.,,D'~"il\ pll.l"'fRS'TV ll'i I}Wu'"\ ~d~t14- ll.l UEHI1RIES BLOOMINGTON Optometry Library vertical File 0""\ ...... ,,.rmy ~.~iUlih:m UBRARY JAN 2 o 1Y75 JEWS LETTER OF THE ~;pTOMETRIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY ltlDIANA UtllV£RS1TV (7000 Chippewa 1H:reet, Saint Louis, Missouri, U. S. A. 63119) Volume 6<"' C{ January 1975--7 7 Nurn:ber 1 Election report: In October, with ballots arriving mostly in November, and one or two early in December, we elected Henry A. Knoll, Ph.D., to the Executive Board for the term to expire December 31, 1979. The other continuing members are Maria Dablemont (1975), James R. Gregg (1976), Sol Tannebaum (1977), and John R. Levene (1978). The ballots for the election of officers were sent out early in December to the members of the Executive Board, but one of the five has not responded as of the deadline for this issue, a holiday season delay no doubt. You may have to await the April issue to find out who our 1975 officers are, or read about it as a news item in another periodical. Sorry. Bicentennial preparations: Our newly elected member of the Executive Board of O.H.S., Dr. Henry Knoll, has a letter to the editor in the October 15, 1974, issue of SUddeutsche Optikerzeitung, Vol. 29, No. 10, p. 702. He asks the German readers for information and leads which they may be able to provide concerning the export of spectacles from Germany to the American colonies circa 1776. Historical review: "A case history--the development of optometry" by O.H.S~ member Sol Tannebaum, O.D., is a brief overview of optometry's origins~ Dr. Tannebaum, who also serves on the O.H.S. Board of Directors, presented this paper at the 7th International Congress of Optometry in Copenhagen, Denmark, in November 1973 and published it in the October 1974 issue of the Journal of the American Optometric Association, Vol. 45, No. 10, pp. 1251-1255. Spectacles, 1285-1973: The illustrntions of spectacles on the next pnge and the.Lr 1dPntl- f I cat fo11 ln time on the subsequent pa!je represent the work of Richard A. Preston, M.D., at 520 West Seventeenth Street, Santa Ana, California 92706. Dr. Preston exhibited some of his antique spectacles at a recent Pacific Coast Ophthalmological convention in San Diego, California, and prepared the illustrations and chronology sheets as handouts. J"· < /~/ , L/L.;:. Y.lo -8 -2- . l ' _ .. · --· 40 B~e ~ 7 ,; r ·~ .-: ,. ~ '· vv; · tl a 0 ; • ~\ .I ' ' \, \) "'I ,,1 1 2 3 o1 fi 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 lE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2fi 27 28 29 30 :51 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 l::!~b 1362 1404-1500 15,9~-1658 170'' 1728 17 175 17 1750 1753 (lii:?O-P.;~.) 1765-1840 (1890-f. '!.) 1'184 182.0 (l750P.H.) 1840 1850 1860 (H.P.) 1863 1867 1873-75 1880 1880 1883 1890 (?.H.) 1893 1894 1903 1910 1913 1923 1933 1943 1953 1963 1973 -3- SPF.CTACLE TIME TABLE Compiled By H. A. PRF.STON, M.D. AW.lATI OF r'LOHF.NCF., SINGLE LF:NS, WOOD OR BONE FRAME F'EO~I uiL PORTRAIT by THOMAS DE ;\iQD.I!:NA, THEVESIO, ITALY, RIVETED METAL FRJ\.l.!E U:ATiffiR BOt>.~ DuUDU~ !lORN FOR SI'PING ACTION SPRP/(; l!OHN L~~AT1iE:R ( Ffi!-:NCn) HI!~G ;D t·:OVA.~LE (TO 1790 tliTT i!ERBERT) TF:l!.Pl.F. OF CORD WITH WEIGHT HINGSD REVJo~RSIBLE :~t;IZZER (SI'lGLE LENS F'OR A FOP) S','Jl\"F.I. T~:MPLE FOR ~fiGS :··IF.TAL I:~SEFT, 3-0 LENS, RAYO!IE'l'TE TEMPLE S·:;UARF: t.!E'l'AL INSERT, BAYO!JETTE TEHPLE ~r~NJA.\HN FR.A~1KLIN, TWO PH:CE BIFOCALS (FROM HIS PATENT) KOREAN, FOH r~LDEHS OVr~H 40 IN GOOD STANDING (CHINESE P.H.) '•!OI~QCLE !t'l'lANCI':, INTRODtTC~;D BY NAPOLF.ON :~ETAL IN!>ERT. IIEXAGII!J~.L U:t;S, GOLD FRAME LOP.OffiTTE-FHENCH, STI'~RLING 'f.ET~L HISEiiT, P.r~CTAI!GULAP • OPEN TIP FOR CORD v\r~TAL INSERT, HEXAGONAL, OPEN TIP. ON LINE TEMPLF.S OBLONG. ENGLISH YELLOW METAL. OPEN TIP TEMPLE, 3-0 ),JBTAL INSERT, ON LINE, 3-0, SADDLE t:OSJo: PIECE, STRAIGHT TE.'MPI.E r!'.E-.PINCF. NEZ, 'iAP.D HU3BF.R PhE-~'INCE NEZ, STJo;EL, DOUBLE SPRUIG ACTION :.·lETAL INSEhT. 3-0, BAYuliET TEHPLES METAL INSERT, ENClLlSII, DOUBLE LENS FOR DISTANCE AND CLOSE "PINCE ;.;EZ" STEEL, ADJUSTABLE BAR, S.PP.ING EYE, GLASS ~liTH STATIONARY GlAf.DS BLUE i.!ETAL INSERT, 3-0 ON LUIE K BRIDGE, OPEN Tif. LAiWF:R OVAL LENS STEEL. EXThA r'HO!IT FOR P.EADI NG ADDITION r'Y.E-PINCE NEZ WITH EAR PIECE LOJ.GtL:TTE, TORTOISr: sm~LL, CAhVED GOLD INSERT WITH HOOK EAH PIECE TEl•iiPLE GOLD FINGER PIECE (?INC:;; NEZ) RI:.U.ESS, DOWNSET LENS Jo'O~ READING ONLY JlTU.ESS ON LINE, 3-0, EAP HOOK TEMPLE TORTOISE S''f.LL OR DAP.Y. COi!POSITION, SADDLE BRIDGE (HAROLD LLOYD) P.Ii.!LE:lS, GOLD FILLED WiiiTE GOLD, SF.:· I-HI TEt.lPLE. OCTAGON DPOP ~TAL n;sERT, FLLL V'JE HIBO . RI'o!LESS MILL EDGE '!.ONACC • Fl-' J'~,[E 7r~ANCE ~HCt:F.Y LI!X, Fi'A'.lE FPNCE -4- Optometry museum inventory: Recently arriving at my desk is an updated list of antiquarian acquisitions of the Indiana University Division of Optometry catalogued and classified by Professor John R. Levene. The list comprises: (1) small items such as eyeglasses, spectacles (numbered consecutively from number 1). (2) small instruments, e.g. ophthalmoscopes (numbered from 500). (3) large instruments, e.g. lens centering machine, perimeters, (numbered from 800). (4) miscellaneous, e.g. printed plates (Broken Lens Duplicated), (numbered from 1000). Altogether the list now totals 650 numbered entries in 35 