Relations with Other Organizations

Abstract

The Federation was founded in 1913 by the physiologists, pharmacologists and biochemists, and the pathologists joined promptly thereafter. The purpose was to provide some convenient liaison between the member societies so that they could meet annually at the same time and place. In the beginning, the societies took turns in arranging the meetings. In 1935, Dr. Donald Hooker assumed the duties of Executive Secretary and took care of all such matters as well as the printing of the Yearbook. The numbers steadily increased as indicated in the section on Membership. Originally, there was a very important and exciting Federation Banquet every year, but this had to be given up after the war when the numbers became too large. Thereafter, one often heard the cry that the meetings were too big, that the Federation had outlived its usefulness, and that the Society should resign from the Federation and meet by itself. When the Society was debating the desirability of holding a Fall Meeting by itself, I recall that Dr. Carlson arose and said that he helped to found the Federation and he was not going to vote for its liquidation. As presiding officer at the time, I explained that the Council thought that the Fall Meetings would save the Federation rather than wreck it and Dr. Carlson withdrew his objection.