Program - Society of Toxicology

The Founding
Society of Toxicology Founders
Top Row (from left): Paul Larson, Medical College of Virginia;
C. Boyd Shaffer, American Cynamid; Victor A. Drill, G.D. Searle &
Company; Frederick Coulston, Sterling Winthrop Institute;
Kenneth DuBois, University of Chicago. Seated (from left):
Harry W. Hays, National Academy of Sciences-National Research
Council; Harold C. Hodge, University of Rochester School of Medicine;
Arnold J. Lehman, Food and Drug Administration; and
William B. Deichmann, University of Miami School of Medicine.
Ref. Hays, H.W. Society of Toxicology History 1961–1986
The First Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey,
on April 15, 1962. There were 180 Charter members and 3 Honorary members by that time.
This meeting followed organizational meetings in Atlantic City, New Jersey (FASEB), Detroit, Michigan (AIHA), Meriden, New
Hampshire (Gordon Conference), and Rochester, New York (ASPET).
The Founding of the Society
On Saturday, March 4, 1961, a small group met in Washington, D.C., to talk about the need for providing a forum where
toxicologists could meet and share their research findings. By the end of their day-long meeting the Founders had concluded that
the advantages of forming a society outweighed the disadvantages. They had even suggested a name, “The Society of
Toxicology” and it was to be an international learned society drawing together persons trained in the various disciplines related to
toxicology.
The follow-up work from this organizational meeting required preparation of a draft constitution, by-laws, scheduling
presentations at upcoming scientific meetings, and notifying key people in the field of their plans. To finance all this, each
attendee at the first meeting contributed $5 to the treasury. Accordingly, the Society of Toxicology was launched with assets of $35.
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E-mail: sothq@toxicology.org | Phone:703.438.3115 | Fax: 703.438.3113
Web site: www.toxicology.org