Cook County Hospital became the first hospital to use an all frozen blood banking system
In 1972, Cook County Hospital became the first hospital to use an all frozen blood banking system. This…
The AAALAC filed its articles of incorporation
On Apr. 8, 1965, the Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) filed its articles of incorporation…
Cook County Hospital’s Hektoen Institute opened in the former John McCormick Institute for Infectious Diseases
In 1964, Cook County Hospital’s Hektoen Institute opened in the former John McCormick Institute for Infectious Diseases, on…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to John C. Bailar, Jr.
In 1964, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to John C. Bailar, Jr. “to recognize distinguished…
The CDC expanded its reach into chronic disease by investigating a cancer cluster in Illinois
In 1961, the CDC expanded its reach into chronic disease by investigating a cancer cluster in Illinois.
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Carl S. Marvel
In 1956, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Carl S. Marvel “to recognize distinguished services…
Harold Urey and Stanley Miller conducted experiments that suggest amino acids arose in the early Earth’s primordial soup
In 1953, American chemists Harold Urey and Stanley Miller reported the production of biomolecules from simple gaseous starting…
The Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago opened
On Jun. 1, 1951, the Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago opened its…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Medicine | Therapeutics
Dr. Leonidas Harris Berry became the first black physician on staff at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago
In 1946, Dr. Leonidas Harris Berry became the first black physician on staff at Michael Reese Hospital in…
Hektoen Institute opened in the former John McCormick Institute for Infectious Diseases in Chicago
In 1942, the Hektoen Institute opend in the former John McCormick Institute for Infectious Diseases, on South Wood…
Scientists discovered how to purify and preserve penicillin
In 1940, Howard Florey, Ernst Chain and others in England discover how to purify and preserve penicillin. The…
The world’s first blood bank opened at Cook County Hospital in Chicago
On Mar. 15, 1937, the world’s first blood bank was opened at Cook County Hospital in Chicago by…
The Cook County School of Nursing opened in the former Illinois Training School for Nurses
In 1931, The Cook County School of Nursing opened in the former Illinois Training School for Nurses, now…
Baxter International was founded by Donald Baxter
In 1931, Drs. Ralph Falk and Don Baxter launched the Don Baxter Intravenous Products Corporation, the first commercial…
Ralph Lillie demonstrated that the cause of psittacosis was a rickettsia-like organism instead of a virus
In 1930, Ralph Lillie demonstrated that the cause of psittacosis was a rickettsia-like organism (later placed in the…
The Cook County Hospital treated nearly 42,000 patients
In 1925, the Cook County Hospital treated nearly 42,000 patients, and a new building program began at a…
Chicago experienced a total of 38,000 cases of influenza by the end of the epidemic
By Nov. 16, 1918, Chicago had experienced a total of 38,000 cases of influenza and 13,000 cases of…
Much of Chicago reopened, with inspections and other rules in place after influenza pandemic
On Nov. 1, 1918, much of Chicago reopened, with inspections and other rules in place. In most cities,…
Chicago music, entertainment, and food and hospitality facilities reopened after influenza pandemic
On Oct. 28, 1918, after Chicago influenza case tallies had declined, many bans were removed to that music,…
The Illinois Influenza Advisory Commission decided to ban all non-essential public gatherings
On Oct. 16, 1918, the Illinois Influenza Advisory Commission decided to ban all non-essential public gatherings. State Health…
Chicago’s Advisory Commission ordered all theaters, movie houses, and night schools to closed
On Oct. 15, 1918, Chicago’s Advisory Commission ordered all theaters, movie houses, and night schools to close, as…
The Influenza Commission discussed the possibility of a general closure
On Oct. 14, 1918, the Illinois Influenza Advisory Commission invited representatives from professional organizations, the Red Cross, clubs…
Chicago’s Influenza Commission Health Officer requested that all dances stop
On Oct. 12, 1918, Chicago’s Influenza Health Commissioner Dr. John Dill Robertson requested from the Chief of Police…
Illinois Influenza Advisory Commission banned public dancing and public funerals to slow transmission of influenza
On Oct. 11, 1918, the Illinois Influenza Advisory Commission passed a binding resolution banning public dancing and public…
The Chicago chapter of the American Red Cross put out a call for volunteers due to a demand for nurses
On Oct. 11, 1918, the Chicago chapter of the American Red Cross put out a call for volunteers…
Health Commissioner ordered isolation of known influenza cases at Cook County Hospital
By Sept. 30, 1918, with 260 cases in Chicago, Health Commissioner Dr. John Dill Robertson ordered isolation of…
The first influenza death in Denver was recorded
On Sep. 27, 1918, a young Denver University student named Blanche Kennedy, died of pneumonia a few days…
The Spanish Flu reached San Francisco
On Sept. 23, 1918, the Spanish Flu reached San Francisco when city health officer Dr. William C. Hassler…
Chicago health officials noted a spike in the number of deaths due to acute respiratory disease due influenza pandemic
On Sept. 21, 1918, between the start of Chicago’s epidemic and the removal of restrictions on Nov. 16,…
Chicago’s Health Commissioner Dr. John Dill Robertson made influenza a reportable disease
On Sept. 16, 1918, Chicago’s Health Commissioner announced that officials had “the Spanish influenza situation well in hand…