Texas State Board of Medical Examiners:
An Inventory of Board of Medical Examiners Records at the Texas State Archives, 1901-1975, 1978-1985, bulk 1901-1975
Overview | ||
| Creator: | Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. | |
| Title: | Board of Medical Examiners records | |
| Dates: | 1901-1975, 1978-1985 | |
| Dates: | bulk 1901-1975 | |
| Abstract: | The Medical Practices Act of 1901 created three medical boards, including the Texas Board of Medical Examiners. In 1907, all three boards were supplanted by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, to administer the examination and licensing of physicians and surgeons, prescribe their qualifications, and provide procedures for the registration and revocation of licenses. In 1923 the Texas State Board of Chiropody Examiners was created, to administer the examinations and license those seeking to practice chiropody (later called podiatry) in Texas. The records of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners cover the period 1901-1975 and 1978-1985 (the bulk dating 1901-1975), and consist of registers, fee books, general ledgers, permit books, and correspondence. | |
| Quantity: | 6.04 cubic ft. | |
| Language: | These materials are written predominately in English. | |
| Repository: | Texas State Archives | |
Agency History
Initial licensing of medical practitioners in Texas began in 1837 with the creation of the Board of Medical Censors by the 2nd Congress of the Republic of Texas. It was abolished in 1848 by the 2nd Legislature of the State of Texas.
In 1873 (13th Texas Legislature, Chapter 55), and again in 1876 (15th Legislature, Chapter 140) legislation was passed which directed the presiding judge of each district court to create a three-member district Board of Medical Examiners for the licensing or certification of medical practitioners in each district. A state-wide board was not re-established until the passage of the Medical Practices Act in 1901 (House Bill 173, 27th Texas Legislature), creating three medical boards: the Board of Medical Examiners, the Board of Eclectic Medical Examiners, and the Board of Homeopathic Medical Examiners. Each board had nine members. This law specified "that no member shall be a professor or teacher in any medical school."
In 1907, these three boards were supplanted by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, established by the 30th Texas Legislature (Senate Bill 26) to administer the examination and licensing of physicians and surgeons, prescribe their qualifications, and provide procedures for the registration and revocation of licenses. The Board, when created, consisted of 11 members appointed by the governor for two-year terms, and was required to meet twice a year. In 1931 (House Bills 6 and 7, 42nd Texas Legislature) the number of members was raised to 12, and the term increased to six years. In 1981, the Texas Legislature increased the number of members to 15, adding doctors of osteopathy and public members (Senate Bill 5, 67th Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session). That number was raised to 18 (adding three more public members) in 1993 (Senate Bill 1062, 73rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session); and to 19 (adding one additional public member) in 2003 (Senate Bill 287, 78th Texas Legislature, Regular Session).
In 2005, the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners was renamed the Texas Medical Board (Senate Bill 419, 79th Texas Legislature, Regular Session).
The current 19-member board consists of nine licensed physicians who must be graduates of a reputable medical school with a degree of doctor of medicine (MD); three licensed physicians who must be graduates of a reputable medical school with a degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine (OD) (both types of physicians must have practiced medicine for at least five years, including three years in Texas); and seven members who represent the general public. All members are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. The governor designates the president of the board.
In 1923 the 38th Texas Legislature passed the "Act to Define and Regulate the Practice of Chiropody" (House Bill 487). Under the terms of this law a five-member State Board of Chiropody Examiners was created to administer the examinations and license those seeking to practice chiropody in Texas. Membership of the Board consisted of three members of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners and two chiropodists appointed by the Board of Medical Examiners. The secretary of the Board of Medical Examiners served as the Chiropody Board's secretary. In 1939 the board was made a separate, independent state agency, the Texas State Board of Chiropody Examiners. In 1967 the name was changed to Texas State Board of Podiatry Examiners, and in 1995 to Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners.
In 1993, the 73rd Texas Legislature created the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners (Senate Bill 1062) and the Texas Physician Assistant Advisory Council (House Bill 2498), later called the Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners, each of them composed of nine members, administratively attached to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.
