. Samuel Berg and other executive members to sustain and support the founders’ intents with updated educational programs and membership incentives during the 1950s. Of particular interest, Dr. Berg’s correspondence details efforts to formally dissolve the organization in the early 1960s including the use of membership questionnaire ballots and the disbursement of Society funds to both
Archives
Documents, Manuscripts, Maps, & Photographs and the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey.
The leadership of Dr. Harrison S. Martland is made clear in this collection, his name appearing in the minutes, correspondence and publicity material throughout much of the span of the Society. Also significant, membership records list names of physicians in New Jersey from 1907-1961, some of whom played dominant roles in the Society as lecturers, board members, trustees, etc.
Medical topics include lecture notes by Dr. August A. Strasser on a case of lymphosarcoma of the abdominal organs and sarcoma of the male breast, and Dr. Berg’s introductory remarks for a lecture on pulmonary hypertension and a discussion on the appendix, as well as notes for his lecture and article on the Society’s “First Fifty Years.”
Minutes include detailed accounts of frequent meetings, committee reports, schedules of lectures on medical subjects related to pathology and anatomy. Minutes span nearly the length of the Society’s existence but for nine years, 1931-1940.
The records are grouped in the following series: Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, Minutes, Correspondence, Lectures and Speeches, Membership, Publicity Materials, Financial Records, and General.
Series Description
SERIES I: Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, 1907-1957, with gaps. 1 folder. Non-sequential.
Copy certificate (1910) of incorporation, 1907; Articles of Agreement between the Academy of Medicine of Northern New Jersey and the Escopathanat Society, 1911 for use of space; original hand-written and type-written drafts of constitution and by-laws; revision notes, 1937, 1957; copy letter, 1907, from the founders to the legislature appealing for assistance in obtaining bodies in a timely manner.
SERIES II: Minutes,1907-1930, 2 bound volumes, recorded chronologically; Minutes, 1941-1961, pages from binders in reverse chronological order. Gap in records, 1931-1940. .75 linear ft.
Documents the business conducted at the Escopathanat Society’s regular, annual and Board of Governors’ meetings, including its formation, lists of members in attendance, resignations, committee reports, president’s addresses, treasurer’s reports, setting of fees, printed programs, invitations and announcement cards. Reports include those from the Anatomical, Constitution and By-Laws, Program, Membership, Martland Lecture, Martland Award, Necrology, Welfare and Special Fund Committees.
SERIES III: Correspondence, 1916-1968, n.d., with gaps. Bulk 1955-1964. .25 linear ft. (5 folders) Arranged chronologically within subject.
Letters, 1916-1929, from organizations including the Medical Society of New Jersey, Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, Prudential Insurance Company, Newark City Hospital, American Urological Association, and The Academy of Medicine of Northern New Jersey, concerning business aspects of the society. Also, Samuel Berg’s correspondence, 1956-1968, including copy letters, concerning efforts to obtain lecturers, organize meetings, physician’s commitments, and in particular, Dr. Martland’s death and the dissolution of the society. Also, response letters to dissolution questionnaire (1961); letters from Merck Sharp & Dohme (1961) and the New Jersey Historical Society (1962) responding to possible gifts (1961) from the Escopathanat society; and correspondence regarding the dissolution (1961-1964).
Correspondents include: Drs. Samuel Berg, F.W. Pinneo, Henry O. Reik, H.B. Epstein, Harrison Martland, J. Hagerty, Raymond Mullins, Richard A. Hopping, W. Franklin Keim, and Murray W. Shulman.
SERIES IV: Lectures, speeches, etc., c.1955-1968, n.d., with gaps. 3 folders. Arranged by subject.
