The American Institute of the History of Pharmacy (AIHP) is a non-profit organization unique in the United States as an agency solely dedicated to the research, dissemination, education and promotion of the history of pharmacy. It was organized at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), in January 1941, and has always been closely associated with the academic program in the history of pharmacy at the University. The establishment of the Institute reflects a general interest in the history of the sciences begun before the turn of the century, when German universities began to offer an historical orientation in their science education programs. Dr. Edward Kremers (1865-1941), a reformer in pharmaceutical education at the University of Wisconsin, brought back from his doctoral studies in Germany a dedication to fostering historical understanding of professional and scientific developments in pharmacy. He was the first in the United States to introduce a four-year pharmacy course (in 1892) and later graduate studies in pharmacy. He also developed the first history of pharmacy course. He initiated the idea (in 1902) of establishing the History of Pharmacy section at the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) annual meetings, providing a forum for papers and discussion. He also persuaded George Urdang (1882-1960), an internationally prominent German pharmacist and historian, to move to Madison in 1939. Urdang had been a founder in 1926 of the German Society for the History of Pharmacy. In 1933 he became the first pharmacist in Germany to earn a Doctor of Natural Science degree on the basis of historical studies in the history of pharmacy and chemistry. In 1940 Kremers and Urdang collaborated on a textbook, History of Pharmacy, which became the definitive work in English on the subject.
In 1941 Urdang's efforts culminated in the founding of the AIHP, with the collaboration of Kremers and Arthur H. Uhl (1900-1979), dean of the UW School of Pharmacy, and several others. Although initially conceived as a possible adjunct of the APhA, the Madison location was attractive because of the University's library collections in the history of pharmacy, its artifact collections, and the research and instruction facilities and atmosphere fostered by Kremers. Although the Institute never became a center for research itself, the extensive resources of the University in historical pharmacy were crucial in its research, educational, and informational activities. The Institute has always been an independent membership organization, however.
Urdang became the Institute's first director (1941-1957). Through Urdang's renown as a scholar and extensive friendships and connections with European scholarly societies, he attained international recognition for the new Institute. Its fate during the first decade or so depended mainly on his historical knowledge and organizational, writing and publication experience, and contacts. Support of retail and wholesale pharmacy was important financially. In 1947 Urdang was named to the newly-created professorship in the History of Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin. In this capacity he trained the first Americans to receive the Ph.D. degree in the History of Pharmacy. In 1952 he stepped down as professor of the History of Pharmacy, and the chair was awarded to his former student Glenn Sonnedecker (1917-), the recipient of the first History of Pharmacy Ph.D. degree in the United States. In 1957 Urdang retired as director of the AIHP, and was also succeeded in that capacity by Sonnedecker.
Sonnedecker's extensive contacts among American pharmaceutical organizations and companies further extended AIHP recognition. His historical writings helped assure the continuation of the AIHP's scholarly excellence. During his tenure as director (1957-1973 and 1981-1985), the AIHP benefited from large gains in membership, a stabilization of finances, and expansion of its publishing program. Through his efforts Pharmacy in History (PH), a quarterly publication, was established in 1959 as an outgrowth of AIHP Notes, which had been started in 1955. Teaching the History and Sociology of Pharmacy (later Teaching the History and Social Aspects of Pharmacy), a mimeographed newsletter, was started the same year.
The AIHP director for the period 1973-1981 was John Parascandola (1941-), an associate professor of the History of Pharmacy and Science at the University of Wisconsin. Although not a pharmacist, Parascandola had been associated with the AIHP for many years as a Council and committee member, and Council chairman beginning in 1988. Professor John Scarborough became director early in 1986. Dr. Gregory Higby was named acting director in October, 1986, and elected director in 1988.
As established by the articles of organization, the purposes of the AIHP in regard to the history and social aspects of pharmacy are:
- to act as a center for research and information and assist professional development
- to foster investigation, publication, study and interest in the field
- to collect and make available historical records and
- to provide other relevant services to its members, the profession and the public
The AIHP serves these purposes in many ways. It provides an information service, cooperates with the UW to develop and maintain the Kremers Pharmaceutical Reference File, supports a publication program, provides awards for contributions to historical pharmacy, and sponsors programs, projects, seminars, and meetings. It also collects historical records of pharmacy, which are deposited in the archives of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, along with its own records. A large donation in 1981 and bequest in 1983 by Robert and Juanita Fischelis enabled the Institute to expand its activities to include the Fischelis Scholar program and graduate thesis support; and enhanced support for publications, courses, conferences and other educational activities.
The AIHP cooperates and maintains contact with several other historical and professional organizations, most notably the APhA. It holds its annual meeting during the APhA convention, and acts as the Historical Section for the APhA.
The Institute has continued a close relationship with the UW, and the Institute offices always have been housed at the University's School of Pharmacy. From 1947 to 1986, the professor of the History of Pharmacy at the University served as the director of the AIHP. And the University library, with its strong holdings in the history of pharmacy and related fields, has aided in the Institute's information service and research programs.