typewritten pages. Many of the entries represent more than single items, som~ being small collections or sets which are more properly described in single entries. When known, the name of each donor is included in each entry. Copies of the list are available upon request from Dr. Levene Pebbles, inches, tears, etc.: William Bohme (1827-1906), a New Orleans, Louisiana, optician, authored · and published a Hand-Book for Opticians in 1888, a second edition in 1892, and a third edition in 1895. A copy of the third edition is presently in the rare books collection of the International Library, Archives & Museum of Optometry, 7000 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63ll9. The almost 300 pages of meticulously written material are divided into 29 chapters and include numerous illustrations, dates, and tables. Not only a stickler for precision and accuracy, Mr. Bohme carefully gives the historical development of terms and concepts, the etymology of key words, and the technical evidence for many of the conventional procedures employed in optical practice. His first chapter, for example, is entitled "Inch and Metric Systems," and in it he lists the metric lengths of the Paris, English, Austrian, and Prussian or Rhenish inch, four different lengths. Chapter III, "Merits and Defects of Pebbles" may well be the most extensive account of this natural glass ever written. Bohme himself says, "I have frequently tried to find some information about pebbles; but being unable to discover any book or pamphlet treating this subject, either here or in Europe, I concluded to search for myself, ••• " In Chapt. VIII he says of interpupillary distances, "The average pupil distance of a grown person is 2 3/8 or 2 1/2 inches, and these are the standard sizes the manufactories use for most spectacles they make." -5- Unusual, but appropriately discussed, are the topic of "Tears" as Chapt. XXIV and the topic of "Facial Expressions" as Chapt. XXV. Chapt. XXVI is entitled "History of the Invention of Spectacles, and the Gradual Development of the Optical Trade," with a section on the different names of spectacles in 17 languages. Chapt. XXVII entitled "Prominent Opticians, Scientists and Inventors" gives capsule biographies of 114 contributors to optical history from Airy to Zentmayer. This is indeed a remarkable book and a fine historical resource. Mr. Bohme was born and educated in Germany and became a teacher in 1848. Four years later he moved to New Orleans where he learned the watchmaking trade, but in 1868 he began to devote his entire time to optics. He was one of the earlier contributors to The Optical Journal, in the December 27, 1906 issue of which his obituary appears, Vol. 18, No. 27, p. 1470. Apotropaism at ~ price: Puzzled I am that I should continue to be on the mailing list of the firm Amulets & Talismans Ltd., 33 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014, for I have yet to buy any of their fascinating jewelry. Their most recent "catalog" consists of a packet of about 50 12.7 x 20 em (5" x 8") stiff­ card full-color glossy lithographed illustrations of hundreds of pendants, rings, bracelets, clasps, pins, chains, necklaces, etc. They are, to say the least, variously unusual, uniqu~ exquisite, charming, authentic, precious, and beautiful. Prices range up and down the scale from $10 to $6,000 per item. Why do I mention this? Simply because so many of the illustrated designs and adornments feature or at least symbolize the eye. The eye is found both in ancient replicas and in modern compositions of metal, stone, and other materials. The illustrations are said to represent "only a sampling of the exceptional designs we have to offer." Included is an invitation "to visit our gallery in New York." A heart-warming response: My letter of September 1 to optometrists born before 1905 brought the following letter from my long-time friend JohnS. Wellington (Sr.), O.D., 116 West Washington, Goshen, Indiana 46526. "Dear Hank, "To begin with, I thank you for your letter of September 1st. I like the manner in which it was written and I assure you that it will not be thrown away. It is receiving my attention. -6- "I have many things that I will give to The Optometric Historical Society •. Some of which are, notes on lectures by Drs. Zoethout, Trowbridge, Ealy, Brown and others, many books, old glasses, one. 1899 ophthalmometer (sold by F.A. Hardy Co. Chicago), an old trial case with test frame, one box of double 00 eye flat lens, a pair of hand made bifocals, an Omega Delta picture, and certificate, an early Indiana license, and a Northern Illinois College diploma. There are other things that I will think of later. "Miriam and I will be passing thru St. Louis on November 20th. We will be staying over.nite at some travel trailer court. We will be towing our. 27' trailer on our way to Texas and it will not be convenient for us to unhitch so, it would help if we could be supplied with the name and phone number to call to have some person to pick up the 'blood sweat and tears' relics of the often thot of past. "Maybe if I should hold these things and add more to them, . it would be better. Please let me know. "As Ever, "John, Sr." The "Good Ole Days":. · The 1902 edition of the Sears-Roebuck Co. catalogue had an "optical· department." Among the mail-order offerings was a complete "Optician's Outfit," a "Big Money