The records of the Wisconsin Surgical Society all were loaned to the Historical Society for microfilming then return of the originals. This microfilming occurred at three different times so the collection is described below in three parts, each with its own microfilm call number.
Part I (Micro 402) was produced in 1960 and consists of 1 reel of microfilm containing bylaws, records of meetings, and reports, June 9, 1946 - Sept. 18, 1959.
Part II (Micro 802) was produced in 1980 and consists of 5 reels of microfilmed records dating 1947-1978. These records have been organized in three categories: Minutes, a Meetings File, and a Miscellaneous File.
Minutes consist of a minutebook, 1957-1966, and fragmentary miscellaneous minutes, 1947-1978. Included are minutes of both council and business meetings. Among the topics discussed are routine matters such as applications for membership, dues and general finances of the Society, the formation of various committees, changes in the organization's by-laws, and arrangements for semi-annual meetings. The Society's efforts to promulgate and enforce a code of ethics and its reaction to legislation affecting the medical profession are also revealed in this series.
The Meetings File comprises the major portion of the collection and consists of the general programs and individual papers presented at the Society's semi-annual meetings. Individual meetings files usually begin with the formal program followed by papers arranged alphabetically by author. Many of the programs, particularly those from 1954 and later, also list the Society's members and officers.
The majority of the papers are technical in nature and focus on specific aspects of treatment, surgery, or care. A study of these may reveal the evolution of the treatment and surgical techniques employed in cases such as cervical and breast cancer or cardiac and gall bladder surgery. Some papers, particularly the presidential addresses, are more general in nature and provide overviews of the condition of Wisconsin surgery and medicine.
The Miscellaneous File contains articles of organization and by-laws, correspondence, membership materials, committee lists, obituaries of noted members, reports, and miscellany. The majority of the correspondence focuses on the meetings and papers presented at them. Brief mention is also made of the Society's policing members by auditing their records. Of interest is a letter of resignation (November 12, 1974) from a physician whose itinerant surgical circuit was discouraged by the Society. He expressed the opinion that this action was a detriment to the surgical care these communities received.
Part III (Micro 939) was produced in 1982 and consists of 1 reel of microfilmed scrapbooks, 1977 April-1982 May. The scrapbooks contain programs, minutes, newsletters, correspondence, and other records.