(Sources include: the Guide to Texas State Agencies, 11th edition (2001); the enabling legislation (1837, 1848, 1873, 1876, 1901, 1907, 1923, 1931, 1981, 1993, 2003, 2005); and the agency website, at http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/boards/medbd.php, accessed December 6, 2005.)
Scope and Contents of the Records
The Medical Practices Act of 1901 created three medical boards, including the Texas Board of Medical Examiners. In 1907, all three boards were supplanted by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, to administer the examination and licensing of physicians and surgeons, prescribe their qualifications, and provide procedures for the registration and revocation of licenses. In 1923 the Texas State Board of Chiropody Examiners was created, to administer the examinations and license those seeking to practice chiropody (later called podiatry) in Texas. The records of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners cover the period 1901-1975 and 1978-1985 (the bulk dating 1901-1975), and consist of registers, fee books, general ledgers, permit books, and correspondence. Minutes are found in a separate finding aid. Because of the shared secretary and membership, records of two boards are intermixed. A financial ledger for 1924-1934 for the Texas Board of Chiropody Examiners was transferred with the Medical Examiners records. The Archives holds other records of the Chiropody Examiners (now the Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners).
To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.
Organizationof the Records | ||
| These records were organized by State Archives staff into six series. | ||
| Registers, 1901-1931, 1.44 cubic ft. | ||
| Fee books, 1943-1952, 2 cubic ft. | ||
| General ledgers, 1907-1915, 1929-1975, 2.41 cubic ft. | ||
| Chiropody Examiners, general ledger, 1924-1934, 0.07 cubic ft. | ||
| Permit book, about 1931, 0.12 cubic ft. | ||
| Agency correspondence, 1978-1985, fractional | ||
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
None.
Restrictions on Use
Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).
Technical Requirements
None.
Index Terms | ||
| The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records. | ||
| Corporate Names: | ||
| Texas State Board of Chiropody Examiners. | ||
| Subjects: | ||
| Medicine--Texas. | ||
| Physicians--Texas--Discipline. | ||
| Medical ethics--Texas. | ||
| Physicians--Licenses--Texas. | ||
| Document Types: | ||
| Registers (lists)--Texas--Physicians--1901-1931. | ||
| Permits--Texas--Physicians--ca. 1931. | ||
| Correspondence--Texas--Physicians--1978-1985. | ||
| Fees--Texas--Physicians--1943-1952. | ||
| Functions: | ||
| Regulating physicians. | ||
Related Material
The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive. |
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| Texas State Archives | ||
| Texas Secretary of State, Board of Medical Examiners' medical registers, 1907-1979, 1.44 cubic ft. | ||
| Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, Self-evaluation reports and decision materials, 1977-1991, 11.47 cubic ft. [Box 1998/028-9 contains the report of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, 1979] | ||
| Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners, Minutes, 1923-1939, 1982-1997, 0.48 cubic ft. | ||
| Texas State Board of Podiatry Examiners, Records, 1923-1959, 9 cubic ft. | ||
| Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, Minutes, 1907-1986, 1988-2002, 11.88 cubic ft. | ||
| Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners, Minutes, 1994-1998, 0.24 cubic ft. [There is no finding aid for these unprocessed records. Call number is 1998/112.] | ||
| Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners, Minutes, 1994-1997, 0.24 cubic ft. [There is no finding aid for these unprocessed records. Call number is 1998/113.] | ||
| Texas State Rural Medical Education Board, 1975-1984, 0.24 cubic ft. [There is no finding aid for these unprocessed records. Call number is 1998/193.] | ||
| Publications | ||
| Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, Directory of medical practitioners authorized to practice medicine in Texas, 1960-1967 | ||
| Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, Directory of licensed and registered physicians and surgeons in Texas, 1968- | ||
| Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, Handbook of information with official list of authorized medical practitioners of the State of Texas and extracts from the law, 1936-1959 | ||
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas State Board of Medical Examiners records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession Information
Accession numbers: 1981/207, 1991/128
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners on August 18, 1981 and April 9, 1991.
