OPTOMETRY BOARD:

An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Government Records

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Minnesota State Board of Optometry.
	Title:	Records.
	Dates:	1899-2018.
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Annual reports, correspondence, examination records, minutes, optometrists' files, administrative rule proceedings files, and a subject file of the Optometry Board.
	Quantity:	7.45 cubic feet (8 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

The Minnesota State Board of Examiners in Optometry was established in 1901 when Minnesota became the first state to pass an optometry law [Laws 1901 c269]. The board functioned without statutory authority until its formal establishment in 1915 [Laws 1915 c127] as the State Board of Optometry. The board consists of five qualified optometrists and, since 1975, two members of the lay public, each appointed by the governor for two noncurrent three year terms. It employs an executive secretary who need not be a board member. The board examines and licenses persons wishing to practice optometry, promulgates rules and regulations consistent with state law, and receives and processes complaints pertaining to violations of the optometry statute.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota State Board of Optometry. Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: None; 256; 973-24; 980-63; 987-81; 2021-32

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 990017350110104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location
115.K.1.8F	Annual reports, 1903-1951 (bulk 1903-1927). 2 folders.
		The annual reports, presented to the governor, include a tally of the number of licensed optometrists from the previous year; number of new people passing the licensure test; number of licenses revoked by non-payment of dues, malfeasance, or death; and the number of licensed optometrists at the end of the year. Also included are brief statements on the number and specifics of prosecutions attempted on violation of the optometry law and a financial statement.
		The reports are complete through 1927; thereafter only reports from 1929 (a bound comprehensive 144 page report), 1935, and 1951 appear. Researchers should note that further annual reports, 1928-1954 and 1962-1964, can be found transcribed into the minutes. Included with the reports are eight exam questions from 1909 and bound copies of the 1911-1912 reports (in booklet form) which contain information on the study of optometry and a list of licensed optometrists by name and city.


Location
103.H.15.8F	Correspondence, 1899-1915, 1926. 7 folders.
		Correspondence consisting largely of letters received by C. A. Snell, who served as board secretary from 1901 to 1913. The letters include requests for licenses and licensing information; expressions of opposition to licensing provisions; correspondence regarding optometric legislation; recommendations and criticisms of particular optometrists by associates and customers; and routine correspondence with other board members. Also included are a handbook (1915), and correspondence from 1926 concerning increased enforcement of the new (1925) optometry law. Arranged chronologically.


Location
103.H.15.6F	Minutes, 1901-1965. 5 volumes.
		The minutes document formal activities of the board, including its licensing, investigative, and judicial functions. The minutes contain data on licensing optometrists, including the examination process and the names and scores of examinees; investigations of suspected fraudulent or unlicensed practitioners, and related case hearings; revocation and reinstatement of licenses; changes in board rules and regulations and optometric statutes; financial expenditures; and transcriptions of annual reports to the governor. There are also reports on meetings of the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry.


Location
103.H.15.7B	Examination papers, 1905-1914:
		Graded license examinations (written portion) that, in addition to examination content, provide the name and address of the examinee, raw and percentage scores on both oral and written components, and the examinee's passage or failure. Many of the numbered examinations are missing and those for 1910 and 1919 are absent entirely.
		1905-1909, 1912.
Location
103.H.15.8F		1913-1914.


		Examination record books, 1913-1939. 2 items in folder.
			Sequential record of persons who took the state optometry examination or who were licensed by reciprocity from other states. Gives name and address, test results (if applicable), and license number.


Location
103.H.15.5B	Optometrists' files, approximately 1930-1984:
		Files on optometrists who are deceased or no longer practicing in Minnesota; they include application forms, examinations, correspondence regarding license renewals, and records of disciplinary actions.
		The Optometry Board keeps a computerized list of all active optometrists in the state, but no log or register of past licensees. The board's minutes summarize licensure activities but are not as complete as the optometrists' files, which contain the only copies of hearings transcripts.
		Arranged alphabetically by surname.
		A-He.
Location
103.I.12.10F		Hi-P.
Location
103.I.12.11B		R-Z.


Location
115.K.1.7B	Administrative rule proceedings files, 1962-2018:
		Include draft and final rules, hearing transcripts, correspondence, notices, resolutions, statements of need and reasonableness, findings of facts, orders, conclusions and related legal documents.
		Rules relating to practice of optometry, 1962-1963.
		Proposed Rule 5, release of prescriptions and specifications for contact lenses, 1973-1976.
		Proposed adoption of rules relating to the establishment of general provisions, definitions, and fees, and to the amendment or repeal of certain existing rules, 1977. 2 folders.
		Rules relating to continuing education and licensure, 1984.
		Rules relating to prescriptions, 1984-1986.
		Proposed rules relating to home study and optometrist emeritus, 1986.
		Rules relating to home study programs, 1986.
		Proposed permanent rules relating to the term and renewal of licenses and recovery of the costs of disciplinary proceedings, 1986-1988. 2 folders.
		Rules relating to license renewal fees, 1987-1989.
		Proposed rules governing applications, fees, examination requirements, examination scheduling, and scoring of examinations, 1993.
		Proposed permanent rules relating to certification to dispense topical legend drugs, 1993.
		Rules relating to fee changes, 1994.
		Rules relating to continuing education, 1998.
Location
115.K.1.8F		Rules relating to professional firms, 1999.
		Permanent rules relating to practice of optometry, 2016-2018. 2 folders.
		Proposed permanent rules relating to practice of optometry; making technical changes, 2017-2018.


		Subject file: Proposed legislative changes, 1993-1997, 2000. 3 folders.
			Includes copies of draft legislation, proposed legislation, and correspondence regarding Optometry Board statutes and administrative rules.
			[0.4 cubic feet empty]

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Health occupations licensing boards -- Minnesota -- Finance.; Optometrists -- Minnesota -- Directories.; Optometrists -- Minnesota -- Examinations.; Optometrists -- Licenses -- Minnesota.; Optometrists -- Malpractice -- Minnesota.; Optometry -- Law and legislation -- Minnesota.

Persons:: Snell, C. A.

Organizations:: International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry.; Minnesota State Board of Examiners in Optometry.

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OPTOMETRY BOARD:

OVERVIEW

HISTORICAL NOTE

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

CATALOG HEADINGS