Acquisitions Policy

The purpose of the Center for the History of Family Medicine is to serve as the principal repository for the collection, conservation, exhibition and study of materials relating to the history of general practice and the specialty of family medicine in the United States.

To accomplish this goal, there are three major areas of acquisition upon which CHFM focuses:

Official records of major family medicine organizations, including, but not limited to, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (AAFP/F), the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM), the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD), the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG), and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM). It includes any organization's predecessors and successors.
Personal and professional papers and other materials of individuals involved in the development and evolution of family medicine. CHFM is interested in materials that directly pertain to those individuals' roles within the specialty of family medicine.
Materials that document the history and evolution of the role of the family physician in American society.

The Center for the History of Family Medicine does not target records that pertain to medicine in general or materials that focus on specialties other than family medicine. However, if there is a logical connection or relationship between these materials and family medicine, consideration will be given to acquiring the materials.

Types of materials considered for inclusion in the History Center include textual records such as personal papers and office files, photographs and other visual records, maps and plans, sound recordings, video recordings and electronic records of all types and formats. Pertinent artifacts may be accepted, especially if they are appropriate for exhibits or displays. Library materials such as books and periodicals from outside organizations may be accepted if they exhibit relevancy to family medicine and its organizations, individuals and programs. Some library materials may be retained for reference use by CHFM staff and researchers even if they do not have a direct relationship to family medicine.

In order to be accepted by the History Center, material must meet the following qualifications:

It must fall within the primary focus of acquisition as outlined above.
If the original custodian requires retention of the material for a certain period of time, the retention period must have elapsed.
It must undergo appraisal and be recommended for acquisition by CHFM staff.
It must not be considered a loan to the History Center.
The donor must have legal authority to donate the material.
It must not be accompanied by severe and/or permanent restrictions.
It must be given to CHFM either through gift, donation, deed, transfer or otherwise.