Processing Information
Walter Pierce, July 1985
Laura K. Saegert, May 1992, December 2004
Tony Black, November 2005
Other Formats for the Records
The Texas Medical Board periodically mounts its recent minutes and agenda (both for the board and for committees) on the agency's website: minutes (http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/professionals/calendar/minutes/doc/mbmin.php), and agenda (http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/professionals/calendar/docagenda.php). The board also maintains a database which provides verification of physicians registered with the board; access to this database is on the agency's website (http://reg.tsbme.state.tx.us/OnLineVerif/Phys_NoticeVerif.asp?). It is unknown, but quite unlikely, whether the verification data found in the oldest ledgers is available on the database. (Websites accessed on December 6, 2005.)
Detailed Description of the Records
Registers,
1901-1931,
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| The Medical Practices Act of 1901 created three medical boards, including the Texas Board of Medical Examiners. In 1907, all three boards were supplanted by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, to administer the examination and licensing of physicians and surgeons, prescribe their qualifications, and provide procedures for the registration and revocation of licenses. These records are registers of the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, dating 1901-1931. There are three types of registers present. Verification registers confirm the credentials of those practicing medicine in Texas. Examination registers provide the scores of applicants who sought licensing through exams administered by the Board. Reciprocity registers contain mutual agreements between Texas and other states and countries for the licensing of doctors without examination. Data listed in the registers varies depending on the register's function but can include date, name, address, license number, medical school with date of graduation, date and method of license, verification date and number, and scores of licensing exams. Additional verification, examination and reciprocity registers can be found in the records of the Texas Secretary of State, Board of Medical Examiners' medical registers, 1907-1979. | |||||||||||||
| The Texas Medical Board maintains a database which provides verification of physicians registered with the board; access to this database is on the agency's website (http://reg.tsbme.state.tx.us/OnLineVerif/Phys_NoticeVerif.asp?). It is unknown, but quite unlikely, whether the verification data found in the oldest ledgers is available on the database. (Websites accessed on December 6, 2005.) | |||||||||||||
| Arrangement | |||||||||||||
| These registers are arranged by the creator chronologically. Within each register, entries are generally in alphabetical order by the first initial of the surname, then in chronological order. | |||||||||||||
| Preferred Citation | |||||||||||||
| (Identify the item), Registers, Texas State Board of Medical Examiners records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission. | |||||||||||||
| Accession Information | |||||||||||||
| Accession number: 1981/207 | |||||||||||||
| These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners on August 18, 1981. | |||||||||||||
| Processed by | |||||||||||||
| Walter Pierce, July 1985 | |||||||||||||
| Revised by Laura K. Saegert, December 2004 | |||||||||||||
| Volume | |||||||||||||
| 1981/207-7 | Register, October 1901-June 1907 | ||||||||||||
| (Lists date, name, address, license number and medical school with date of graduation.) | |||||||||||||
| Volume | |||||||||||||
| 1981/207-8 | Register, January 1908-March 1913 | ||||||||||||
| (Verification register lists name, address, medical school, date and method of license, and verification date and number. Most of the certificates granted between January and July 1908.) | |||||||||||||
| Volume | |||||||||||||
| 1981/207-9 | Register, October 1901-July 1911 | ||||||||||||
| (Examination and reciprocity) | |||||||||||||
| Volume | |||||||||||||
| 1981/207-10 | Register, October 1907-November 1913 | ||||||||||||
| (Examination) | |||||||||||||
| Volume | |||||||||||||
| 1981/207-11 | Register, October 1907-May 1915 | ||||||||||||
| (Examination, reciprocity, verification) | |||||||||||||
| Volume | |||||||||||||
| 1981/207-12 | Register, June 1915-July 1931 | ||||||||||||
| (Examination, reciprocity, verification) | |||||||||||||