Bibliography : History of Optometry

Many resources exist which document the long and interesting history of optometry. There are published books, biographies and memoirs of individual optometrists, journal articles, personal papers, recorded interviews, films and other audiovisuals. Related, there are histories of spectacles and other corrective eyewear, opticianry, and ophthalmology. Researchers may find these materials in the libraries and archives of schools, related professional organizations, individual practitioners and history buffs. The following is a selected list of titles you may want to read to learn more about the profession’s history.

American Optometric Association : A History. James R. Gregg. St. Louis: AOA, 1972

The American Optometric Association’s First Century. Robert A. Koetting. St. Louis: American Optometric Association, 1997

Century of Vision. Susan Watson Moline. Boston: New England College of Optometry, 1994

The College of Optometrists: A History 1980-1998. Martin Lynch, Philip Cole. London: The College of Optometrists, 1999

The Development of a New Profession in America. Ewing Adams. Minneapolis: Journal of the American Optometric Association, 1940

The Evolution of Optometric Education in America. Christopher E. Woodruff. J Am Optom Assoc 2001; 72(12):779-786

The First Century. David C. Brewer. Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, 2006

The Founding Years : University of Houston College of Optometry, 1952-1961. Charles R. Stewart. Georgetown, TX: Armadillo Publishing Corp., 2003

History of Australian Optometry. Charles Wright. Carlton, Victoria : Australian Optometrical Association, 1988

History of Optometry. Edward E. Arrington. Chicago: White Printing House, 1929

History of SECO International, LLC and the Southern Council of Optometrists: The First 80 Years. Jack Runninger. Atlanta, GA: Southern Council of Optometrists, 2004

History of the American Academy of Optometry, 1922-1986. James R. Gregg. Washington, DC: American Academy of Optometry, 1987

History of the British Optical Association, 1895-1978. Margaret Mitchell. British Optical Assn, 1982

History of the Woman’s Auxiliary to the American Optometric Association, From 1927 to 1951. Anna R. Ezell. Spartanburg, SC: Long Printing Service, 1952

History of the Woman’s Auxiliary to the American Optometric Association, 1952-1966.
Mrs. Alfred A. (Sarah) Rosenbloom. Chicago: 1967

Indiana Journal of Optometry. Fall 2003 (6:2) and Fall 2004 (7:2) [special issues on history of the Indiana University School of Optometry]

Journal of the American Optometric Association November 1967 (38:11). [Special “history of optometry” issue]

Legal Aspects of Optometry. John G. Classe. Boston: Butterworths, 1989 [Chapter 1: Optometry –
a Legal History]

Legalized Optometry and the Memoirs of its Founder. Charles Frederick Prentice. Seattle, WA: Casperin Fletcher Press, 1926

Mr. Mac : William P. MacCracken, Jr. on Aviation, Law, Optometry. Michael Osborn, William P. MacCracken, Joseph H. Riggs. Memphis, TN: Southern College of Optometry, 1970

My Fifty Years in Optometry. Albert Fitch. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania State College of Optometry
[1955-59]

North Carolina State Optometric Society, 100 Years of History: Through the Years.  Compiled by Sue O. Gardner.  NCSOS, 2009 

The Ohio State University and its College of Optometry: Photographic History. R. E. Goerler. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University, 1993

The Optometric Profession. Monroe J. Hirsch and Ralph E. Wick. Philadelphia: Chilton Book Co., 1968

Optometry in America : A History of the Illinois College of Optometry, 1872-1997. Anistatia R. Miller, Jared M. Brown. Chicago: Illinois College of Optometry, 1996

Optometry in the State of Washington : A History Prepared for the Washington Optometric Association. J. Wolff. WOA, 1967

Optometry: Its Heritage and its Future. Irvin M. Borish. Indiana J. Optometry 2001; 4(2):23-31

Optometry, the Profession: Its Antecedents, Birth, and Development. Maurice Edward Cox. Philadelphia: Chilton Company, 1957

Optometry: Professional, Economic, and Legal Aspects. H. W. Hofstetter. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby, 1948

Origin and Development of the Southern California College of Optometry, 1904-1984. James R. Gregg. Fullerton, CA: Southern California College of Optometry, 1984

School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 25th Anniversary Photographic History : 1969-1994. Henry B. Peters, Eydie C. Jones. Birmingham: University of Alabama, 1994

Selected Papers of Special Significance to Optometry. William M. Rosenblum, William J. Benjamin. Bellingham, WA: SPIE Optical Engineering Press, 1992

The Story of Optometry. James R. Gregg. New York: Ronald Press, 1965

Story of Optometry. Wilber Marion Brucker. Minneapolis: Journal of the American Optometric Association, 1939

Wisconsin Optometric Association, a Chronology. Raymond L. Guenveur. Wisconsin Optometric Association, 1989