New York (State). Education Dept. Board of Pharmacy.

The first board for the "examination and licensing of all druggists...and prescription clerks" was established by law in 1871 (Chapter 202).

The board's jurisdiction was limited to New York City and its members were appointed by the mayor. Prior to this law the practice of pharmacy in New York City was regulated by the New York College of Pharmacy under authority granted by an 1832 law (Chapter 326). In 1872 the board established the previous year was reorganized as the New York City Board of Pharmacy (Chapter 817). All pharmacists working in the city were required to register with the new board and, by law, had to possess certain qualifications in training and experience before receiving a license to practice. This board consisted of five members elected by the New York College of Pharmacy. The Legislature established two other local pharmacy boards having functions similar to those of the New York City Board: the Kings County Board of Pharmacy in 1879 (Chapter 502), and the Erie County Board of Pharmacy in 1884 (Chapter 207).

In 1884 the Legislature also established the first State Board of Pharmacy (Chapter 361) to examine and license pharmacists in all parts of the State except those under the jurisdiction of the three existing local boards. The Greater New York Charter, passed in 1897 (Chapter 378), abolished the New York City and Kings County boards and created a single board for the consolidated City of New York with five members elected by the New York City College of Pharmacy. Beginning on January 1, 1898 this board registered all pharmacists in New York City.

All of the state and local pharmacy boards were reconstituted in 1900 as the first truly statewide pharmacy board in New York (Chapter 667). This board was composed of three geographical branches: Eastern (New York, Kings, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Richmond, and Westchester counties), Western (Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Geneseo, Wyoming, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties), and Middle (remaining counties). The law provided for examinations for two grades of licenses: "licensed pharmacists," who could prepare and dispense drugs and poisons anywhere in the State; and "licensed druggists," who could prepare and dispense drugs and poisons only in communities having 500 or fewer inhabitants. Persons licensed by predecessor boards as assistant pharmacists or pharmacists could exchange their old licenses for "licensed druggist" or "licensed pharmacist" licenses respectively. This law required for the first time that all pharmacies (operated by a licensed pharmacist) and drug stores (operated by a licensed druggist) register annually with the board. It also required that any person employed as an apprentice in a pharmacy or drug store register with the board. During the period 1901-1910 the board issued annual permits for the sale of drugs and poisons to one storekeeper in each village or community lacking a licensed pharmacist or druggist.

In 1907 the State Board of Pharmacy was reorganized and the three branches were eliminated. In 1910 the Board of Regents was given control of and the authority to appoint members to the Pharmacy Board (Chapter 422). This law also increased to 1000 the maximum population of communities in which drug stores could operate and specified that storekeepers permits to sell drugs and poisons could be issued in communities of 1000 or less.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A825