Monmouth County Medical Society; A Guide to the Records of the

The Monmouth County Medical Society was organized in 1816, but formally established on April 24, 1820 when its founding members adopted a constitution. The Society initially held two meetings a yearin Freehold, NJ. The founding officers were: president, William G. Reynolds; vice-president, Edward Taylor; secretary, Samuel Forman and treasurer, Jacobus Hubbard, Jr. In addition to its meetings, the Society operated a medical library, one of the earliest professional libraries in the United States but due to volume losses, was soon abandoned.

Up to 1884, the number of new doctors admitted to the Society varied from none to four yearly. Total membership varied between twelve and twenty. By 1893, membership rolls were up to thirty-six. Among the notable practitioners was Dr. William A. Newell of Upper Freehold who as a member of Congress led the fight to establish the U.S. Life Saving Service charged with aiding shipwreck victims.

The Monmouth County Medical Society is active today and is a component society of the MedicalSociety of New Jersey.

The Practitioners' Society of Eastern Monmouth was formed on July 1, 1901 when fourteen physicians met in Red Bank to organize. The purpose of the Society, as stated in the original minutes, was for mutual improvement along the lines of medical education or development, with a feature of protection and suppression of illegal medical practice..." First-hand reports of treatments and experiences comprised the main part of meetings and are illustrated in the minute books.