Various draft versions, notated copies, a published proof and re-prints of Dr. Berg’s speech originally delivered Nov. 9, 1957 on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the society and printed as an article, “The Essex County Pathologic and Anatomic Society: The First Fifty Years,” in The Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey (Vol. 56, No. 2, 1959). Also, Berg’s typed introductory remarks for the Martland Memorial Lecture (Dr. Averill A. Liebow, “Structure & Function in Pulmonary Hypertension,” 1961) and a society meeting’s panel discussion (“Changing Times and the Appendix - The Purpose of Tissue Committees,” 1961); newspaper, medical journal clippings and health pamphlets with Dr. Berg’s notations; typed lecture notes (Dr. August Adrian Strasser, “Demonstration of a Case of Lymphosarcoma of the Abdominal Organs and One of Small Round Cell Sarcoma of the Male Breast,.” n.d.)
SERIES V: Membership Records, 1907-1961, with gaps. .5 linear ft. Generally chronological.
Signed membership forms, 1909-1957, with gaps; letters submitted for membership application and for resignations; membership lists, Board of Governors lists, mailing lists, and some others. Also, card file, 3x5”, 1950-c.1960, with names, addresses, and “deceased.”
SERIES VI: Publicity Materials, 1940s-1961, with gaps. .5 linear ft. Loosely arranged chronologically.
Guest lists, press releases, member invitations, check lists, dinner lists, speaker lists, program invitations, supplementary lecture hand-outs, resolution announcements, circular letters. Also, poster announcements and flyers re: Martland Lecture, Martland Award, panel discussions, and symposiums. Newspaper clippings.
SERIES VII: Financial Records, 1909-1967, with gaps. .5 linear ft. Arranged chronologically.
Annual dues forms, membership correspondence regarding dues paid, bills and receipts, financial dissolution accounts and correspondence, check book stubs (1932-1957), treasurer’s annual reports, bank account books, and bank statements.
SERIES VIII: General, c.1907. 2 items.
Photograph of Dr. Theodore Teimer, first president of the society, n.d.; Plainfield Anatomical Association By-Laws, 1907.
Container List
Box Folder Title Dates
Escopathanat:
1 1 Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws 1907-1959
1 2 Minutes (volume) 1907-1918
3 “ (volume) 1918-1930
4 “ (unbound) 1941-1943
5 “ (unbound) 1944-1950
2 1 “ (unbound) 1951-1957
2 “ (unbound) Folder 1 of 2 1958-1961
3 “ Folder 2 of 2 “
4 Minutes N.d. c.1907
5 Correspondence, pre-Samuel Berg c.1916-1929
6 Correspondence, Pres., Dr. Samuel Berg 1956-1968
7 Correspondence, questionnaire re: dissolution 1961
8 Correspondence, New Jersey Historical Society
re: funds from dissolution of Escopathanat 1962
9 Correspondence, re: dissolution 1961-1964
10 Lectures, speeches, etc., Dr. Samuel Berg c.1955-1968
11 Berg’s misc. clippings and pamphlets for speeches c.1958-1961
12 Lectures, speeches, etc., Dr. August A. Strasser N.d.
3 1 Membership: Applications and resignations 1909-1959
2 Membership: Lists of members and participants c.1912-1961
4 1 Membership: Card file (Folder 1 of 5) c.1950-
2 “ (Folder 2 of 5)
3 “ (Folder 3 of 5)
4 “ (Folder 4 of 5)
5 “ (Folder 5 of 5)
5 1 Publicity materials: society’s events (1 of 5) 1940s-1950s
2 “ (2 of 5) 1950s
3 “ (3 of 5) “
4 “ (4 of 5) “
5 “ (5 of 5) “
6 Publicity materials: newspaper clippings 1950s
7 “ : posters and flyers 1944-1961
8 Financial Records: Miscellaneous 1909-1959
9 “ : Membership dues 1958-1959
10 “ : Miscellaneous 1957-1961
General:
11 Photograph, first Pres. Dr. Theodore Teimer c.1907?
12 Plainfield Anatomical Association By-Laws 1907
MG 1104
ESSEX COUNTY PATHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL SOCIETY (N.J.)