Maker," at $27.85. The kit included 48 trial lenses, trial frame, acuity charts, an optometer, 54 frames, 72 assorted spectacle lenses, 60 leather cases, three bottles of "Dr. Walter's Famous Eye Water," an optical textbook, an optical screwdriver, pliers, and numerous other small items to enable the novice to engage in sight testing and the providing of· eyeglasses. So we are told in a fascinating account by H. Gerald Ingle; O.D., in "Eye care- 1902 style," in the June 1973 issue of the Canadian Journal of Optometry, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 17-20. Norm Hays writes: Norman B. Hays, O.D., President of the American Optometric Association in 1955-56, personally typed out a letter to me in October 1974 on some 1956-57 A.O.A. letterhead, to say a few words about Harold Kohn, as follows. "Dear Hank: "This letter concerns the recognition that is, or may be, given to the contributions that Harold Kohn made to the professional·advancement of Optometry. It is written (hunt and peck) while at home temporarily sidelined by a touch of lumbago. '- -7- "Harold; as you know, was counsel for the New York State Society of Optometrists before he became National counsel. Those were turbulent times and the division between the commercial element and those of us who were striving to raise the status of optometry, was sharp. In fact we had two societies in the state at one time -- New York City seceded. This was understandable when you consider that it was practically impossible for a young optometrist to open an upstairs office in the big city and succeed. Harold worked toward the professionalization program and helped to carry the torch throughout the AOA. "Harold wrote the 'Glazed goods law' inadvertently using the phrases 'or corporation' in it which was to plague us in our attempts to outlaw corporate practice. The late Dr. Arthur Germany of Buffalo was our legislative chairman and got this passed in 1925 or 1926. Unfortunately not many states have this law but they all benefit from the anti-discrimination law that Harold wrote at my instigation and that Arthur Germany shepherded thru the N.Y. legislature. This law is the building block on which the other states have passed similar legislation and which curbs the power of prejudiced school nurses, welfare officials,and other medically dominated public officials. "Harold, for at least three decades, was the most continuous source of assistance to the pilots of the A.O.A., with his prodigous memory, he. kept the Board advised of shoals and landmarks but leaving the Board to set the course and objectives. "I do not know what has been recorded of Harold's life and works but I feel that they deserve a place of honor. "As Harold would say, "Very best regards (S) "Norm Hays" Ladd-Franklin reprinted: Christine Ladd-Franklin (1847-1930) introduced her theory of color vision in 1892 and in the course of a long and belligerent career published many vigorous articles on the subject. In 1929 these articles were published in a single volume entitled "Colour and Colour Theories" by Christine Ladd-Franklin with an "Introductory" by Professor Woodworth and supplementary articles by three other authors. In 1973 Arno Press Inc., New York, published a reprint edition from a copy in the Princeton University Library as one of a long series of reprints entitled CLASSICS IN PSYCHOLOGY. Only the color plates and their explanations were omitted. The price is $15.00 -8.;. . Christine Ladd-Franklin was born in Connecticut and received her A.B. from.Vassar College in 1869 and studied thereafter at Johns Hopkinst Berlin, and Gottingen Universities. She taught at Johns Hopkins and Columbia. "OPTI", 1758: Optometry student Richard c. Mercer, class of 1978, Indiana University, Division of Optometry, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, browsing through the Chicago, Illinois, Public Library, discovered an art print of a painting by Jacques de Lajoue entitled, "Le Cabinet Physique de M. Bonnier de la Mosson" dated 1758. It was in a collection entitled "Eighteenth Century Art" edited by Bart, 1968. Mr. Mercer described it as follows: "In the picture a man is sitting alone, appearing to be intoxicated with ecstacy, as rays of light from outside the studio shine upon his face in heavenly splendor. About him is strewn a great magnitude of scientific paraphernalia, almost artistic in character. The many sculptures, lofty ceilings, Raccoco architecture, and even a noble greyhound dog, contribute to effect a sense of awe. "What catches the viewer's immediate attention are the huge cabinets full of scientific apparatus, one is labeled 'OPTI.' The bottom shelf contains large lenses and mirrors which, from the scale of the painting, are about three feet in diameter. There is also a system of three lenses which appears to have been used for magnification. Other optical devices are present. Mounted prisms, a crystal-like sphere, and a possible projector at the top of the cabinet, are a few examples. The man was obviously very wealthy, if not learned, to have such an array of equipment. Another point of interest is that, aside from a telescope in the room, there is an enormous telescope in view of the scenery outside the studio. It towers above the buildings and appears to be tilted along the polar axis of the earth, as our modern-day telescope. "The meaning of all this