FEATURE
THE INNOMINATE SOCIETY OF
LOUISVILLE’S Medical History Association
David A. Casey, MD
T
he Innominate Society of Louisville
is a group of physicians who meet
monthly during the academic year
for the presentation and discussion
of papers dealing with any aspect of
the history of medicine. Physician members
present papers in rotation and have complete
latitude to choose any topic of their choice.
A lively discussion period of questions and answers follows each
presentation. Although membership is limited to physicians, each
member is encouraged to invite friends and family as well as experts
in medicine and history. By long tradition, presentations are given
on the second Tuesday of the month from September through
November and January through May at the Pendennis Club in
downtown Louisville. A period of cocktails and informal socializing
followed by dinner is also part of the tradition. We look forward
to the meetings for the fun both of the topic and the fellowship.
The Innominate Society was founded in 1926 by a group of
Louisville physicians including such luminaries as Dr. J. Murray
Kinsman and Dr. R. Glen Spurling, and has been in continuous
operation for over 92 years. The final meeting of each academic
year is named for another charter member, Dr. T. Cook Smith. The
T. Cook Smith lecture features an outside, invited speaker and by
tradition is a black tie affair.
The origin of the name “Innominate Society” seems to be lost
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LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
to history, although various academic societies of the early 20 th
century also had this name. Anatomically, the term may refer to
the brachiocephalic artery or veins, or the three large bones making
up the pelvis. Of course, this is also likely to be a play on words
referring to the lack of a better name, since “Innominate” literally
means “no name.” Other Innominate medical or scientific societies
have existed in both England and the United States, such as the
Innominate Club of New York, a society for medical history and
forerunner of the New York Society for Medical History.
Examples of recent topics included such diverse offerings as a
visual tour of art and medicine, the psychiatric history of Meriwether
Lewis, and stamps and medical history.
Although an independent organization, the Innominate Society
has long had informal affiliation with the University of Louisville
School of Medicine, whose Kornhauser Library holds the society’s
archives, and the Greater Louisville Medical Society, which helped
with logistics for many years.
If you would like to learn more about the Innominate Society
or would like to become a member, please contact my office at
502-588-4870.
Dr. Casey is currently the President of the Innominate Society of Lou-
isville. In addition, Dr. Casey is Professor and Chair for the Department
of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Louisville
School of Medicine.