Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to research with the exception of some materials which are restricted under FERPA.

Preferred Citation

Carl F. Emswiller, Jr. papers, Accession # 2011.Feb.02, Special Collections and Archives, Health Sciences Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Jewell M. Emswiller of Leesburg, Virginia in 2011.

Processing Information

This collection was originally processed in 2016. One box of materials was inadvertently left out during that time. In 2018, these materials were incorporated into the previously processed collection. Much of the content was either loose, in unlabeled folders, or the label did not match the content of the folder, as was the case with the portion of the collection processed in 2016. Where it was clear that materials had been ordered and the kept together, the arrangement was kept (e.g., a folder for materials related to Eugene White, correspondence with a particular individual, etc.) Otherwise, like materials were group together and described in a manner to best facilitate access and use. For preservation purposes the scrapbook was disassembled and the materials placed in a folder in the same order in which they were in the scrapbook. A photo album was also disassembled and the pages placed in a folder.

Biographical Information

Carl F. Emswiller, Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. on October 21, 1935. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to October 1957 as Aviation Storekeeper, First Class. Emswiller went on to attend the Medical College of Virginia, School of Pharmacy. He graduated with a B.S. in 1962. That same year he joined Eugene V. White at his ground breaking, office-based pharmacy in Berryville, Virginia, as an associate pharmacist. During this time he and White created one of the nation's first pharmaceutical care centers. This was a very innovative idea which eschewed the traditional pharmacy model in favor of a more patient focused pharmacy.

In 1968, Emswiller purchased Edwards Drug Store in Leesburg, Virginia, where her continued to hone the patient-focused model. He moved his pharmacy in 1974 to a medical office building co-located with physicians and other health professionals. The office-based model eliminated the sale of commercial goods and was equipped with a private consulting room. Patient care services expanded to include patient medication record reviews as well as blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol monitoring in collaboration with local physicians. This model of pharmacy service raised the pharmacist to the level of health care partner rather than simply a medication dispenser. Both White's and Emswiller's pharmacies served as examples for other pharmacists throughout the county.

Emswiller was actively engaged with his profession as a member of various professional groups including the Northern Virginia Society of Pharmacists, the Virginia Pharmaceutical Association (currently known as the Virginia Pharmacists Association), the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA, now known as the American Pharmacists Association), the American College of Apothecaries (ACA), the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the American Association of the Colleges of Pharmacy, and the National Association of Retail Druggist. He held numerous positions over the years in these groups such as the chair of the ACA, member of the APhA Board of Directors, and president of the Northern Virginia Society of Pharmacists, to name a few. Emswiller also served as an associate clinical instructor of Pharmacy at Virginia Commonwealth University, MCV campus for more than 25 years and also served as the chair of the Virginia State Board of Pharmacy.

Emswiller's innovation and dedication were recognized many times throughout his career. The most prestigious of the awards he received was the Remington Honor Medal in 1999, which is the profession of pharmacy's highest honor. Other awards include Virginia Pharmacist of the Year, 1981; the American Pharmaceutical Association's Daniel B. Smith Award, the highest honor given to a community pharmacist, 1983; Loudoun County Man of the Year, 1987; Outstanding Alumnus Award, MCV, Pharmacy Division, 1991; Virginia Pharmaceutical Association Outstanding Pharmacist Award, 1994; the Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni Star Award, 1999; and the American College of Apothecaries J. Leon Lascoff Memorial Award, 2000.

In 2000, Emswiller retired from his practice. He died on December 10, 2009. His wife Jewell, who also shared his passion and enthusiasm for collaborative, patient-centered pharmacy practice, endowed the Jewell and Carl Emswiller, Jr. Interprofessional Symposium, which was first held in 2013. The symposium is committed to educating health professional students and practitioners about providing meaningful patient care through innovative interprofessional practice.

The sources of information for this biography are Emswiller's bios and curriculum vitae found in this collection.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of correspondence, clippings, presentations, publications, photographs, speeches and other related materials. The items span Emswiller's 38 year career in pharmacy. There is a great deal of personal correspondence written to Emswiller by his colleagues and friends upon receipt of his many awards. The materials in the collection also provide insight into the evolvement of office-based, patient-centered pharmacy practices. This was a very innovative approach which spanned the transition from the traditional pharmacy of the early 20th century to the pharmacy model of the early 21st century.

The collection also includes some items of historical interest including Prohibition era prescriptions for whiskey and prescription preparation books from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically with the correspondence arranged chronologically. Efforts were made to retain the original order where possible.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Emswiller, Carl F., Jr., 1935-2009
• Medicine -- Formulae, recipes, prescriptions
• Pharmacy
• Pharmacy -- Virginia -- history
• Virginia Commonwealth University. School of Pharmacy