A Proud History - 1930's

Although it would be several years before the name Institute of Logopedics was established, the seed was planted in 1934 on the fourth floor of Jardine Hall at the University of Wichita, where, under the leadership of Dr. Martin F. Palmer, the Department of Speech Sciences was opened.

In January of 1935 the work of the Department of Speech Sciences was expanded to include the Flo Brown Memorial Laboratory. Flo Brown’s mother, Mrs. E.M. Brown of Salina, was so inspired by Dr. Palmer’s work she gave $1,000 to purchase equipment and supplies to begin the laboratory bearing her daughter’s name.

The impact of Dr. Martin F. Palmer’s clinics attracted community attention, and in 1936, a group of local women formed the original Women’s Advisory Council. It began with six members, but by 1939 there were 56 active members and 50 associate members.

Among those enrolled in the speech program at the University of Wichita in 1938 was Clyde Cochran Berger who, because of cerebral palsy, had not started school until age 11. He graduated from high school at 21 and enrolled in the Flo Brown Memorial Laboratory (later to be known as the Institute of Logopedics). Mr. Berger earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wichita, and headed the Technical Library at the Institute of Logopedics which he helped start.