lies in the scientist of that day. Science was popularly considered a gentleman's hobby. Because of the coffee houses and salons of Europe, as well as the medium of print, knowledge began to circulate, and scientific societies multiplied. This point in time marked a great rise in the popularity of science as well as the technological boom occurring today." Mr. Mercer searched further and found the same picture reproduced in full color in a large beautiful book edited by Alfred Cobban entitled "The Eighteenth Century, Europe in the Age of Enlightenment", McGraw-Hill, New York, 1969. Dr. August Sonnefeld (1886-1974): Optical and ophthalmic scientists b~~ind the iron curtain rarely get l.t ~-. ~ . . . recognized in the western world. Such was the circumstances of Dr. Sonnefeld, mathematician and physicist, who for 50 years was a scientific associate and head of a department at the Jena Optical Works, Jena, East Germany. He joined the office of Dr. Moritz von Rohr in 1911 and subse­ quently became head of the computation department for astrooptics. His -9- contributions included optical computations for analysis instruments, precision measuring instruments, surveying instruments, spectacle lenses, apochromats, telescope objectives, and numerous other design problems. A full page obituary with a photograph appears in the Nov. 3/1974 issue of JENA REVIEW, 19th year, p. 203, by Prof. Dr. -Ing. Karl-Heinz MUller, in English. Early Academy Planning: In an article entitled "The Academy's Role in Optometry's Professional Growth" John Zettel, Jr., O.D., includes a long personal letter which he received from the late Dr. Carel Koch shortly before Dr. Koch's death. The early efforts and motives in the formulation of the American Academy of Optometry are recounted in the letter, as Dr. Koch remembered them. The article appeared in the November 7, 1974 issue of the Optometric Weekly, Vol. 65, No. 38, pp. 1046-1050. Rx circa 1776: First year optometry student Stephen S. Jennings, Indiana University, wrote the following paragraphs as a contribution to our knowledge of the optometric state of affairs in American colonial days. "A typical example of an order was sent to me by Barbara c. Dean, Assistant Research Librarian of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, upon my ~equest for information concerninp,_optometry in Virginia during the last half of the eighteenth century. Since there were no prescription glasses at that time, spectacles were ordered hit or miss. This particular order was sent by Robert Carter in 1771, and it was probably a typical order of that time: "Invoice to Edwd. Hunt & Sons, Merchants in London "a pair of best visual concave spectacles in temple-frames for Eyes of 43 years old. Note. the convex spectacles marked No 16, which you sent to me some time ago do not suit my Eyes, but many persons about my age commend them, saying the objects seen through the said Spectacles, appear larger & distincter, than with out them. Hence I conjecture that my Eyes are not formed as Eyes commonly are-­ therefore desire to try a pair of concave Spectacles as mentioned above. "Born of Virginian aristocracy, Robert Carter of Nomini Hall was a wealthy tobacco planter. The vast plantation lands were located in Westmoreland county on the Potomac River. -10- "Carter was acquainted and associated with many of the more identifiable names in Virginia and American history; however, he was not politically oriented and did not become deeply involved in the political struggles of the American Revolution. He was a planter concerned with the management of his own estate. "Edward Hunt and Sons was one of the merchant firms that Carter sent his tobacco to for marketing. There is no indication that the London company dealt specifically with spectacles although spectacles could have been a part of their general merchandise. Carter probably just entrusted the firm to carry out certain business transactions for him in London." The immediately following article is derived from a 1747 publication, photocopies of which were supplied to me by Steve Jennings also. In feventeen forty feven: If you can sort out the f's which today are printed as s's you can get a glimpse of the early spectacle-maker from the following description taken from pp. 253-254 of The London Tradesman, published in 1747 in London, as a "compendious view of All the TRADES, PROFESSIONS, ARTS, both Liberal and Mechanic, now practifed in the Cities of London and Wefttriinfter" and "CALCULATED For the Information of PARENTS, and Inftruction of YOUTH in the Choice of BUSINESS". CHAP. LV. Of the Mathematical and Optical Inftrument, and Spectacle-Maker. SECT. 1. Of the Mathematical inftrument-Maker. His Bufinefs, and Genius. The Mathematical-Inftrument-Maker makes all kind of Inftruments conftructed upon Mathematical Principles, and ufed in Philofophical Experiments: He makes Globes, Orrerys, Scales, Quadrants, Sectors, Sun-Dials of all Sorts and Dimenfions, Air-Pumps, and the whole Appara- tus belonging to Experimental Philofophy. He ought to have a Mathematically turned Head, and be acquainted with the Theory and Principles upon which his feveral Inftruments are conftructed, as well as with the practical Ufe of them. He employs feveral different Hands, who are mere Mechanics, and know no more of the Ufe or Defign of the Work they make, than the Engines with