The Archives of the Canadian Dermatology Association

The Archives of the Canadian
Dermatology Association
ROBERT JACKSON
Abstract. This article desicribes some details of the archival material of the
Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA). Covering its 75 years of existence,
these archives consist of seven items: (1) 38 volumes of bound archives; (2) triannual issues since 1975 of the CDA lournal/Bulletin (a socio-political historical
newsletter); (3)members' files contaking extensive biographkal material; (4) a
colledion of 150 books and other vamvhlets: (5) since 1995. the scientific veerA
of dutaneous ~edicineand surkey);
reviewed official journal of the C ~ (~&rnal
(6) a sporadic collection of photographs, meeting tape recordings, and protocols of p&mt pmentat$md at thg annual meetings; an&(? a miscellany of historical a&cW on Can$dsikn dermatologists, dermatology published in other
mdical journals, and MOb k S putrhhed separately.
a 8 i s d l (f3etqtiq164krJt des documents d'archives de l'488ociation Cam(ACD).Ces archives, qui couvrent 75 annhlts d'exi~td i m e dk l%nn&tmce/ mmpmnnent \c%i@ms suivants: (1) 32 volumes reH& d'archives; (2) les
pa&
&
,q
&annucrrtes du Jmrnal/Bulletin du CDA (unblletin d'idorrnations
+wMmpoli*o-h~oriquesf diepuis 1975; (33 des documentsbiblfographiquessur
ler9.mefzp@r&
de l'A~so#atim; (4) une collection de 150 #W et ant* publicatbm; (5) la revup ofiicielle de I'AGD de uis 1995, kJ$11'mlde M6decine et
ChNrgie C3tanie,'un~ blication scienti ique 4valuJee par les paires; (6) m e
crllfactim P oradiqw ~Ph.ohos,bcnde9 soncaps et dc pfotoco1es de malade
p'twtimank nt, r6unions $n&eUes; (?) une panaplfe d"artic1w higtoltiques sur la
d ~ a t o k $ p e:s@nadL~
s
@b3% dam d'autm revues m6dicales et deux livres
distincts.
B
P
I
The canadi& ~mnatol*gyAssociation is S medical society of Camdiah dermatologists. ,Qmeh gear at its annual ntheethg & CDA pulls
together:its fardung&d often isolated-practiWners for formal and
informal discussions. ,These cover scientific, educational, social and
business matters. It is not a trade organization, because dermatological
Robert Jacksonis Professor Emeritus of Medicine (Dermatology)at the University of Ottawa and Archivist for the Canadian DermatologyAssociation.
CBMHIBCHM / Volume 17:2080 /p. 267-267
258
ROBERT JACKSON
health matters relating to the business of practice are controlled by the
provinces and territories.
We have about 400 members, mainly in Canada. The CDA was
founded in 1925 as the Canadian branch of the British Association of
Dermatology; in 1947 we left the parent British Association to become
the Canadian Dermatological Association, so the year 2000 will be the
diamond jubilee meeting in Montreal. Several articles on the history of
the Association have been published.'
The archival material can be described under seven headings.
First are the 38 bound official archives from 1925 to 1992 (Figure 1).
While the size of each volume varies, each is about 500 pages long. I
have reviewed the volume 1964 to 1967 to illustrate some of the usual
and unusual contents. As most of the activity of the CDA is centred
about the annual meeting, the main portion of these bound archives
concerns itself with the annual meeting.
Figure 1
Bound archives of CDA, 1925-1990
The 1964 meeting was held in Vancouver from June 23-27. The full
Minutes include the program, record that 46 attended, and give the
financial report and reports of committees. That meeting had a special
session on teaching dermatology to medical students in Canada. As
well, the first clinico-histopathological session was held. There was a
panel entitled "Dermatology and the Economic Climate" with speakers
from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. (This was
The Archives of the Canadian Dermatology Association
I
259
two years after the introduction of universal medicare in Saskatchewan.) Abstracts of all papers presented are included.
