Historical Collections & Archives is pleased to introduce our new exhibit, Treat Local: The Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland, 1884 – 2020, curated by Archives Assistants River Freemont and Jordan Jedry. The exhibit is now on view online and in the interior Library entrance on the third floor of the BICC through December 2022.

From 1884 to 2020, the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland (MSMP) represented a community of physicians who strove to create “the best environment in which to care for patients.” Remembered fondly by former members for the spirit of collegiality fostered during the Society’s countless meetings and community events, the group strongly advocated for the development and provision of local modern healthcare services. In 1887, members of the Society also played an active role in the founding of the University of Oregon Medical School, demonstrating the Society’s early commitment to the advancement of regional medical care, which would continue over its 136-year history.

Drawing from the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland records, this exhibit traces the local impact of the MSMP over its history through a showcase of the group’s most notable activities, including community health education programs, emergency medical services, disaster planning, and vaccination and disease awareness campaigns.

We hope you’ll check it out online or in person the next time you’re on Marquam Hill, and read the curators’ accompanying zine, “M2FO: Building Awareness, Taking Action.”

Visit the Historical Collections & Archives website to learn more about our collections and programming, or to learn more about supporting our work.