which the greateft Part of them are executed; therefore the Mafter muft be a thorough Judge of Work in general. SECT. 2. Of the Optical-Inftrument and Spectacle Maker. The Optical-Inftrument-Maker is employed in making the various forts of Telefcopes, Microfcopes of different Structures, Spectacles, and all other Inftruments invented for the Help or Prefervation of the Sight, and in which Glaffes are ufed. He himfelf executes very little of the Work, except the grinding the Glaffes: He grinds his Convex -11- Glaffes in a Brafs Concave Sphere, of a Diameter large in proportion to the Glafs intended, and his Concave-Glaffes upon a Convex Sphere of the fame Metal: His Plane-Glaffes he grinds upon a juft Plane, in the fame Manner as the common Glafs-Grinder, mentioned Chap. XXXII, Sect. 4. He grinds them all with Sand and polifhes them with Emery and Putty. The Cafes and Machinery of his Inftruments are made by different Workmen, according to their Nature, and he adjufts the Glaffes to them. Wages. It is a very ingenious and profitable Bufinefs, and employs but a few Hands as Mafters. The Journeymen earn a Guinea a Week, and fome more, according as they are accurate in their Trade. Such a Tradefman defigned for a Mafter ought to have a pretty good Education, and a penetrating Judgment, to apprehend the Theory of the feveral Inftruments he is obliged to make, and muft be a thorough Judge of fuch Work as he employs others to execute. A Youth may be bound to either of thefe Trades any time between thirteen and fifteen Years of Age, and does not require much Strength. Abraham Lincoln's glasses: In a letter to the editor of the Optometric Weekly, Vol. 65, No. 25, July 11, 1974, p. 52, Dr. E.C. Tobiasz described a pair of Lincoln's reading glasses in the collection of the Chicago Historical Society. Lincoln purchased these glasses on May 26, 1856, for 37 1/2 cents, at which time he would have been about 47 years old. The power of each lens was +6.50 diopters. In a subsequent letter in the October 10 issue of the Optometric Weekly, Vol. 65, no. 35, p. 54, Dr. George Litsinger suggests that the lenses may not have been Lincoln's, for if Lincoln had a refractive error of several diopters he should have had a convergent squint without them. Dr. Litsinger also commented that in a previous article in The Weekly some years back it was reported that Lincoln purchased a pair of glasses at the age of 44 for 37 cents in a hardware store in Burlington, Illinois. Thomas Young (1773-1829): An excellent commentary on Young and his contributions to visual science, together with pictures of his birthplace, the place where he practiced medicine, his optometer, and a portrait of him by Sir Thomas Lawrence, are authored by Gerald Fonda, M.D., in an article entitled "Bicentenary of the birth of Thomas Young" in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, Vol. 57, No. 11, November 1973, pp. 803-808. -12- Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738): Early in the 18th century Herman Boerhaave saw and described the episcleral vessels of the human eye using an ordinary magnifying glass. Authors S.L. Knutson and M.L. Sears describe and discuss the validity of his observations in terms of present knowledge in an article entitled "Herman Boerhaave and the history of vessels carrying aqueous humor from the eye" in the November 1973 issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Vol. 76, No. 5, pp. 648-654. The first lady optometry officer: In September O.H.S. member Earl J. Hunt wrote me as follows: "In the October 1973 Newsletter of the Optometric Historical Society was an item on page 50 about the first lady in military optometry. I had recalled reading about her commisssion in one of the professional optometric journals (probably the Review of Optometry or maybe the Optometric Weekly). I had known Dr. Carolyn G. Toewe from college days at the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry. I had also known Dr. John Kulba who had taken over her father's practice (Dr. William R. Toewe in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania). So I wrote to John asking him for any information he might have. He gave me Dr. Carolyn T. Stonskas' address and I wrote to her. "Her letter is most interesting, so I am enclosing it for you to read (please return to me ...;._ you might want to make photostatic copies for the OHS and AOA records). It seems that aboutamonth or so ago I read or heard where the first lady in the Air Force became a pilot. This could be questioned (the word pilot may make the difference)?" Here is Dr. Stonskas' letter to Dr. Hunt, dated 13 May 1974. "I want to apologize for the delay in responding to your letter of April 18. We were on vacation for three weeks and I am just now answering the mail which has piled up on the desk. "Upon graduating from PSCO, I went into practice with my Dad. As time went on I realized that two optometrists in one office left something to be desired, especially when the optometrists were father and daughter. I was young and very intelligent, I thought, (having just graduated from college) and just didn't progress as fast as I thought I should. Nevertheless, I still greatly enjoyed flying on weekends with my Dad in his Piper Cub. I subsequently put the two together and decided to join the Air Force as an Optometrist where I could be my own 'boss' and still