The 1965meeting was held in Montreal from June 15-18. The Minutes
record the program, reveal 69 attended, give a financial report and a report of committees. There were special presentations on psoriasis,
psoralens, topical steroids, and DMSO. There was a minor fuss after the
meeting because a non-member was allowed to give a paper and a
drug-sponsored guest from Argentina did not reveal his drug connections. Both, unfortunately, made poor presentations.
The 1966 Jasper meeting was held from June 28-July 2. According to
the Minutes, 39 attended, 11new members were elected, and there were
the usual financial and committee reports. A "What's New" section was
started, the histopathological conference was re-introduced and there
was a complete listing of the "I Have a Case" presentations. Two items
of note: Dr. Goodman introduced a suggested dermatology fee schedule for Canadian dermatologists; and Dr. Ereaux was made a ceremonial Indian Chief of the Sarcee Indian tribe.
The 1967meeting was held at Lac Beauport from June30-July4. Fiftythree attended, 19 new members were elected, and there were the usual
financial and committee repore. The patient presentations were at the
Hotel Dieu Hospital in Quebec City. Because 1967 was the year that
Expo was in Montreal, there w&s considerable difficulty in arranging
this meeting.
Other items, not primarily mmting-oriented, found in this 1964 to
1967volume include the following: them were some details on applications for new and honorary memberships to the CDA, obituaries of permanent members (Gaumond, Williamson, Ereaux) and lists of members
dated 1965 and 1967. The CDA's relation with other scientific bodiesthe Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Canadian
Medical Association, and the International Congress of Dermatology
which was held in Munich in 1967-were documented. Other items of
some interest to the CDA recorded were the ordering and distribution
of CDA pins for past presidents, a bill for $260 for the Canadian reception at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting (this was considered excessive!),a request for names of CDA members for their consideration for the newly-minted CentennialMedal, and news items: Dr.
Maddin was elected President of the Canadian Amateur Swimming Association and Dr. Leclerc played his 20,000thset in tennis; there was a report by Dr. Mitchell on the proportional distribution of skin disease in
12,578 patients, and plans for a residents' forum in Vancouver in 1968.
A recurring theme was the role of the drug industry in the activitiesof
the CDA. Questions arose such as, should drug companies be allowed
to sponsor dinners and receptions? should they be allowed to have dis-
260
ROBERTJACKSON
plays at CDA meetings? and should CDA member dermatologists who
worked full-time for drug companies be treated differently?
I have reviewed the bound volume for 1964 to 1967. Prior to this, and
certainly after 1947, the volumes covering up to 1964 are really quite
complete, especially as regards the annual meeting. Prior to 1947, the
material is more sketchy but surprisingly complete with records of most
meetings from 1926. TheCDA Bulletin was founded in 1975 and some of
the material which used to go into these annual bound volumes is now
included in theBulletin.
Figure 2
Canadian DermatologicalAssociation Journal,
October 1975. First issue, front cover.
Second are the biannual issues, starting in 1975, of the CDA Bulletin
(called the CDA Journal up until 1994) (Figures 2 and 3). This socio-polit-
The Archives of the Canadian Dermatology Association
261
ical historical journal nicely fills in the background of some of the items
and persons reported in the bound archives. But it has done more than
that. Regional problems across Canada are discussed in detail. Interim
CDA business can be reported to the members in a more timely fashion.
Mini-historical articles concerning dermatology and Canadian dermatologists are a regular feature. All obituaries are now published in this
journal.
Figure 3
Canadinn Dermatological Association Bulletin,
June 1999 issue, front cover.
I will review the contents of the first edition and a recent one. The
opening paragraph of the first edition read as follows:
262
ROBERTJACKSON
Few in number, scattered over a great land, and divided by language and culture, Canadian Dermatologists have a real need for unifying factors. Through
the vision and efforts of the Canadian Dermatology Association Executive, and
in particular Dr. Williarn Linton and Mr. Louis Vogel, this humble and opening
issue of a Canadian Dermatology Journal or Digest, will try a t least partially to
act as oneof these factors.
