Last week, the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy (AIHP) marked its 85th anniversary—a milestone that highlights not only the organization’s longevity but also the depth of its relationships across the pharmacy profession. Since 1941, AIHP has served as the nation’s home for pharmacy history, collaborating with major professional bodies, educators, researchers, and practitioners to ensure that the story of pharmacy remains accessible, meaningful, and central to the profession’s identity.
Over the decades, AIHP has been woven into the fabric of the profession, working with leading organizations such as the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), and the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners (JCPP). These collaborations have ensured that historical understanding remains an essential component of contemporary pharmacy practice and professional decision‑making.
AIHP has also cultivated meaningful partnerships with organizations dedicated to historical scholarship, the American Association of the History of Medicine, the International Society for the History of Pharmacy, and more recently the Consortium for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine. Together, these partnerships have strengthened the preservation of primary sources, supported scholarly work, and broadened the public’s understanding of pharmaceutical history’s role in shaping society.
Current AIHP president Cynthia Boyle reflected on this commitment to collective progress, situating the Institute’s 85th anniversary within the broader celebration of America’s 250th birthday: “Birthdays are special. As AIHP celebrates its founding, I am thankful for the legacy of leadership and volunteer service since 1941.” She added, “In the spirit of this initiative, the AIHP birthday celebration is a meaningful pharmacy milestone. Let’s make history together!”
Former presidents echoed this sentiment, reminding us that AIHP’s history is inseparable from its partnerships and the vibrant network of people who have sustained it.
John Swann, in reflecting on his two terms, emphasized AIHP’s decades-long engagement with the profession’s leaders and collaborators: “My time on the AIHP Council benefited immensely from the incredibly insightful members from academic, administrative, and professional practice of pharmacy, as well as professional historians.” He noted: “we worked hard to ensure the Institute’s responsiveness to the interests of all those with an interest in the history of pharmacy and pharmaceuticals.”
Former president Bill Zellmer, who has been a member of the AIHP since the mid-1960s, highlighted the profession’s responsibility to nurture and support the Institute: “We are fortunate to have an organization devoted to preserving and interpreting the heritage of pharmacy… We who have been blessed with a home in pharmacy have an obligation to support the efforts of the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy.”
And John Grabenstein, a former APhA Remington Medal winner, offered a concise reminder: “History informs progress! AIHP gives us insights into how things were, so we can choose the best path forward.”
This anniversary also carries a note of poignancy. AIHP recently lost John Parascandola, a former president, respected historian, and longtime history leader who served in the federal government. Though absent from this anniversary celebration, his influence is unmistakable. It is natural to wonder what reflections he might have offered: he was a scholar who believed deeply in the human narratives behind science and pharmacy, and his absence is felt keenly across the community.
AIHP is currently undertaking a capital campaign to strengthen our archives, expand digital access, and support the people who make this work possible. These investments will ensure that AIHP remains a vital partner to major pharmacy organizations, educators, and practitioners for decades to come.
If you believe that pharmacy’s past should continue to inform its future, we invite you to join us. Your support—whether through membership, a gift to our campaign, or simply sharing our mission—helps preserve the stories, scholarship, and human experiences that define the profession.
Let’s write the next chapter together.
Lucas Richert
AIHP Executive Director
