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Historical Marker Commemorating Founding of MLA in Philadelphia Unveiled!

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.

    marker copy.jpg

    Preparing for the unveiling on 
    a beautiful day

    marker2.jpg

    Carla J. Funk, CAE, and Dan
    Kipnis unveil historic marker;
    June Fulton, FMLA, and Michelle
    Kraft, AHIP, assist with unveiling

    marker3.jpg

    Left to Right: William V. Lewis, 
    Pennsylvania Historical and 
    Museum Commission; Michelle
    Kraft, AHIP, president, MLA; Dan 
    Kipnis, chair, Philadelphia Regional 
    Chapter of MLA; Carla J. Funk, CAE, 
    former executive director, MLA; Kevin
    Baliozian, executive director, MLA

    marker4.jpg

    Current and past MLA 
    presidents in attendance,
    left to right: Michelle Kraft,
    AHIP, June H. Fulton, FMLA,
    Eloise Foster, AHIP, FMLA,
    M.J. Tooey, AHIP, FMLA



 

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