In this four-page issue there is a report from theCDA's secretarytreasurer
and a notice on the upcoming CDA meeting in Dublin in 1976. Regional
news included a meeting of the Montreal Dermatological Society to be
held in Kingston, news from British Columbia and a note on Maritime
dermatology from Halifax.
Figure 4
Fileon thelateDr. A. M. Davidson (1885-1972) of Winnipeg, showing corn
pleted application form, "Did You Know" historical vignette
with photograph, and his collected papers.
The June 1999 16-pageissue is considerably more elaborate but in many
ways confirms, endorses, and fulfils the objectives listed in the first issue
in the editorial by Dr. Rosenthal (Figure 4). Six articles are on CDA affairs,
six on regional dermatological news, two on Royal College business, and
two on matters of the American Academy of Dermatology which might
affect Canadian dermatologists. There is a report that two Canadians are
among the top 25 cited authors in dermatology in the world. There are
two articles on retired dermatologists and an obituary. There is a short
note on officemoves and practice starts. This issue is typical of many.
The Archives of the Canadian Dermatology Association
263
Third are the members' files containing extensive biographical material such as an original application form, a CV, a photograph, sometimes a file of reprints and, often, an obituary. These exist for the last 50
years (Figure 4). Some member information (including obituaries) before that is present in bound archives; much more is in the list of papers
and books discussed in item seven, especially in the Vignettes book by
R. R. Forsey. There are three sets of members' files-one is of those who
have died, one is of living (mainly Senior) members on whom there is
an almost complete file, and one is of members up to the early 1990s.
Figure 5
Photoofmeeting of the Canadian Branch of the British Associationof Derrnatology, held on 29 May 1943 at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Montreal.
Fourth is a collection of approximately 150 books and pamphlets belonging to the CDA and kept at the Women's College Hospital in
Toronto. This CDA Historical Collection is of material mainly from the
early and mid 1900s (seven were published before 1900).There is a copy
of Daniel Turner's 1714 De Morbis Cutaneis. There are eight reprints of a
bibliography of secondary services on the history of dermatology published originally in the international Journal of Dermatology and the American Archives of Dermatology. Attempts are being made to enlarge this
collection. Hopefully, arrangements can be made with Revenue Canada so that a tax receipt can be given to those willing to donate their
books to this collection.
264
ROBERT JACKSON
The fifth portion of the archives is the official publication of the CDA
called the Jo~rrnalof Cutaneous Medicine and S u ~ e yIt. started in 1995
and is listed in lndex Medicus. In addition to the usual scientific articles
on dermatological subjects, in the "Point Counter-Point" section there
are often policy discussions on, for example, the pros and cons of cosmetic dermatology. There is a section called "Classics in Dermatology."
This section contains review articles of significant and original dermatological publications.2
The sixth portion is a miscellaneous collection of black and white and
coloured prints and 35mm transparencies. Some meetings have a very
complete collection, but some have not been identified and labelled.
(The more complete ones are listed in Note 3 (Figure 5). There are complete tape recordings of two meetings? At the CDA annual meeting, for
many years (from 1926 to 1967) there was a presentation of live patients.
Protocols (Figure 6) exist of most of them.5 In these protocols are descriptions of rare and unusual diseases, and conditions difficult to treat.
A survey of these protocols will illustrate a snapshot picture of difficult
dermatological disease at a specific time. Finally, there is a variety of
poster displays, and an account day book from 1968to 1976.
Figure 6
Photo of patient protocolsat Vancouver in 1964 and Halifax in 1958
The seventh component of theCDA Archival material is a list of historical articles in other medical journals and two published books. These are
The Archives of the Canadian Dermatology Association
265
listed in the appendix. The most prolific author is Dr. R. Roy Forsey of
Montreal. He was the CDA historian for many years and has been the
main driving force behind the collection of archival material, along with
the late Drs. D. E. H. Cleveland of Vancouver and Arthur R. Birt of Winnipeg. Presently, Dr. Forsey is one of my committee members and is a
great source of information. The Vignettes booklet is a collection mainly
of Dr. Forsey's articles from theCDA Bulletin from 1975-90.
This archival material has moved around Canada for storage from
the homes and offices of several CDA historian-archivists to two university libraries. To me, it is a miracle that none of the material was lost.
