The editorial board is proud to present Volume 90, Number 2 of the Bulletin magazine, the oldest medical alumni association publication in the United States. In addition to serving as the medical school’s primary communications link with alumni since 1916, it serves as a bridge connecting us to our past. This section of the magazine features snippets of past issues, offering a look back 25, 50 & 75 years.
Davidge Hall Restoration Project
Back in 1954 at the annual business meeting of the Medical Alumni Association, a resolution was passed ". . .to pursue every resource toward the proper restoration of this building. . .that the medical alumni of this university now place themselves on record as being in favor of such restoration and be further resolved that they appoint a restoration committee to work toward that purpose. . ."
Dr. William Triplett, then executive director, was instrumental in gaining historical recognition from the city. Dr. John Sharrett pursued in the passage of a bill through the state legislature in May 1970, and finally, the building was registered as a national historical place by the Department of the Interior in 1974.
An initial campaign to raise funds for the restoration began in the fall of 1969. In the ensuing years under the chairmanship of John Wagner, and subsequently George Yeager, the wheels began to turn. The original estimate for the restoration was $1,250,000, and with the rate of inflation this has been fairly accurate.
So 27 years later, the dream of restoring Davidge Hall will reach fruition with a final plea of help from the alumni. We need about $300,000 to finish the job and an additional $200,000 to set up an endowment fund for the perpetual care of the building.