The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary History of Philadelphia College Of
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine DigitalCommons@PCOM History History and Special Collections 1974 The eveS nty-Fifth Anniversary History of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine: A Condensed Record of the Courage, Convictions, and the Transcending Determination of the Early Osteopathic Pioneers, and those who have since Carried on their Concept of Better Healing and Health Care Cy Peterman Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/history Recommended Citation Peterman, Cy, "The eS venty-Fifth Anniversary History of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine: A Condensed Record of the Courage, Convictions, and the Transcending Determination of the Early Osteopathic Pioneers, and those who have since Carried on their Concept of Better Healing and Health Care" (1974). History. Book 2. http://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/history/2 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the History and Special Collections at DigitalCommons@PCOM. It has been accepted for inclusion in History by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@PCOM. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Lyrasis IVIembers and Sloan Foundation http://www.archive.org/details/seventyfifthanniOOcype THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY of PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE A Condensed Record of the courage, convictions, and the transcending determination of the early Osteopathic Pioneers, and those who have since carried on their concept of better heahng and heahh care. This is the Memorial Report of brave and brilHant Physicians and Administrators who overcame the bitterest trials, frustrations, and op- position in developing their new science of Osteopathic Medicine, and a magnificent new College and teaching Hospital complex in which to teach and prepare others to carry on their profession. By Cy Peterman The Kutztown Publishing Company, Inc. Kutztown, Pennsylvania Published by The Alumni Association of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Copyright June 1974 bv Ivan H. (Cv) Peterman Printed in USA SPE.'XCER G. BRADFORD PCOM Alumni Association Publication Committee Members Thomas M. Rowland, Jr., Exec. Vice Pres. PCOM Sherwood R. Mercer, Vice Pres. Educational Affairs WilHam B. Strong '26, President of Alumni Association Paul T. Lloyd '23, Alumni Assn. Historian Charles W. Snyder, Jr. '33, Alumni Assn. Secretary Galen S. Young '35 Spencer G. Bradford '42, Chairman Publication Comm. Charles A. Hemmer '43, Alumni Assn. Treasurer Gustave V. Conti '53 Alfred A. Grilli '48 The preparation of this book was an exciting experience for all of us. We had a panoramic view of the birth, hardships, and growth of a great institution. We also had an inspiring encounter with the great but very human people who brought P.C.O.M. to its present prominence. We had the opportunity to observe a real professional, Cy Peterman, in action as a reporter and writer. The Committee knows where we came from, how we got where we are, and, out of that knowledge, has developed a strong conviction that P.C.O.M. will attain even higher pinnacles of greatness. Spencer G. Bradford, D.O., Chairman 75th Anniversary Publication Committee To Friends and Alumni of P.C.O.M. The 75th Anniversary of this College, that has been such a large part of many of our lives, is a great occasion. I greet all of the Alumni, and wish that I could meet with each one personally. While we observe this Anniversary with pride, and with gratitude to those who made our successes possible, we also look ahead to even greater days for P.C.O.M., and to its pre- eminence among the schools of the healing arts in this country. Cordially, Frederic H. Barth President IV ' >T-r':w"t-w»''^'-''-'-"" ' -1 1't i'^- ' "-J OFFICERS and BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE 1973-74 OFFICERS TERM EXPIRES President: Dr. William B. Strong '26 14 East 60th Street 1974 New York, N.Y. 10021 Vice President: Dr. Richard S. Koch '38 110 West Uth Ave. 1974 Olympia, Wash. 98502 Elect '34 40 East President: Dr. J. Marshall Hoag 61st Street 1974 New York, N.Y. 10021 Immediate Past '52 East President: Dr. Robert J. Furey 307 Orchid Road 1974 Wildwood Crest, N.J. 08260 Secretary; Dr. Charles W. Snyder, Jr. '33 2225 Spring Garden St. 1975 Philadelphia, PA 19130 Treasurer: Dr. Charles A. Hemmer '43 202 Plush Mill Road 1975 Wallingford, PA 19086 Historian: Dr. Paul T. Lloyd '23 Glenhardie Apartments 9 Anthony Wayne House Drummers Lane, Wayne, PA 19087 DIRECTORS New England District (2) Main Street 1975 Dr. Harrison F. Aldrich '61 Unity. Maine 04988 15 Lionel Avenue 1974 Dr. Bruce A. Bochman '56 Waltham, Mass. 02154 New York District (3) Dr. Gustave V. Conti '53 5 Fairmont Blvd. 1975 Garden City, N.Y. 11530 Dr. E. DeVer Tucker '27 112 Knowlton Ave. 1974 Kenmore, N.Y. 14217 Dr. John J. Lain '35 40 E. 61st Street 1976 New York, N.Y. 10021 New Jersey District (3) Dr. Michael Sutula '59 841 Galloping Hill Rd. 1975 Union, N.J. 07083 Dr. Robert S. Maurer '62 1025 Green Street 1974 Iselin. N.J. 08830 Dr. William B. Wilson '32 102 South Maple Ave. 1975 Ridgewood, N.J. 07450 Pennsylvania District (5 - not more than 1 from any one county) Dr. Robinson G. Fry '56 1319 Hamilton Street 1975 Allentown, PA 18102 Galen S. Young '35 Dr. 2300 Providence Ave. 1975 Chester, PA 19013 Dr. George S. Esayian '39 113 North Ambler St. 1974 Quakertown, PA 18951 Dr. Aaron A. Feinstein '42 Barth Pavillion • City Line 1976 Philadelphia, PA 19131 Dr. Alfred A. Grilli '48 5477 Steubenville Pike 1976 Pittsburgh, PA 15244 Middle Atlantic and Southern District (2) Dr. Alexander D. Xenakis '56 333 N.W. 44th St. 1974 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33309 Dr. John A. Cifala '45 2778 N. 'Washington Blvd. 1976 Arlington, VA 22201 Middle West District (2) Dr. Otterbein Dressier '28 Garden City-Ridgewood Hospitals 6245 North Inkster Rd. 1975 Garden City, Mich. 48135 Dr. Henrv Salkind '56 3415 Fifth Avenue 1974 Youngstown, Ohio 44505 Far West District (1) Dr. Frederick M. Wilkins '55 Phoenix General Hospital 1975 1950 Indian School Road Phoenix, Ariz. 85015 Alumni Office Mr. Paul J. Gebert Executive Secretary PCOM - 4150 City Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131 PHONE: Area code 215 - TR7 - 6676 CONTENTS Chapter I First Decade 1899-1909 A Brave Beginning page 1 Chapter II First Decade (Continued) A Tradition Begins page 12 Chapter III Second Decade 1909-1919 Rugged Candidates in Rough Times page 20 Chapter IV Third Decade 1919-1929 The Terrific Twenties page 32 Chapter V Fourth Decade 1929-1939 A Period of Trials and Triumph page 49 Chapter VI Fifth Decade 1939-1949 Out of Depression Into War page 61 Chapter VII Sixth Decade 1949-1959 A New Era of PCO Expansion page 79 Chapter VIII Seventh Decade 1959-1966 The Turbulent '60's page 90 Chapter IX Seventh Decade (Continued) New Building, New Horizons page 104 Chapter X The 1970's Fulfillment and New Challenges page 113 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the research and gathering of material for this 75th Anniversary History of PCOM, the author wishes to express his thanks for their help to the following: Dr. Spencer G. Bradford, Chairman of the History Committee; Dr. Paul T. Lloyd, Alumni Association Historian; Dr. J. Ernest Leuzinger for memorabilia and material; Dr. Sherwood R. Mercer, Dean Robert W. England, Dr. Charles W. Snyder, Jr., Dr. William F. Daiber, Dr. Galen S. Young, Dr. Joseph F. Py, Dr. Albert F. D'Alonzo, Dr. Eleanor V. Masterson, the Alumni Office and its Ex- ecutive Secretary, Paul Gebert, the Public Relations Department for photographs, and the helpful secretaries who searched the files. Also my thanks to Barbara Peterson, Associate Editor of the AOA Publications for early material in AOA files. CHAPTER I THE FIRST DECADE, 1899-1909 A BRAVE BEGINNING The decision to found the Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy was reached after several lengthy discussions between two mature teaching-students at Northern Institute of Osteopathy in Minneapolis, Minn, during the winter of 1898. Of widely different backgrounds, both men had been attracted to the recently launched science of osteopathic healing because of its salutary effects upon close relatives. Moreover, each was well en- dowed with talent and the gift of communication in an era of great orators, evangelists, and persuasive writers. Without microphone, radio or television the voices of Billy Sunday, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and the sonorous sentences of William Jennings Bryan reverberated across America. And they had plenty of company, whether at July 4th picnic celebrations, poHtical con- ventions, or in the great tents of religious revival where silver-tongued speakers delivered the message, person to persons. Of such magnitude was the Rev. Dr. Mason Wiley DR. 0. J. SNYDER CO-FOUNDER Pressly, a fiery Presbyterian minister from Coddle Creek, N. C. with degrees from Erskine College and Princeton Theological Seminary along with honors Washington) University and earned a Master of m literary composition and oratory. He was about to Sciences degree. Entering Federal government serv- spouse osteopathic therapeutics as a second profes- ice he was for five years a Special examiner in the sion. Dr. Pressly at age 39 would receive his D.O. U. S. Pension Bureau. degree shortly after making the compact with his During this period he first learned of the new younger partner, Oscar John Snyder, who at 31 Osteopathic therapy and persuaded his sister, would finish a year later at the Northern Institute of diagnosed as suffering from atrophy of the optic Osteopathy with the class of 1899. nerve and doomed to blindness, to undergo Dr.