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First person oral histories of veterinarians who graduated many years ago provide wonderful insights into life and times in a former period of our history. However, the recounting of experiences from decades earlier may be tempered as the passage of time yields the possibility that past experiences may be replayed in the context of a more contemporary society. In addition, memories fade and events that are retold may not always represent the most compelling stories of daily life as it actually was.

Back in the 1920s and 30s, animal healthcare was mainly focused on horses and cattle, they being the popularly owned animals of the time for transport and agriculture.

Back in the early 20th century, animal healthcare was mostly limited to a handful of schools, all of which were for-profit and based only in major cities.

Veterinarians attending the annual convention of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) this month in Chicago are reminded that the 80th meeting (also in Chicago) was the site of one of the most important advances in small animal practice. Beginning at that August 1933 meeting and concluding later in October, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) was formed.

The previous two stories about US veterinary college deans presented data on where US deans received their veterinary degrees1 and the length of their terms.2 The present story, co-authored with Julie Kumble of the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, offers data and brief commentary on the appointment of women to dean positions.

While visiting Tuskegee University last September to present a paper on One Health, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Eugene W. Adams, one of the college's pioneers and most distinguished faculty. Dr. Adams had received his DVM from Kansas State University in 1944 and joined the fledgling veterinary school at Tuskegee as instructor seven years later.