Vision & Purpose

The Center for the History of Family Medicine (CHFM) will be the primary repository of information and resources on the history and evolution of general practice, family practice, the discipline of family medicine and the family medicine organizations. It will be self-supporting and self-sustaining.

It will document, organize and preserve organizational records, personal papers, books and artifacts in all formats and disseminate information about them in both printed and electronic form. It will serve as an informational link to all other Family Medicine organizations and to all who are interested in the history of the specialty. It will be the primary resource for the history of the discipline.

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 family medicine in the United States. To accomplish this goal, the Center for the History of Family Medicine will:

• Appraise, collect, organize, describe, preserve and make available such materials.

• Provide appropriate facilities for the retention, preservation, servicing and research use of such material.

• Serve as a research center for the study of the history of general practice, family practice and family medicine.

• Provide reference assistance to researchers and staff of all organizations contributing materials as needed and appropriate.

• Coordinate with each contributing organization or individual the efficient transfer of appropriate materials to the History Center.

• Promote knowledge and understanding of the origins and development of the specialty of family medicine.