Records, 1907-1968
FINDING AID
New Jersey Historical Society
Manuscript Collection
Processed by: Kim Seltzer
March, 1998
Introduction
The records of the Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society (N.J.) span the years 1907 to 1968 and total 2.0 linear feet. The collection was processed as part of a National Historical Publications and Records Commission grant project (1997-1998) to process, describe and catalog the New Jersey Historical Society’s health care and social welfare-related manuscript collections.
Provenance
The collection was donated to the New Jersey Historical Society by Dr. Samuel Berg (c.1898-1990) in 1979, a life-long resident of the city of Newark, a practicing pathologist since the 1920s, and a former president, patron and trustee of the Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society.
Organizational History
Founded in 1907 “to provide an opportunity for the medical profession to continue the study of anatomy and pathology … in its service to humanity,” the Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society (Escopathanat) was originally marked by controversy over the rights of physicians to dissect. In 1907, the New Jersey Legislature passed Chapter 247, allowing anatomical societies to dissect unclaimed bodies. The main proponent of the legislation was Dr. Theodore Teimer (1871-1938), a 35-year old physician who graduated from the University of Vienna (1896) and came to Newark the following year. Missing the educational opportunities he had had in Vienna, Dr. Teimer invited a group to his home at 667 High Street, Newark, on December 27th, 1907 where they wrote the Society’s constitution and in the first year, held six meetings and also performed two dissections at Pfeil’s Funeral Parlor and Goldsticker’s Funeral Parlor. The founding members were Dr. Teimer, serving as president, Dr. Julius Levy, as secretary, Dr. David Kraker, Dr. Louis L. Davidson, Dr. Albert M. Baciewicz, Dr. Nathaniel Price, and Dr. Herbert Long.
In 1911, the Society moved to the newly formed Academy of Medicine at 671 Broad Street in Newark. Many prominent doctors joined the society in its first year: Dr. Edward Ill, Dr. Wells P. Eagleton, Dr. Francis Haussling and Dr. Harry Epstein. Dr. Epstein proposed that the Society work with Dr. Harrison S. Martland (1883-1954), pathologist at the newly established department of pathology at Newark City Hospital, who was able to obtain specimens and material for study and dissection.
Dr. Martland, who joined the society in 1909, became its “leading luminary” during his forty years of involvement. From 1909-1949, the Society prospered with his educational presentations and membership grew to well over 200 physicians. In the 1920s, Dr. Martland’s assistants presented lectures and became leading members of the Society as well: Drs. Samuel Berg, Asher Yaguda, Joseph Echikson, and Murray Shulman. In the 1930s, the Society sponsored the only postgraduate teaching in the state of New Jersey with Dr. Martland’s Clinico-Pathological Conferences at the Newark City Hospital. The Annual Harrison S. Martland Memorial Lectures, established in 1935, enlisted prominent medical scientists to discuss their research with New Jersey physicians.
The beginning of the Society’s decline was noted after World War II , when hospitals began staffing well-trained pathologists, and a wider range of meetings and educational conferences were proliferating. Dr. Samuel Berg, a prominent practicing pathologist since the 1920s, and a Society president, patron, and trustee, recognized the changes in the medical community and brought Escopathanat to its formal end. He served on the trustees’ executive and education committees and arranged for the dissolution of the organization. To honor his mentor for the role he played in the Society, Dr. Berg helped initiate the Harrison S. Martland Annual Award in 1952, for the best paper relating to pathology or anatomy written by a New Jersey intern or resident, which continued until the Society’s demise in 1961.
Dr. Berg is the author of “The Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society: The First Fifty Years,” which was presented November 7, 1957 on the occasion of the Society’s 50th Anniversary and printed in The Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey (Vol. 56, No. 2, 1959).
