Philadelphia facilities (pictured left to right): Stephen Girard Building, 21 S. 12th Street; Witherspoon Building, Juniper and Walnut Streets; 33rd and Arch Streets; 1715 N. Broad Street; 832 Pine Street; 19th and Spring Garden Streets; and 48th and Spruce Streets
14
KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI
DES MOINES, IOWA
In 1892 the American School of Osteopathy (ASO) was founded by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still who was also the founder of the osteopathic profession. In 1914, Dr. Still suffered a stroke that affected his ability to speak.3 Following his stroke, even though he retained the title of President of ASO, “the old doctor” retired from active administration of the school, and his son Charles Still, DO, who was the vice-president, assumed the day-by-day administration of the school.4 When A. T. Still died in 1917 it was generally presumed that his son would become the new ASO president.5 However, through manipulation of the corporate stock the title went to George Still, DO, a greatnephew of the founder.6 Dr. George Still was a dynamic leader and the school thrived under his direction; however, his appointment as president of the school caused a split in the Still family. Blanche (Still) Laughlin, DO, the youngest child of A. T. Still and her husband, George Laughlin, DO, who had supported Dr. Charles Still for president, left ASO and opened the Laughlin Osteopathic Hospital across the street from the ASO Hospital.7 In 1922, Drs. Laughlin founded the A. T. Still College of Osteopathy and Surgery (ATSCOS) just down the street from ASO.8 One month after the opening of the competing osteopathic college, Dr. George Still, the president of ASO, who was only 41 years old, was killed in a tragic gun accident.9 Without the strong leadership of Dr. George Still, ASO closed two years later in 1924.10 The ASO Board of Trustees resigned,11 and the stock was placed up for sale. Dr. George Laughlin, the president of ATSCOS, purchased all of the stock of ASO12 and because of the close proximity of the two osteopathic colleges, was able to combine the students and buildings of ASO into ATSCOS.13 The consolidated colleges became known as the Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery.14 In 2004 the name was changed to A. T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU/COM). Although ATSU/COM continues to trace their proud heritage to ASO founded in 1892, there was a break in the direct lineage in 1924.
The S. S. Still College of Osteopathy (SSSCO) was opened in Des Moines in 189815 by Summerfield S. Still, DO, and his wife Ella Still, DO. The college thrived, and in 1902, SSSCO purchased the Northern College of Osteopathy of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Northeastern College of Osteopathy of Fargo, North Dakota.16 Then in 1904, SSSCO was sold to ASO.17 The Kirksville school originally stated that they would continue the operation of SSSCO as an independent osteopathic college, but in April 1905 the announcement was made that SSSCO was to be closed at the end of the school year.18 Arrangements were made for the equipment, students, and some of the faculty to transfer to the Pacific College of Osteopathy in San Francisco, California.19 SSSCO closed in June 1905.20 The faculty from the closed school who did not transfer to California grouped together and formed a new osteopathic medical school. They raised money by selling stock in their new corporation to local businessmen, and were able to purchase the site of the defunct college.21 They named the new medical school the Still College of Osteopathy (SCO).22 Many of the students from the closed SSSCO enrolled in SCO.23 The new Des Moines Osteopathic College has grown and gone through several name changes. Today, it is known as Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DUCOM). Although DUCOM continues to trace its proud heritage back to SSSCO founded in 1898, SSSCO was purchased by ASO and closed in 1905, and reopened the same year, under a new charter, as the SCO.24 The direct lineage had been broken.
PHILADELPHIA
COLLEGE
OF
OSTEOPATHIC
MEDICINE
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy (PCIO) was conceived by O. J. Snyder and Mason W. Pressly while they were still osteopathic students. Immediately following graduation from the Northern Institute of Osteopathy in 1898, Mason Pressly, DO, came to the “City of Brotherly Love” and opened PCIO. He filed for incorporation in the State of New Jersey to avoid the