fly around the country. "Yes, it was a first. My serial number was preceeded by the two letters AE as opposed to other men whose numbers were preceeded by AO (Air Officer) or the nurses AN (Air Nurse). I never found out for what those letters stood and I was soon to find out that they weren't sure as to who my immediate superior was to be. -13- "I reported to Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado in July of 1951. I began refracting in the Optometric Clinic. However, in a matter of two da:ys the Flight Surgeon discovered I was not dilating the pupils. The discussion began quite calmly as I presented my views. He listened and then informed me in no uncertain terms that resembled a direct order, that I would dilate the pupils under his direction. I refused. As I left the office, Leon Marks (a graduate of my class) walked into the department. He was on a temporary tour and I'll never forget to this day how glad I was to see him. He was the only ally I had in the world. He calmed me and dried my tears and three days later I was transferred to Wichita AFB in Kansas. "Wichita was then in the stage of development. There was one small make-shift wooden building that served as a hospital. All other structures were tents. I shared a tent with the Flight Surgeon who was also a new graduate and never interfered with my work. We dropped a flap down the middle of the tent and half of it was finally my own office, and I loved every inch of it. I requisitioned my own equipment and supplies. Now, I don't think there have bee~ too many optometrists who have refracted in a wool top coat, muffler and gloves and knee high rubber boots. When it rains in Kansas, it is a sea of mud and when it snows it rivals Pennsylvania. The only cement laid was in . runways. The following spring we moved across the field to new quarters which were beautiful. Dr. McLeod, the Flight Surgeon, wangled a · separate office for me and this time I even got my own desk. I stayed here until September of 1953 when I married a pilot. "A problem did arise as to my immediate superior. I preferred to report directly to the Flight Surgeon, who had become a good friend• I learned a lot of medicine and physiology from him and he began to recognize visual refractive symptoms of pilots. So we worked well together. But the chief nurse, who outranked me considerably, thought she should have another lieutenant under her wing. I wasn't about to take orders from a nurse, so there was a constant running squabble, to the amusement of the entire Medical Group. I'm sure there must be some remarks on my military records as to being uncooperative!!! "I was also the first woman to fly in a B-47, regardless of what some newspaper woman claims. I sat on the flight line at the old 'tent city' until they got tired of seeing me. At first I was absolutely refused access to the 'big birds'. But one day the CO rel~nted, told me to get outfitted and off I went. Next to acquiring half of that tent, it was the biggest thrill of my life. I continued to fly anywhere they were going at any time I could. My husband wa·s an instructor in the B-47's at Wichita and is now an airline captain for TWA. So we are still flying around the world. "Upon moving to California after we were married, I applied for permission to take California state boards. I was refused on the grounds that I did not have Analytical Geometry. I talked to the Dt'atl at USC und the only way to receive proper credit was to attend -14- USC on campus. Since I had one child and another on the way, I decided to wait till they were older. When they were older, I decided it was more important for me to fight the school system. Now, 25 years have past and I'm afraid Optometry is out of reach for me. However, my interest has never waned and I would not trade my military experience for anything. There is no greater melting pot in the world. I learned more about people in 2 1/2 years than some people learn in a lifetime. "It seems I've rambled on and on, but I've enjoyed sharing my experiences with another PSCO Optometrist, because only he or she can appreciate some of the problems encountered with the medical profession. I hope things have changed somewhat in our favor, because I feel there is no greater or more satisfying profession than Optometry." When I wrote Dr. Stonskas for permission to publish the above letter, she responded as follows on September 22: "You have my permission to print all or any part of· the letter which I wrote to Dr. Earl J. Hunt on May 13. "I am most honored to be able to contribute so little to the history of a great profession, of which I am proud to be a part. "I had to smile when I read your paragraphs pertaining to the 'prominent O.H.S. member, who prefers to remain anonymous'. If I may be permitted, I would like to add my vote to his. I've sought out optometrists in every country I have visited and the progress and social stature of these men in India, Israel, and Egypt, as well as Europe, makes you proud that you are a part of the same profession. We may be more advanced, but no prouder than they. TRAMPING TO FAILURE: "Sincerely, "Carolyn T. Stonskas, O.D." (3652 Hayvenhurst Avenue Encino, California 91314) This is the title of an autobiography.by Thomas Hall Shastid (1866-1947) published in 1937 by George Wahr, Publisher to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. His