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…
Dr. Bernard Fantus received honorary degree from the American Therapeutic Association
In 1932, Dr. Bernard Fantus, a Hungarian American physician and founder of the world’s first blood bank located…
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…
The Rocky Mountain Laboratory was established in Hamilton
In 1921, the founding of the Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) can be traced back to westward migration when…
The first municipal milk pasteurization program in the U.S. was initiated by Charleston Public Health Officer Leon Banov
In 1919, one of the first municipal milk pasteurization programs in the U.S. was initiated by Charleston Health…
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…
Cleveland Health Commissioner announced the lifting of the city’s closure order and gathering ban due to pandemic
On Nov. 10, 1918, Cleveland Health Commissioner Dr. Harry L. Rockwood announced the lifting of the city’s closure…
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…
Boston Mayor ordered reduced hours for stores in Boston and for offices to close earlier
On Oct. 8, 1918, Boston’s health commissioner Dr. William C. Woodward ordered reduced hours for various stores in…
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…
Influenza arrived in Illinois after sailors at Great Lakes Naval Training Station fell ill
On Sept. 8, 1918, influenza arrived in Illinois after sailors at Great Lakes Naval Training Station fell ill.
Swine influenza subtype H1N1 first appeared
In the summer of 1918, the swine influenza virus first appeared in western Illinois in 1918, where it…
The Lundbeck Company was founded
On Aug. 14, 1915, Hans Lundbeck founded a company in Copenhagen, Denmark, which dealt in everything from machinery…
DEKALB was founded
On Jan. 20, 1912, a group of 11 northern Illinois farmers, bankers and county officials laid the foundation…
Provident Hospital, the first non-segregated hospital in the U.S., was founded
In 1893, Provident Hospital, the first non-segregated hospital in the U.S, was founded in Chicago by Dr. Daniel…
John B Hamilton began service as Supervising Surgeon (later known as US Surgeon General)
On Apr. 3, 1879, John B. Hamilton began service as Supervising Surgeon (later known as U.S. Surgeon General),…
The new Cook County Hospital in Chicago opened
In 1876, the new Cook County Hospital in Chicago opened, consisting of two medical pavilions, laundry, morgue, kitchen,…