Changing perspectives: World Association for the History of Veterinary Medicine, 1969-2019

In 1964, the first Symposium on the History of Veterinary Medicine was held in Hanover, under the auspices of the German Veterinary Medical Association (DVG). Five years later these symposia obtained an international character since participants from other countries also participated. On that occasion the ‘World Association for the History of Veterinary Medicine’ (WAHVM) was founded, In 1993 it was decided to revise the Constitution of the WAHVM and to transform the association into a federation of national societies concerned with the promotion and study of veterinary history.
WAHVM has put much efforts in attempts to make veterinary history a compulsory part of the veterinary curriculum worldwide. This recommendation was later indeed issued by the World Veterinary Association. However, in most countries this did not improve the modest position of veterinary history instruction in veterinary curricula. In some countries veterinary history lectures were given as part of medical or science history courses or as integral part of ethics, deontology, and human-animal relationships. The latter was stimulated by the growing popularity of animals in modern societies. As for research, more process was established. More and more individuals and research groups started various research programs. This included expert knowledge of veterinarians, historians, archaeologists, sociologists, linguists, etc. often in interdisciplinary research, and has resulted in an increasing scientific output.
Another significant development was the introduction of computers and the World Wide Web in the 1980s and 1990s. Digitalized scientific journals, archival sources and ancient manuscripts and books in databases became available in various libraries and on the Internet. Exchanging information was facilitated by electronic mail. WAHVM developed its own website to facilitate international exchange of information on publications, sources, congresses, museums and other activities. This all fits in the general goal of the WAHVM formulated in 1969: providing a platform for encouraging, promoting, and coordinating research and education in the history of veterinary medicine.