Scope and Contents Note
The records of the Essex County Pathological and Anatomical Society (Escopathanat) date from 1907-1968. The strength of the collected material highlights the early organizing efforts and founding of the Society by Dr. Theodore Teimer and fellow physicians in 1907, and just as importantly, the later efforts by Dr. Samuel Berg and other executive members to sustain and support the founders’ intents with updated educational programs and membership incentives during the 1950s. Of particular interest, Dr. Berg’s correspondence details efforts to formally dissolve the organization in the early 1960s with the use of membership questionnaire ballots and the disbursement of Society funds to both the New Jersey Historical Society and the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey.
The leadership of Dr. Harrison S. Martland is made clear in this collection, his name appearing in the minutes, correspondence and publicity material throughout much of the span of the Society. Also significant, membership records list names of physicians in New Jersey from 1907-1961, some of whom played dominant roles in the Society as lecturers, board members, trustees, etc.
Medical topics include lecture notes by Dr. August A. Strasser on a case of lymphosarcoma of the abdominal organs and sarcoma of the male breast, and Dr. Berg’s introductory remarks for a lecture on pulmonary hypertension and a discussion on the appendix, as well as notes for his lecture and article on the Society’s “First Fifty Years.”
Minutes include detailed accounts of frequent meetings, committee reports, schedules of lectures on medical subjects related to pathology and anatomy. Minutes span nearly the length of the Society’s existence but for nine years, 1931-1940.
The records are grouped in the following series: Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, Minutes, Correspondence, Lectures and Speeches, Membership, Publicity Materials, Financial Records, and General.
Series Descriptions
SERIES I: Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, 1907-1957, with gaps. 1 folder.
Non-sequential.
Copy certificate (1910) of incorporation, 1907; Articles of Agreement between the Academy of Medicine of Northern New Jersey and the Escopathanat Society for use of space, 1911; original handwritten and typewritten drafts of constitution and by-laws; revision notes, 1937, 1957; copy letter, 1907, from the founders to the legislature appealing for assistance in obtaining bodies for dissection in a timely manner.
SERIES II: Minutes,1907-1930, 2 bound volumes, recorded chronologically;
Minutes, 1941-1961, pages from binders in reverse chronological order. Gap in records, 1931-1940. 0.75 linear ft.
Document the business conducted at the Escopathanat Society’s regular, annual and Board of Governors’ meetings, including its formation, lists of members in attendance, resignations, committee reports, presidents’ addresses, treasurer’s reports, setting of fees, printed programs, invitations and announcement cards. Reports include those from the Anatomical, Constitution and By-Laws, Program, Membership, Martland Lecture, Martland Award, Necrology, Welfare and Special Fund Committees.
SERIES III: Correspondence, 1916-1968, n.d., with gaps. (Bulk 1955-1964). 0.25 l. ft.
(5 folders) Arranged chronologically within subject.
Letters, 1916-1929, from organizations including the Medical Society of New Jersey, Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, Prudential Insurance Company, Newark City Hospital, American Urological Association, and The Academy of Medicine of Northern New Jersey, concerning business aspects of the society. Also, Samuel Berg’s correspondence, 1956-1968, including copy letters, concerning efforts to obtain lecturers, organize meetings, physician’s commitments, and in particular, Dr. Martland’s death and the dissolution of the society. Also, response letters to dissolution questionnaire (1961); letters from Merck Sharp & Dohme (1961) and the New Jersey Historical Society (1962) responding to contributions from the Escopathanat society (1961); and correspondence regarding the dissolution (1961-1964).
Correspondents include: Drs. Samuel Berg, F.W. Pinneo, Henry O. Reik, H.B. Epstein, Harrison Martland, J. Hagerty, Raymond Mullins, Richard A. Hopping, W. Franklin Keim, and Murray W. Shulman.
SERIES IV: Lectures, speeches, et al., c.1955-1968, n.d., with gaps. 3 folders. Arranged by subject.
