The Society for the History of Navy Medicine

Four years ago, Professor Annette Finley-Croswhite assumed the Executive Directorship of this Society after a transition year under the leadership of Jim Dolbow, a former Senate staffer and author.

Annette came to the job with administrative experience as head of the History Department at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and the prestige of a luminous academic career marked by an active research portfolio and many publications to her credit. Even before she took the ED job, she played an active role in the Society’s Foundation Board, and she presented distinguished papers at our early scholarly panels. From the outset she sought to engage a membership that “looks more like America”.

As our Executive Director, Annette continued her active research and writing within our field of interest, and it was only when her academic thrust gradually moved in other directions that she began to entertain the possibility of stepping down. During her tenure, she enhanced the prestige and impact of the Society by establishing the Harold D Langley Book Prize in the History of Maritime Medicine. She sought out other history organizations – the North American Society for Oceanic History in particular – with which to partner for sponsorship of our annual scholar panels. The Society and Foundation also partnered with the Naval Historical Foundation and the Naval Order of the United States to place historical marker plaques at the Old Naval Hospital in Washington, DC and on the island of Minorca in the Mediterranean Sea.

Only when shifting academic interests, the demands of family and of an increasingly busy academic life intruded did Annette reluctantly decide to step down. She will remain on our Board of Directors, and she promises that her “special project” will be helping make our Society a more diverse and engaging enterprise. Thus, we do not say, “Farewell”, but, “Bravo Zulu!”, and we look forward to retaining her energy and wise counsel for years to come.

©2018 The Society for the History of Navy Medicine

After four years of exemplary service, Executive Director Professor Annette Finley-Croswhite, bowing to professional and family demands, has stepped down. Society founder Tom Snyder has once again taken the mantle of Directorship.

Tom says that his early goals are to advance the work done by Professor Finley-Croswhite by building the Society membership and working to get the finances on a solid base to fully support the Society’s Graduate Student Travel Grant, Research Grant and Book Prize programs.

Other goals include working to partner with other historical organizations to support annual or biennial papers sessions, and promoting the Society’s historic markers program.

Dear Colleagues,

Please ignore this post as a test of our system.

Thank you,

Annette

For memorial day I am posting this link to the US Navy’s tribute to Memorial Day.

Please see the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0QarL96wg4

I also happened to be lecturing in West Point Cemetery yesterday, and for Memorial Day might point you to the first monument established south of the Mason-Dixon line honoring African Americans who fought for the Union in the Civil War.  In Norfolk, Virginia about 1000 African Americans enlisted in the Union army.  The monument was erected in 1906 with William Carney on top, a Norfolk native who fought with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment as portrayed in the film “Glory” staring Denzel Washington.   Carney received a Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism.  I realize this is an army story, not navy ,but for Memorial Day, perhaps I could be allowed some reprieve.   It’s a great and unusual monument and worth knowing about.  Too bad it is hidden in a cemetery and not front and center downtown.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Annette Finley-Croswhite, Ph.D.

Dear Society Members,

Last week members of the Society for the History of Navy Medicine presented papers at the “Medicine and War: World War I” conference sponsored by the Army Medical Department Museum Foundation with funding from the Army Medical Department Center of History and Heritage and co-sponsored by the Society for the History of Navy Medicine. The conference was held in San Antonio, Texas.

I spoke on “An American in Paris: Nursing and World War I” and presented the film “At Home and Over There: American Women Physicians in World War I,” produced by the American Medical Women’s Association and Raw Science.  Our Secretary/Treasurer, Captain Thomas Snyder, Medical Corps, USN, (Ret) presented “The impact of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Upon U.S. Navy Operations,” and graduate student, Aaron Jackson, presented “Coming Home Again: Military Newspapers and Reintegration in World War I.”  Aaron is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Anthropology, History and Social Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.  Aaron won our Society’s Graduate Student Travel Grant.

The experience in San Antonio was delightful and engaging.  We also recruited some new members including Gerald Stulc who presented “Abdominal Surgery in the First World War.”   All papers went over well, and we were especially proud of Aaron.  Pictures are included below as well as a link to Aaron’s session.

Annette Finley-Croswhite, Ph.D., Executive Director

Pictures include a poster from the Army Medical Department Museum, Annette Finley-Croswhite and Aaron Jackson giving their papers and a “selfie” of Annette and Tom Snyder!

Link to Aaron giving his paper: Aaron’s paper

The Society for the History of Navy Medicine intends to give out a book prize this year for the best book in the history of navy/maritime medicine published between 2013 and 2018.  If you have suggestions for possible books to consider, please email Dr. Annette Finley-Croswhite at acroswhi@odu.edu.

More news about the book prize to follow!

Thank you.

Annette Finley-Croswhite, Ph.D., Executive Director, SHNM

Tomorrow begins the Army Medical Department Center and School/AMEDD Museum Foundation WWI Medical Conference in recognition of the 100 year anniversary of the Great War’s end in 1918. The conference will take place at the AMEDD Center and School 22-24 March 2018.  The Society for the History of Navy Medicine is an active participant.  Please visit the website for more information.

http://www.ameddmuseumfoundation.org/   Look under “World War I Medical Conference.”  Thomas Snyder and I will keep you updated on conference events as they unfold.

Annette Finley-Croswhite, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Society for the History of Navy Medicine