second autobiography, entitled MY SECOND LIFE, was published in 1944, also by George Wahr. The former exceeded 500 pages and the latter over 1,000, with relatively little duplication of material and both profusely illustrated with early photographs. Shastid, A.B., A.M., M.D., LL.B., SeD., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.P., etc., was an ophthalmologist, son of a physician, a midwestern pioneer, author of over 3,000 articles, including novels, translations from German, French, Latin, and Greek, history, biography, jurisprudence, and civic issues, and -15- a free-speaking commentator on any phase of American life that happened to strike his wide-ranging fancy. His vie~s variously expressed anger, indignation, love of humanity, and humor, Candid, salty, and homespun are his anecdotal accounts of incidents which occurred during his life. His writing provides exposure to facets of early midwestern culture and national events which rarely are apparent in history textbooks. His criticisms and appraisal of medical practice are priceless, possibly a bit exaggerated for purposes of readability, but convincingly correct and documented. Even his re-telling of the local legend of Paul Bunyan's spectacles helps to portray the spirit of the times. Though much of the writing in these two books deals with medical practice, Dr. Shastid also included incidentally much that relates to all types of practitioners of his almost century long era, including optometrists. In fact he treated optometry a bit more kindly than he did his own profession. I am tempted to quote a few passages by way of illustration, but I am afraid they would lose their essence when read out of the context of the chapters in which they appear. He mentioned, "with pride", his long standing friendship and voluminous correspondence with Charles F. Prentice. He listed Charles Sheard as one of his favorite editors. I am surprised that some publisher of paperback books has not discovered these two books and made reprints of them available for popular reading. They would surely be even more interesting to us now than they may have been then. "Center and surround" An editorial under this caption, authored by Gerald Westheimer, an Australian trained optometrist who subsequently gained the Ph.D. degree in Physiological Optics at the Ohio State University, appears in the April 1974 issue of Investigative Ophthalmology, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 242- 243. Writing in delightful literary style, Dr. Westheimer points up the remarkable appreciation physiologist Ewald Hering showed a hundred years ago for the influence of the visual surround on the perception of centrally fixated stimuli. Westheimer likens-the contributions of Hering, in Prague, to the peripheral surround for which the center "was Berlin, where Helmholtz was the star of the Establishment." He also cleverly brings into the analogy the efforts of Ernst Mach, a physicist and colleague of Hering in Prague. His final paragraph touches charmingly on the political, social, and academic involvements of all three greats in the realm of visual science. Such accounts of the human side of visual science give character to our history. Remember the ILAMO: The December 1, 1974, issue of the American Optometric Association News, Vol. 13, No. 19, p. 8, gave a full page (42 x 29 em) spread to the now incorporated "International Library, Archives, and Museum of Optometry." This is a long, long name, which suggests that it may be more easily remembered by the acronym ILAMO. Housed in an attractive -16- building adjacent to the AOA headquarters in St. Louis, it includes the . Ernest H. Kiekenapp Library, the Joseph M. Babcock Archives, .and. the· E. LeRoy Ryer Museum. The ILAMO holds tax exempt status from the U~S. Internal Revenue Service, allowing each of us to make tax deductible contributions. The Library has been the recipient of educational grants from the federal government. The spread includes five delightful photographs charmingly graced by Librarian and Archivist Maria Dablemont and three other staff members, Kitty Clark, Debby Vassalli, and Linda Draper. · Pacheco a first: A memorandum from O.H.S. member Ricardo E. Alegr{a informs us that O.H. S. member Antonio Pacheco, O.D., will be listed in· forthcoming editions of Who's Who in America, the first Puerto Rican optometrist to receive this distinction. Congratulations, Tony! Try as we might we shall never pay ample tribute to Herb Mote, who for 40 years served as the heart and soul of the optometry schooi at The Ohio State University. Two of the many tributes to Herb that will have been printed or nostalgically voiced before this century erids appeared in the Autumn 1974 issue of the 0-EYE-0, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 1-3. In the same issue it is reported that two-memorials have been established at The Ohio State University, one the Herbert G. Mote Memorial Conference Room in the Starling-Loving Wing of the College of Optometry, and the other the Herbert G. Mote Distinguished Faculty Award. Two more memorialized: When the Visual Science Research section of the Illinois College of Optometry was dedicated in October the late Dr. Carel C. Koch was memorialized with the unveiling of a bronze case plaque inscribed as follows: CAREL C. KOCH, O.D., D.O.S. 1897 - 1973 PIONEER AND LEADER IN OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION AND VISUAL SCIENCE RESEARCH EDITOR, HUMANITARIAN AND EXEMPLARY CITIZEN MEMBER, I.C.O. BOARD OF TRUSTEES I.C.O. Board of Trustees October, 197!