Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Inventory of the Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records
R264, F3760, F3503, F3265, F1808
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records
Dates: 1876-1978
Collection number: R264, F3760, F3503, F3265, F1808
Creator:
Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Quality Assurance, 1976-1978;
Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners, 1971-1976;
Dept. of Professional and Vocational Standards - Board of Medical Examiners, 1929-1971;
Board of Medical Examiners, 1876-1929
Collection Size:
1,678 files folders and 177 volumes
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The records of the California State Board of Medical Examiners consist of 1,678 files folders and 177 volumes of textual material
that reveal the history, policies and functions of the Board from 1876-1978, as well as information about the medical professions
and institutions that fell under its regulation.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records, [ID Number]:[Series Number], [box
and folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The California State Archives acquired the Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records through a series
of agency transfers according to state law.
The medical profession was the first in California to be regulated by law when a Board of Medical Examiners was established,
effective April 3, 1876 (
Statutes 1875-1876, Ch. 518, p. 792). Originally, the Board of Medical Examiners (hereafter known as the Board) was an independent
organization which functioned outside of the framework of state government. Its members were appointed by the medical profession
until 1907 when the Board's representatives became subject to appointment by the governor (
Statutes 1907, Ch. 212, p. 252).
In 1929, the Board was placed under the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards (
Statutes 1929, Ch. 290). The Board was later moved to the Department of Consumer Affairs in 1971 (
Statutes 1971, Ch. 716). In 1976, a name change occurred in which the State Board of Medical Examiners became the State Board of Medical
Quality Assurance (
Statutes 1976, Ch. 1185).
Throughout more than a century of existence, the Board's policies and functions are consistent in regard to all facets of
medical qualifications and practice in California. Its major functions include licensing qualifications of physicians and
surgeons, naturopaths, drugless practitioners; chiropodists, midwives, psychologists, physical therapists, and physicians
assistants who have been regulated by the Board at various time periods. The Board's functions also include the accreditation
of medical colleges, the devising of application standards and oral and written examination questions, and survey requirements
for hospitals and clinical facilities and in maintaining reciprocity with out-of-state and foreign medical boards. Other important
functions of the Board are to investigate complaints against physicians, medical colleges, hospitals, clinics, and other individuals
or organizations regarding possible violations of the Board's rules and regulations of other state laws. It conducts hearings
and issues citations relating to legal cases arising from its investigations. The Board's sole financial support has always
been derived from application fees, fines, and annual or biennial taxes collected from its licenses and certified members.
The records of the California State Board of Medical Examiners consist of 1,678 files folders and 177 volumes of textual material
that reveal the history, policies and functions of the Board from 1876-1978, as well as information about the medical professions
and institutions that fell under its regulation. The Board experienced a number of name and department changes throughout
its existence, so many of the series may have several records creators. The researcher should also be aware that some series
within this record group are restricted because they are investigatory in nature.
Further accruals are expected.
Related Collections at the California State Archives
Governor's Papers, Secretary's Report of Applicants Examined, 1908 (GP4:68)
Governor's Papers, Annual Report of the State Board of Medical Examiners, 1934-1936 (GP5:128, GP5:235, GP6:2)
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
California. Board of Medical Examiners
Medical laws and legislation
Physicians - California
Medical education - California