Various draft versions, notated copies, a published proof and re-prints of Dr. Berg’s speech originally delivered Nov. 9, 1957 on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Society and printed as an article, “The Essex County Pathologic and Anatomical Society: The First Fifty Years,” in The Journal of the Medical Society of New Jersey (Vol. 56, No. 2, 1959). Also, Berg’s typed introductory remarks for the Martland Memorial Lecture (Dr. Averill A. Liebow, “Structure & Function in Pulmonary Hypertension,” 1961) and a society meeting’s panel discussion (“Changing Times and the Appendix - The Purpose of Tissue Committees,” 1961); newspaper, medical journal clippings and health pamphlets with Dr. Berg’s notations; and typed lecture notes (Dr. August Adrian Strasser, “Demonstration of a Case of Lymphosarcoma of the Abdominal Organs and One of Small Round Cell Sarcoma of the Male Breast,.” n.d.).
SERIES V: Membership Records, 1907-1961, with gaps. 0.5 linear ft. Arranged
chronologically.
Signed membership forms, 1909-1957, with gaps; letters submitted for membership application and for resignations; membership lists, board of governors lists, mailing lists, and some others. Also, membership card file, 1950-c.1960, with names, addresses, and “deceased.”
SERIES VI: Publicity Materials, 1940s-1961, with gaps. 0.5 linear ft. Loosely arranged
chronologically.
Guest lists, press releases, member invitations, check lists, dinner lists, speaker lists, program invitations, supplementary lecture hand-outs, resolution announcements, and circular letters. Also, poster announcements and flyers re: Martland Lecture, Martland Award, panel discussions, and symposiums. Newspaper clippings.
SERIES VII: Financial Records, 1909-1967, with gaps. 0.5 linear ft. Arranged
chronologically.
Annual dues forms, membership correspondence regarding dues paid, bills and receipts, financial dissolution accounts and correspondence, check book stubs (1932-1957), treasurer’s annual reports, bank account books, and bank statements.
SERIES VIII: General, c.1907. 2 items.
Photograph of Dr. Theodore Teimer, first president of the Society, n.d.; Plainfield Anatomical Association By-Laws, 1907.
CONTAINER LIST
Box Folder Title Dates
Escopathanat:
1 1 Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws 1907-1959
1 2 Minutes (volume) 1907-1918
3 “ (volume) 1918-1930
4 “ (unbound) 1941-1943
5 “ (unbound) 1944-1950
2 1 “ (unbound) 1951-1957
2 “ (unbound) (Folder 1 of 2) 1958-1961
3 “ (Folder 2 of 2) “
4 Minutes n.d. c.1907
5 Correspondence, pre-Samuel Berg c.1916-1929
6 Correspondence, Pres., Dr. Samuel Berg 1956-1968
7 Correspondence, questionnaire re: dissolution 1961
8 Correspondence, New Jersey Historical Society
re: funds from dissolution of Escopathanat 1962
9 Correspondence, re: dissolution 1961-1964
10 Lectures, speeches, et at., Dr. Samuel Berg c.1955-1968
11 Berg’s misc. clippings and pamphlets for speeches c.1958-1961
12 Lectures, speeches, et al., Dr. August A. Strasser n.d.
3 1 Membership: Applications and resignations 1909-1959
2 Membership: Lists of members and participants c.1912-1961
4 1 Membership: Card file (Folder 1 of 5) c.1950-
2 “ (Folder 2 of 5)
3 “ (Folder 3 of 5)
4 “ (Folder 4 of 5)
5 “ (Folder 5 of 5)
5 1 Publicity materials: Society events (1 of 5) 1940s-1950s
2 “ (2 of 5) 1950s
3 “ (3 of 5) “
4 “ (4 of 5) “
Box Folder Title Dates
5 5 Publicity materials: Society events (5 of 5) “
6 Publicity materials: newspaper clippings 1950s
7 “ : posters and flyers 1944-1961
8 Financial Records: Miscellaneous 1909-1959
9 “ : Membership dues 1958-1959
10 “ : Miscellaneous 1957-1961
General:
11 Photograph, first Pres. Dr. Theodore Teimer c.1907?
12 Plainfield Anatomical Association By-Laws 1907
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