The lost history of American veterinary medicine: the need for preservation |
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| Authors: | C Trenton Boyd |
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| Institution: | Email: Head Librarian, Zalk Veterinary Medical Library, W218 Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri–Columbia, MO 65211-5120 |
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| Abstract: | Objective:The objective of this study was to survey holdings of ephemeral veterinary literature.Methods:WorldCat OCLC catalog, the Library of Congress online catalog, the US National Agricultural Library online catalog, and the Dictionary Catalog of the National Agricultural Library, 1862–1965, were used to determine current library holdings of materials published by veterinary schools that are no longer in existence and veterinary associations that are defunct, veterinary supply catalogs, veterinary house organs, patent medicine publications, and veterinary advertisements. Individual library catalogs were also consulted. In addition, the practice of removing advertisements from bound volumes was examined.Results:There are many gaps in the cataloged library holdings of primary source materials relating to the history of the education of veterinarians in the United States.Conclusions:A proactive action plan needs to be designed and activated to locate, catalog, and preserve this primary source material of veterinary medicine for posterity.Highlights- Veterinary libraries have failed to catalog or retain important primary veterinary source materials.
- Several types of veterinary gray literature, with individual pieces scattered across multiple kinds of libraries, are at high risk for loss from the historical record.
Implications- Academic, veterinary, medical, and special librarians should be involved in efforts to preserve their institutional, local, and state materials; to identify and locate hidden collections of materials, both in uncataloged collections and in the hands of private collectors; and to mentor new librarians about their role in preserving the history of medicine.
- The results of this survey of primary source materials documenting US veterinary medical education suggest the need for a parallel study of medical education and other health professions education.
- The time is now, not only to digitize important scarce veterinary materials for both preservation and improved access, but also to archive present day institutional output (paper and electronic).
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