Sioux City College of Medicine
Sioux City, Iowa
1890-1909
Travel
I stopped by the Sioux City Public Library to view A Souvenir of the Sioux City College of Medicine. The helpful reference librarians found the book for me and invited me to scan or photocopy any information or images I needed. This 1904 book has nice illustrations of students, faculty and buildings.
History
Sioux City College of Medicine began as the Medical Department of the University of the Northwest in 1890. When the university ceased to exist in 1894, the medical department continued under its own name. It had become a member of the American Association of Medical Colleges in 1891.
The first graduating class of 1893 contained three students, and S.C.C.M. remained a small school. In 1898 enrollment reached 50 students. A Souvenir shows a total enrollment of 72 in the four-year program in 1902-3. The 1902 graduating class totaled 10, with 15 matriculates. Most students were from the Iowa-South Dakota-Nebraska area. Most were males, but class photos show seven females-- in addition to the nursing students. By 1908 there were only 26 students. A Souvenir shows a faculty of 19 headed by President George W. Beggs.
..
In 1894 the school received a chapter of the Phi Delta medical fraternity. But basically, S.C.C.M. students made headlines only for a snowball fight with the high school students.
As early as 1905 newspapers reported a proposed merged with the newly created Morningside College, which had replaced the University of the Northwest. In 1908 a partnership was apparently completed with the University of South Dakota, with S.C.C.M. providing the upper years of the medical degree. But in that same year, the Twice-a-Week Plain Dealer reported that S.C.C.M. diplomas were no longer recognized.
The last graduating class from Sioux City College of Medicine was 1909.
The 1902 graduating class appears to include two women. Image from A Souvenir of the Sioux City College of Medicine, courtesy of the Sioux City Public Library)
Bricks and Mortar
The first and last homes of the Sioux City College of Medicine was a building at the corner of 14th and Jones Streets. In 1898 the school moved to its “permanent home” in the Y.M.C.A. building at the corner of Seventh and Pierce Streets. A Souvenir notes that this location has a streetcar stop every five minutes and that it is close to the post office, library, churches and boarding halls. The Y.M.C.A. continued in that building until it was razed in 1957.
.
(left) The Y.M.C.A. Building showing the school name. Most photos of this building have the YMCA logo. Image from A Souvenir.
In 1904, in a cost cutting measure, the school moved back to its original home. That building (Cardcow image top right) later became St. John’s Hospital and Lutheran Deaconness’ Home. It also has been razed.
Students were able to gain clinical experience at Sioux City’s two main hospitals--St. Joseph’s Mercy and Samarita
Sports
Despite low numbers, Sioux City College of Medicine did offer sports programs from time to time. College Football Data Warehouse shows two games in 1900—both losses to Morningside and the University of South Dakota. That same season the team cancelled a scheduled game with the powerful Omaha Medics. The Sioux City Journal shows a 24-0 loss to the high school team in 1896, noting that the team was a “newly organized one.” In 1898 the Journal notes that the three Sioux City schools “were expected to play a number of games this fall.” In 1899, S.C.C.M. was challenged by Onawa High School.
S.C.C.M. also played baseball as this image from A Souvenir shows.
Note: Images are used in accordance with their “terms of use” as I understand those terms. Recopying or republishing these images may be restricted or forbidden.