​Veterinary History Timeline PowerPoint Slide Set​

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This series of ____slides was compiled by

Howard H. Erickson, DVM, PhD, Professor emeritus Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine 

and

G. Sierra Schneider, DVM, BRN, RN, CCRN

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As a timeline of the history of veterinary medicine in the United States, each slide depicts a person, place, event, or contribution to the advancement of the health of animals and people over the last 250 years.

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  ***  Under Construction   ***

Horses and Riders at Lexington and Concord

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For the Nation's Bicentennial in 1776, Everett H. Miller, VMD, past AVMHS president, researched and authored a special series of six articles as an  account of the horses and riders associated with the famous ride of Paul Revere on April 19, 1775 to Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. This initial event set the stage of the American Revolution. 

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Those papers were published in volume 7 of Animal Cavalcade, the organ of the Animal Health Association (AHF) presently based in Lake Forest, California.  

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• January-February 1976; pp. 16-18

• January-February 1976; p. 28

• March-April 1976; pp. 22-23 

• May-June 1976; pp. 10-11

• July-August 1976; p. 27

• September-October 1976; p. 34

• October-November 1976; p. 34​

​Essay on Need for Studying Animal Diseases

 

Benjamin Rush, MD (1746-1813) was a physician, social reformer, and American Founding Father. He and other members of the Philadelphia Society advocated for studying the diseases of animals, promoting veterinary knowledge, stimulating interest in veterinary medicines, and scientifically educating veterinarians--the first such effort in the Western Hemisphere.  

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Dr. Rush delivered an introductory lecture on his essay on November 2, 1807 published in volume 1 of the Society's Memoirs. 

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Rush, Bemjamin. On the duty and advantages of studying the diseases of domestic animals, and the remedies proper to remove them. Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. v.1, 1808, pp. xlv-lx

​John Haslam, 1st graduate veterinarian in US

 

Before 1800, there were no known veterinarians in the United States who had graduated from a veterinary college. English-born John Haslam attended the London Veterinary College and established his practice in Baltimore, Maryland in 1802. ​​

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Veterinary Heritage 2026 July;49(1)____ (in preparation)

​Legends in U.S. Veterinary Medicine Series

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In honor of its 150th anniversary in 2013, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) published a series of articles titled "Legends of U.S. Veterinary Medicine" in AVMA News. Each of the 12 articles profiled a notable individual who had made substantial contributions to the American veterinary profession. 

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• Alexandre Francois Liautard

• James Law

• Daniel E. Salmon

• James Harlan Steele

• Theobald Smith

• Heinrich J. Detmers

• Calvin W. Schwabe

• Frederick D. Patterson

• Mark L. Morris, Sr

• Stephen J. Ettinger

• Josephine Deubler

• Bonnie V. Beaver​

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​The First 100 Years - 1863 to 1963

 

When the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) turned 100 in 1963, J. Fred Smithcors, DVM, PhD, founder of the American Veterinary Medical History Society, compiled a series of one-page articles for each year between 1863 and 1963. The topics chosen for these short pieces represent important milestones or developments in veterinary medicine in the United States. 

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​Veterinary Museum Collections in America 

 

In this 2026 anniversary year, the AVMHS encourages visiting museums and historical collections related to the history of veterinary medicine in this country. 

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Anyone traveling around the country can learn more about the rich heritage of the veterinary profession by visiting these museums and historical exhibits. Because open hours for the smaller museums and exhibits are often seasonal, visitors should check the Websites or call in advance for the latest hours and access information.

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See the Directory of Veterinary Museums and Historical Exhibits. ​

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Discoveries and Innovations in Veterinary Medicine in America

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In addition to eradicating contagious disease epidemics and treating individual large and small animals, veterinary medicine has contributed to advancements in therapeutics and infection control. Some examples include:

• Arthropods as cause of disease

• Confirmed infectious nature of glanders

• Eradication of Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia

• Prescription diets for small animals

• Stader splint for external bone fixation

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