American Lung Association of Minnesota.

The American Lung Association of Minnesota (ALAM) was organized on July 18, 1906 as the Minnesota Association for the Prevention and Relief of Tuberculosis with George C. Christian, a member of the Anti-Tuberculosis Committee of the Associated Charities of Minneapolis, as its first president. The original objectives of the association were six-fold: to distribute educational information regarding the cause, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis; to compile and publish information concerning the statewide incidence of tuberculosis; to advocate health legislation; to cooperate with state and local authorities and other voluntary groups; to support local relief and prevention associations; and to promote the establishment of treatment facilities and services for the tuberculous. To achieve the aim of cooperation with other groups and to popularize their objectives, the Association's initial constitution extended ex-officio membership to such community and medical leaders as the state governor, the state presidents and directors of the Board of Health, the Board of Medical Examiners, the Medical Society, the Veterinary Association, the Nurses Association, the Board of Labor, the Board of Control, the Federation of Labor, and the Municipal League, as well as the superintendents of state and municipal hospitals and state and normal schools. Throughout its life span, the Association's work has primarily centered on three fronts: health education, respiratory disease diagnosis and prevention, and the funding of these activities through annual Christmas Seal sales. From the beginning, inter-agency cooperation has been a mainstay of its educational and medical programs, its legislative advocacy, and its fund raising activities.

During its formative years, the Association focused on providing treatment facilities and the advocacy of a county sanatorium system, which was enacted by the state in 1913. In 1914 the association changed its name to the Minnesota Public Health Association, reflecting the growing recognition that the control of tuberculosis was intrinsically related to other health issues. This change in name paralleled a broadening of educational and medical programs with a focus during the latter teens and twenties on the testing of cattle herds and milk products, the pasteurization of milk, the funding and training of public health nurses, free clinics providing Mantoux and X-ray diagnostic services, the statewide distribution of tuberculin for Mantoux testing, case-finding surveys, and health, hygiene, and physical education for school children. Publication of a monthly magazine, the Minnesota Public Health Association Journa l, began in 1916. This magazine continued until 1961 under the later titles: Minnesota Health Journal (1919-1923), the Northwestern Health Journal (1923-1929), and Everybody's Health (1929-1961). The reputation and mission of the Association was further advanced with the organization and mobilization of affiliated county associations in 1919.

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