Records on Veterinary History: What's Out There?
The American Veterinary Medical History Society (AVMHS), established 1978, works to promote "research, study, understanding, communication, and appreciation for the history of the veterinary medical profession." The AVMHS recently began an initiative to identify all U.S. organizations with veterinary records in their collections and to compile an exhaustive list. Here at the Indiana State Archives, we thought we would take a look and see what we have.
Veterinary History at the Indiana State Archives
The Indiana State Archives division of the Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) is charged with collecting, preserving, and making accessible the valuable historical records that tell the story of Indiana, Hoosiers, and our government. We like to say, “we’ve got the docs!” The Archives houses a collection of veterinary records that spans over a century of Indiana's veterinary medical history, offering researchers and historians valuable insights into the evolution of veterinary practice in the Hoosier State.
[Detail of Volume of Veterinarian's Licenses, 1901-1909, Tippecanoe County, Professional Licenses, B000035614U, Indiana State Archives.]
A Rich Collection of Veterinary History
The Archives' veterinary collections offer a window into the professionalization of veterinary medicine in Indiana. Some highlights follow with a full list* for researchers after the summary.
Licensing Records: Twenty-one boxes of licenses issued by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from 1915-1979 provide comprehensive documentation of Indiana's licensed veterinarians. Additional county-level licensing records from Washington, Tippecanoe, Brown, and Harrison counties extend coverage back to 1901, capturing the earliest days of veterinary regulation in the state.
[Volume of Five Years' Practice Veterinary Licenses, 1901-1904, Harrison County, Professional Licenses, B0000182591R, Indiana State Archives.]
Board Minutes and Administrative Records: Minutes from the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (1933-1977) document the regulatory evolution of the profession, while code and rule drafts reveal the development of professional standards.
Applications and Professional Files: Early applications for veterinary medicine licenses from 1902, along with veterinary technology applications from the 1990s, showcase the expanding scope of veterinary practice over nearly a century.
Business Records: Documentation of dissolved veterinary clinics and pharmaceutical companies provides insight into the commercial aspects of early veterinary medicine.
Access and Research Opportunities
Some of the records of individual and business professional licenses can be found online via the Research Indiana Indexes, which makes more than 1.5 million names searchable online thanks to dedicated volunteers. Researchers can search for "veterinarian" or "veterinary" keywords to locate relevant materials. Start your online SEARCH now.
[Screen Shot of Search Results from the "Research Indiana Indexes," in.gov/iara.]
The Indiana State Archives welcomes researchers to their reading room in Indianapolis, though advance notice is recommended for materials stored in remote locations. Knowledgeable archivists can also provide research assistance and can help historians navigate the collections.
For veterinary historians interested in exploring Indiana's rich veterinary heritage, the Archives offers an invaluable resource that documents not only individual practitioners but also the regulatory, educational, and commercial development of the profession.
Contact Information:
Indiana State Archives
6440 East 30th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46219-1007
Email: arc@iara.in.gov
Phone: 317-591-5222
*Full List of Records for Researchers
Minutes
- One Box of Minutes of the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 1933-1977 (B100302647Q)
- Applicants for Registered Veterinarian Technician Failing Exam (B100248897Q) Note: Partially confidential
Code
- Real Estate Commission of the Veterinary Medical Examiners Board, Code and Rule Draft Working Papers, n.d. (B100314275W)
- Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, Indiana Administrative Code, Final Adopted Rules, Legislative Services Agency, 2016 (B000184715J), Note: format is a CD
Governor’s Papers
- Governor Robert D. Orr General Letters re: Urban Development Protection and Advocacy Veterinary Board, 1984-1987 (B100258410N)
Drawings
Board of Health, Hoosier Veterinarian Laboratory, Drawings and Specifications, 1961 (Accession #: 1990072) Note: Map Cabinet
Veterinary Licenses
- 21 Boxes of Licenses issued by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 1915-1979 (Accession#: 1985138) Note: partially confidential but open to research
- Partial Box of Licenses: “Non-Renewable Registered Veterinarian Technicians,” 1976-1978 (B100248898R)
- Washington County Circuit Court Veterinary Record (licenses),1901-105 (B100210556Z)
- Tippecanoe County Clerk Issued Veterinary Licenses, 1901-1909 (B000035614U)
- Brown County Clerk Veterinary Record (licenses), 1901-1907 (B100218811M)
- Mortar & Pestle Veterinary Pharmacy License, 1998 (000191357O)
- Harrison County Clerk Veterinary Record (licenses), 1901-1904 (B000182591R)
Applications for Veterinary Licenses
- Applications for Veterinary Medicine, 1902 (B100250835E)
- Applications and Rules for Veterinary Technology, Licensee Files, 1995 (B100211813I)
Lapsed Licensee Files
1970s and 80s (B000078257V) Note: “Partially Confidential”
Dissolved Clinics
- Albion Veterinary Clinic, Dissolved Corporation, 1990 (B100206818F)
