Submitted by Dan Kipnis, Scott Memorial Library & Center for Teaching and Learning, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
On Wednesday, November 4, 2015, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, MLA, and the Philadelphia Regional Chapter of MLA unveiled a historical marker commemorating MLA’s founding in 1898. The marker project was initiated to honor Carla J. Funk, CAE, for her almost twenty-three years of service as MLA’s executive director.
The historical marker reads:
Medical Library Association: World’s oldest medical library association founded here in 1898 to facilitate access to reliable medical literature for the improvement of health care. Among the US and Canadian founders were George M. Gould, MD; Sir William Osler, MD; and Margaret R. Charlton, librarian.
After the unveiling, a reception was held at the Union League of Philadelphia. Many librarians attended, having traveled from across the United States, including San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Bethesda, and Cleveland. Speakers included:
- Dan Kipnis, chair, Philadelphia Regional Chapter of MLA
- William V. Lewis, commissioner, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
- June H. Fulton, FMLA, former president, MLA, and chair, Centennial Coordinating Committee
- Betsy L. Humphreys, FMLA, acting director, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD
- Carla J. Funk, CAE, former executive director, MLA
- Kevin Baliozian, executive director, MLA
- Michelle Kraft, AHIP, president, MLA
Past MLA presidents also in attendance included Eloise C. Foster, AHIP, FMLA, Chicago, IL, and M.J. Tooey, AHIP, FMLA, Health Sciences & Human Services Library, University of Maryland–Baltimore.
Next time you are in Philadelphia, swing by 1420-22 Chestnut Street to view the historical marker commemorating the founding of MLA.
Preparing for the unveiling on |
Carla J. Funk, CAE, and Dan |
Left to Right: William V. Lewis, |
Current and past MLA |