Thankfully, in the last three years the CDA has had a permanent home
office in Ottawa. While most of the material is in the Ottawa office? the
book collection is still in the Dermatology Division of the Women's College Hospit@n Toronto.
2.'
NOTE$:
L
I
l 0.E. H. Cleveland and R. R. Forsey, "The Canadian Dermatological Association: The
' First 25 Years," Canadian Medical Association Journal, 75 (1956): 863-65; R. R. Forsey,
"History of the Canadian Dermatological Association:Genesis and Kings," Archives of
Dermafology, 91 (1965): 486-92; A. R. Birt, "The Canadian Dermatological Association:
First Fifty Years," lnternational Journal of Dermatology, 16 (1977):289-95; and R. R. Forsey, in T. P. Morley, ed., The Canadian Denatological Association in Medical Speciality Societies of Canada. (Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press, 1991).
2 R. Jackson, "How Do Physicians React to New Knowledge: The Experience of Jonathan
Hutchinson 1828-1913with Comments on its Relevance Today," Journal of Cutaneous
Medicine and Surgery, 3, 1 (1998):54-56; "The Natural History of Strawberry Nawi,"
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2,3 (1998):187-89; "Geographic Pathology of
Skin Cancer and Fred Urbach," Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 3,3 (1999):
120-22. "Duhring on Dermatitis Herpetiformis," Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and SurUpdike on Psoriasis: At War with my Skin, From the
gery, 3,3 (1999):336-38; and "Jh
Journalof a Leper,"Journal of Cutarteous Medicine and Surge ry, 4,2 (2000):113-15.
3 This listing is for separate items. Many others are in the bound archives, particularlybefore 1950. Many, but ngt all, are identified by date and content. Unless otherwise noted,
photos are of the annual meeting.
Photographs: black and whtte
(1)4x5 photographs of all 61 presidents from 1926 (some were prqident more than
once). Only Dr. McGovem is missing but I have other group photographs of him from
which I can get a copy.
(2) CDA group photos at annual meeting:
1943
Montreal
Wintripeg
1947
Winnipeg
1949
1959two, one extra of annual dinner
Quebec City
Montreal
1951
Montreal
1952
Montreal
1965
(3)Miscellany:
Vancouver
1964many black and white photographs
Jasper
1966photos of historical exhibitsby Drs. Cleveland and Forsey
266
ROBERT JACKSON
Photographs:colour prznts
Quebec City
1984many colour prints
Vancouver
1990many colour prints
Photographs:35mm transparencie$
Halifax
1958a few
Banff
1960a few
Quebec City
1967many
Halifax
1981many
Edmonton
1982many
Quebec City
1984many-three large binders
Three small boxes of unsorted slides from various sources.Other slides mostly of CDA
office in Royal Collegebuilding.
4 Tape Recordings
Annual meetings:
Edmonton
1982full set
St. John's
1997full set
Dr. Forsey's interview with Drs. Kalz and Schopflocherin 1989.
5 Protocols of case histories of live patients presented at the annual meetings. This is a list
of the separate ones. Some others, especially before 1950, are included in the bound volumes. These earlierones are less detailed.
June 13,1945
Montreal
38patients
June 9,1950
Quebec City
39 patients
June 11,1952
Montreal
28 patients
June 16,1954
Vancouver
23 patients
June 23,1955
Toronto
27 patients
June 14,1956
Quebec
25 patients
May 16,1957
London, ON
32 patients
28 patients
July 19,1958
Halifax
June 17,1961
Ottawa
26 patients
23 patients
June 21,1962
Winnipeg
June 15,1963
Toronto
22 patients
June 24,1964
Vancouver
19patients
July 3,1967
Quebec City
26 patients
6 There are many ways this archival material could be used. For information as to its accessibility, please contact Robert Jackson, MD, FRCPC, Canadian Dermatology Association, 774 Echo Drive, Suite 521,Ottawa, ON KlS5N8.
l
APPENDIX: SELECTEDBIBLIOGRAPHYOF PAPERS AND BOOm ON THE HISTORY
OF CANADIAN DERMATOLOGY(EXCLUSIVEOF THOSE IN REFERENCES)
Bendl, B. J. "Donald Emest Howell Cleveland, Portrait of a Cornpleat Physician." B.C. Medical Journal 24 (1982): 508.
