The lost history of American veterinary medicine: the need for preservation.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to survey holdings of ephemeral veterinary literature.


METHODS
World Cat OCLC catalog, the Library of Congress online catalog, the US National Agricultural Library online catalog, and the Dictionary Catalog of the National Agricultural Library, 1862-1965, were used to determine current library holdings of materials published by veterinary schools that are no longer in existence and veterinary associations that are defunct, veterinary supply catalogs, veterinary house organs, patent medicine publications, and veterinary advertisements. Individual library catalogs were also consulted. In addition, the practice of removing advertisements from bound volumes was examined.


RESULTS
There are many gaps in the cataloged library holdings of primary source materials relating to the history of the education of veterinarians in the United States.


CONCLUSIONS
A proactive action plan needs to be designed and activated to locate, catalog, and preserve this primary source material of veterinary medicine for posterity.
University of Missouri-Columbia, MO 65211-5120, USA. boydt@missouri.edu
C Trenton
CT
Boyd
D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D011642:Publications / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014481:United States; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000266:history*
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001 Nov 1;219(9):1194-5
11697358
Bull Med Libr Assoc. 1950 Apr;38(2):152-5
15411571