Harvey Club of London

Legend: The Harvey Club commissioned Georgian Bay Tackle to make the Harvey Paddle for presentation as a gift to its centenary participants. The map is based on the explorations of Champlain, a contemporary of William Harvey. The paddle symbolizes the work of discovery and our debt to the indigenous peoples and the pioneers of this place. 

In 2019 The Harvey Club of London will celebrate its 100th anniversary. 

Centenary activities underway include:

June 2019

• Harvey Club expedition to London UK: tour of Royal College of Physicians (Harvey's academic home); joint meeting with Osler Club of London; lunch in the House of Lords; dinner with the Harveian Society at the Naval Club; visit with the Harveian Society at Lettsom House.
• Election of Lord Darzi of Denham OM, KBE, PC, FRS as honorary member 

Fall 2019

• Harvey Club expedition to Stratford in September.
• Lobby talk by David Prosser; lunch in the Marquee and a matinee of The Merry Wives of Windsor
  Centenary year (2019) speakers: Dr Victor Dzau; Harvey McAlister; Robin Keirstead; Harvey Cheng
• Donation to Western Libraries medical history collections: The Harvey Club joined with Dr George Ebers to donate a rare book to Western Archives. Jean Cruveilhier (1791-1874). Anatomie pathologique du corps humain. 2 vols. and atlas. Paris: J.-B. Baillière, 1829-1842.  Read more on the importance of this book here.
• Harvey Club of London entry created on Wikipedia

Harvey McAlister (left) and Harvey Cheng (right) present Centenary Guest Speaker Dr. Victor Dzau with plaque in appreciation of his talk on October 17, 2018.

The Harvey Club of London is the oldest active medical club in Canada. It is named after English physician William Harvey (1578-1657) who first explained the circulation of blood in human body using scientific approach and heralded the field of physiology.

Founded in part by Prof James W. Crane, the Harvey Club was initiated by a request from several London doctors to provide refresher courses. Two lecture series were held in the winter of 1918. Upon completion of the second series on February 27, 1919, a dinner was held at Tecumseh House. At the dinner, Dr. Edward Spence suggested that a group be formed and a constitution and charter be created to form a club.

The Harvey Club continues to this day, having evolved over the years with the growth of the London medical community. The original objective of the club was to prepare, present and publish more scientific research papers – which it did –however broader interests in the sciences, professions, humanities and the world at large have also been encouraged.

Past papers and discussions of the Harvey Club include:

• “Sporadic Cretinism (with report of a case)” by Dr  J.C.Lindsay, April 25, 1919
• “Tuberculosis in School Children” by  Dr  J.H.Holbrook, Nov 14, 1925
• “Is there a Solution for the Middle East” by Dr W. C. Heine, Nov 1984.
• “Climate Change - Beyond Kyoto” by  Dr. G. MacBean, Nov 2002.

It currently meets four times a year, and there are about 70 active and emeriti members. The Harvey Club retains a presidential gavel, regalia cabinet, and motto.

Archival material related to the Harvey Club of London is deposited at Western Archives, Western University and an online finding aid is available here.

Since 2008, this group sponsors THE HARVEY CLUB OF LONDON PRIZE, which is awarded annually for the best medical student paper in the history of medicine at Western University. This prize winner receives a monetary award and their name is engraved on a silver plate, which is on display in the History of Medicine office. Read more about the Harvey Club of London Prize here.