Forsey, R. R. "Barney David Usher 1899-1978." Journal of Cutaneous Pathology 6
-.
-.
-.
(1979): 144-46.
The Canadian Dermatological Association in Medical Specialty Societies of Canada. T . P. Morley, ed., Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press, 1991.
"The Crazy Canucks." international Journal of Dermatology 29 (1990): 61-71.
"Did You Know? [biographical series]. C D A Journal
"Burgess, J. F." 6,l (1992):30.
"Campbell, G. G."5,3 (1991):47.
"Clouston, H. R." 6,3 (1992):44.
"Donahue, W. L." 6,2 (1992): 27.
"Ereaux, L. P." 5,2 (1991):28.
The Archives df the Canadian Dermatology Association
I
"George S. Williamson Fund." 2,2 (1993):24.
"Hair, H. C." 7,2 (1993):23.
"Kanee, B." 7,l (1993):32.
"Mitchell, J. C." 7,3 (1993):31.
"Schachter, R. K." 7,2 (1993):25.
-. "Did You Know?~biographicalseries]. CDA Bulletin
"Donsky, H. J." 5,2 (1998):12.
"Enta, T." 5,3 (1998):14.
"Grant, J. D." 6,2 (1999):14.
"Mitchell, D. S." 8,3 (1994):26.
"Scoffield, M. E." 8,l (1994): 37.
"Sibbald, R. G." 9,l (1995):28.
"Simone, A." 8,2 (1994):30.
"Stratton, T. B." 5,1(1998):11.
"The Trows, Sr. and Jr." 6,l (1999):12.
"Wrong, N. M. and Syphilology." 9,2 (1995):24.
-. "James Elliot Graham: Canada's First Dermatologist." Archives ofDermato1ogy, 99 (1969):226-31.
-. Vignettes of Canadian Dermatology. Montreal: Trans. Canada Derm. 1990. (A
collection of 25 "Did You Know?" articles from the CDA Bulletin from its
founding in 1975until 1990, plus other miscellaneous articles. These are a
great source of historical material to augment the incomplete CVs of early
members.)
Gray, C. "Profile, Arthur Birt." Canadian Medical Association Journal 129 (1983):
1299.
Hildebrandt, G. "Profiles in Dermatology: Dr. Norman Wrong." Contmporary
Dermatology (June/July 1988):36,38,39.
Howell, W. B. Francls John Shepherd-His Life and Times. Toronto: Dent and Sons,
1934.
Jackson, R. "Did You Know-Forsey, R. R. F.?' CDA Bulletin 9,3 (1995): 42.
Jackson, R. "Have You Read? Interesting Early Publications of Canadian Dermatologists." CDA Bulletzn.
"Bacteriology of kerion-Birt." 9,3 (1995):44.
"Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus-Raymond & Girard." 9,2 (1995):32.
"Lichen simplex chronicus--Cleveland & Danto." 8,3 (1994):28.
"Mepacrine lichen planus-Peterkin & Hair." 9,1(1995): 29.
Jackson, R. and R. R. Forsey. "Acne Therapy: 1934-1949." international Journalof
Dermatology 27 (1988):661-663.
-. "There Were Giants in the Earth in Those Days: Dermatologists in British
Columbia before 1950." CDA Bulletin 6,3 (1999): 15-17.
Norton, Larry. "History of the Atlantic Dermatological Conference." Journal of
Cutaneous Medrclne and Surgery 3,3 (1999): 123-26.
Roland, C. G. "Canada's First Dermatologist." OnfarioMedicine (l5June 1987):25.
Simpkins, M. A. "Profiles in Dermatology: Dr. Robert Jackson." Contemporary
Dermatology (June/July 1987):40-42.
Swiggum, S. "History of Canadian Women Dermatologists." Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery 3 (1998):20-21.