SOCIETY O. TOXICOLOGY HISTORY - Society of Toxicology

• The Society co-sponsored a series of symposia on “Target Organ Toxicity” with the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences on such topics as lung, nervous system,
eye, ear and other special senses.
• The abstracts for the annual scientific meetings are now printed in a new format called The
Toxicologist. The first issue, Volume 1, appeared in March 1981.
• Total assets of the Society increased from $35.00 on March 4, 1961, to over $700,000 in
1985.
• The first awards, two in number given in 1966, have now increased to eight.
• The Council developed and adopted a “Code of Ethics” in 1981. In 1985, the Society
approved a more detailed “Code of Ethics” to upgrade standards and professionalism among its
members and to try to restore public confidence in risk assessment of chemicals in the
environment.
• The Society’s funding of graduate student travel grants, which began in 1981, has provided
young people an opportunity to attend the annual meetings to present their research, review the
exhibits and talk with their peers.
• The Past President’s breakfast began in 1964 when Drs. Lehman, Hodge, Shaffer, Larson
and Hays met for breakfast at the Williamsburg Inn. We were extremely pleased with the
progress that had been made in such a short time and it was suggested that the Immediate Past
President host the breakfast at the annual meeting for the purpose of reviewing the events of the
year and assuring Council that we were ready and willing to assist in any way that would
further the goals of the Society.
• The Past Presidents have met every year since 1964, with no prepared agenda but open for
anyone to raise questions for discussion. No minutes were prepared since we did not want to
give the impression that we were trying in any way to influence the Council.
• The Council has, over the years, called upon the Past Presidents for assistance on a number
of issues to which they have responded promptly. This has proved to be a very valuable
mechanism for making use of their expertise and past experience, and as the Society continues
to grow, it will need the continuing support of its Past Presidents.
• The banquet has always been a highlight of the annual meetings. In 1964, we started out in
a blaze of glory with a delicious and sumptuous dinner at the Williamsburg Inn. For several
years complimentary wine was provided by Dr. Ben Oser of the Food & Drug Research
Laboratories, and later by a group of commercial laboratories. For the last 15 years, this
courtesy has been continued by the Charles River Breeding Laboratories.
• The social hour, which began in 1964, and has been one of the most widely attended events
of the meeting, was originally sponsored by the Hazleton Laboratories. A few years later, a
group of commercial laboratories shared the cost until Council decided it should be on a “cash
bar” basis.