Delaware County Tuberculosis Association records

The Delaware County Tuberculosis Association (D.C.T.A.) Began in 1919 largely through the efforts of Mrs. Elem Whiteley and the State Tuberculosis Association. Three years later, the Association incorporated because it was decided that the efforts of association members could no longer be sustained on a purely voluntary basis. Many of the wives of the Ball brothers sat on the first board and E.B. Ball became president of the D.C.T.A. in 1923. Thereafter, its resources and efforts doubled in the community with broad educational, preventative, and treatment programs. Relationships with organizations like the Visiting Nurses Association with even more resources.

Over the years, the D.C.T.A. has expanded its scope to include not only the causes of tuberculosis but also other chest diseases, humanitarian visits to crippled children, and general improvement of health practices within Delaware County. They instituted mass testing, x-raying, and treatment in Delaware County for tuberculosis and were granted a small cottage on 1922 by Delaware County to act as a local sanatorium. However, the cottage was not adequate to take care of Delaware County's tuberculosis cases and so a long relationship with the Irene Byron Sanatorium in Fort Wayne began. In 1958, The United Fund, a major supporter of the association, wanted to change it into a purely educational organization. After investigating the idea it was decided to reduce the number of nurses employed by the D.C.T.A. but to let it continue to function as it had. The number of tuberculosis cases fell sharply during the period from the D.C.T.A.’s inception to 1962 when most of the sanatoriums on the U.S. closed. The Delaware County Tuberculosis association continues its efforts today helping with testing and education but also treatment when needed. It played an integral part in reducing the number of tuberculosis cases as well as elevating the general level of education about infectious diseases in Delaware County.