~ In 1973 the Dr. Julie Anne Semokaitis Memorial Fund was established at the Indiana University, Division of Optometry. A 1972 O.D. graduate of Indiana University, brilliant, popular, lovely, and charming 26-year­ old Julie died in an automobile crash in May of 1973. She was a first- -17- year member of the faculty of the Southern College of Optometry at the time. Her friends and classmates have given the new 30 volume edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica to the I.U. Optometry Library in her name. Urim ~ Thunnnim: O.H.S. member Henry A. Knoll wrote to call attention to an account -~ntitled "Die Brille der Mormonen" on pages 102-104 of the book Die Sehhilfe im Wandel der Jahrhunderte by Emil-Heinz Schmitz, Verlag;­ SUddeutsche Optikerzeitung, Stuttgart, Germany, 1961. In this tale author Schmitz quotes a Kurt MUller at length about Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion. In one of the stories Joseph Smith mentioned a pair of glasses in connection with the revelation of the gold plates inscribed in old Egyptian. Whether the glasses were found in the chart itself or previously obtained by Smith is variously implied, but they had the property of making the gold plate scriptures interpretable to him. Through them the old Egyptian became modern Egyptian, an optical process not easily described in terms of current modulation transfer function formulas. The two polished crystal pieces, mounted in silver, bore the inscribed name of the maker "Schneider, ZUrich." Further, they were so big that both eyes could look through the same lens. The two crystals were named Urim and Thummim. The quoted Kurt MUller concluded that Joseph Smith was obviously a fraud, but that the perpetrated legend is a part of the history of visual aids. Inasmuch as Joseph Smith was an English speaking American, it seems likely that the above interpretations may include distortions of translations into German. I hope that this may prompt a reader to pursue the accounts as they appear in the original English and give us a fully documented version. Dr. Knoll has written author Schmitz for his references and says he would appreciate any information we can track down. DR. ARTHUR ROSE DR. This is the name on an old statement form recently sent to me by O.H.S. member Jerry Abrams which he "found in some old optical equipment I came across." The statement form included a telephone number (CIRCLE 0868) and a space for writing in the date, as follows, 192_, indicating that it was printed in the '20s. Under the name with the redundant DR.'s was the word OPTOMETRIST, and under that, in parentheses, (WITH WILSON & CO.) and the address: MAIN FLOOR, TRACTION TERMINAL BLDG., 114 N. ILLINOIS STREET, INDIANAPOLIS, IND. Also, imprinted in the form was a portrait photograph, presumably of Dr. Rose, whoever he was. I checked all of the optometry Blue Books of the 1920's and found no Arthur Rose listed, neither in Indianapolis nor elsewhere. This Rose, by any other name, is • • • ! -18- Beware of those barbers! Eye diseases have been prevalent in Egypt since ancient times. Ophthalmological treatment constituted an early art in the Nile valley, with an international reputation dating back 4,000 years. So reported Laverne Kuhnke in an article entitled "Early Nineteenth Century Ophthalmological Clinics in Egypt" in the September 1972 issue of Clio Medica, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 209-214. Three ophthalmological clinics existed simultaneously in Cairo in the late 1840's. Statistics of eye disorders treated were occasionally published in the Egyptian Gazette. Reported Kuhnke, "During the three months from 17 February through 16 May, 1847, for example, the Salibiya clinic admitted 1,335 patients, ••• all patients were cured of their ailments except some who had undergone treatment or surgery for trichiasis at the hands of unskilled barbers and had suffered permanent injury. It urged government officials to warn those suffering this affliction to avoid ignorant barbers and to come to Cairo for treatment by trained oculists." McAllister biographies: Substantial biographical accounts of John McAllister, Sr. (1753-1830) and John McAllister, Jr. (1786-1877), together with a portrait of each, are included in a 1907 book entitled An History Catalogue of The St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia With Biographical Sketches of Deceased Members, Vol. 1:1749-1907, Philadelphia. The Library of Congress catalogue lists two volumes, 1907 & 1913. The Duke University Library has Vol. 1. These two McAllisters were the first and second of five generations of McAllisters in optometry. Message from Puerto Rico: O.H.S. member L. Garcia Margarida, O.D., of Santurce writes, "Keep up the good work. It makes very interesting reading, -- all the optometric information which otherwise we would never know about." Appreciated! H.W. Hofstetter, Editor 1974-06-01-001 1974-06-01-002 1974-06-01-003 1974-06-01-004 1974-06-01-005 1974-06-01-006 1974-06-01-007 1974-06-01-008 1974-06-01-009 1974-06-01-010 1974-06-01-011 1974-06-01-012 1974-06-01-013 1974-06-01-014 1974-06-01-015 1974-06-01-016 1974-06-01-017 1974-06-01-018