THE VINCENT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION

The Vincent Memorial hospital was founded in 1891 by the friends of Mrs. J.R. Vincent as a memorial to the generous Boston actress. Dedicated to the care of an increasing number of sick and indigent women, the hospital was originally located at 44 Chambers Street.

The hospital quickly outgrew its initial 10 bed capacity. In 1908, it moved to larger quarters on South Huntington Avenue where it remained until 1940. At that time, the chief of staff of the hospital, Dr. Joe Vincent Meigs, and the Vincent trustees recognized the tremendous potential of merging the Vincent with the broad resources of the Massachusetts General Hospital. As a result, the Vincent Memorial Hospital accepted the MGH's invitation to become its gynecology service while retaining its own hospital identity and staff.

In 1988, the Vincent and the MGH revised their agreement. The corporate purpose of the Vincent was restated as follows, "The corporation…is organized and shall be operated exclusively to support programs for the care and treatment of the diseases of women at The Massachusetts General Hospital and other organizations…which have as their sole member The Massachusetts General Hospital". The Vincent's independent hospital license was allowed to expire and the MGH agreed to formally designate with the name "Vincent" those places and programs associated with and funded by the Vincent Memorial Hospital Corporation. It was also at this time that the 18 member Vincent Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees was expanded to include two MGH Trustees.

The present agreement reaffirms the corporate independence of the Vincent Memorial Hospital and its endowment, and cements a partnership of shared interests, efforts, and accomplishments which has yielded numerous advances in the research, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting women.

In addition to working closely with MGH and Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Service leadership, the Vincent Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees coordinates its efforts with those of the Vincent Board of Managers, the Vincent's in-hospital auxiliary volunteer group, and the 1,200 member-strong Vincent Club.

In perpetuating the spirit of the Vincent Memorial Hospital's founders, the Vincent Club each year presents an original musical production entirely created, designed and performed by club members. All proceeds of the show are donated to the Vincent Memorial Hospital for the support of programs in the MGH's Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Service including the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology. With similar energy and spirit, the Vincent Club organizes symposia and other fund raising events, further demonstrating its unique ability to support science through the arts.