USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Braddock > The unwritten history of Braddock's Field (Pennsylvania) > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
With these, apparently ample accommodations, it was deemed un- necessary to continue the original hospital as such, and it was, and still is, utilized for dormitory purposes for student Nurses who, up until this time, were housed in rented quarters near the hospital.
240
.THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
A few years later, the Board of Managers of the hospital were again confronted with the same old problem of supply and demand. Overcrowd- ing was again becoming the rule rather than the exception, so much so that, at times, notwithstanding every private room was occupied and every bed in the wards was filled, beds and cots were placed in the sun parlors, corridors and alcoves and, on not a few occasions, the office of the di- rectress of nurses, the doctors' Library and the Board room were pressed into service for those who, literally, demanded admission, and there was still a waiting list of those who laid claim to "the next bed". While the normal capacity of the hospital was 70 beds, as many as 90 patients at one time were housed under its roof.
The proposition to conduct a week of so called "Whirlwind Cam- paign," for the purpose of raising the necessary funds to add an additional wing to the hospital was duly considered and accepted, and one was staged for a week in October, 1913. A small army of workers under the ef- ficient leadership of C. E. Dinkey, Superintendent of the Edgar Thomson Works of the United States Steel Corporation labored most valiantly, and secured cash and pledges to the amount of $68,000. Of this amount $63,- 000 has actually been collected.
Realizing that this amount would be totally inadequate even to . build the contemplated addition, to say nothing of its equipment for ser- vice, and having also in mind the already existing debt of $29,333 charged against the hospital, the Board was very reluctant to place another bur- den on the institution which, eventually, must be borne by the public at large. But because of the continued crowding of the hospital and the in- creasing demands for more and more accommodations, coupled with the fact the Board realized its obligation to the contributors to the Campaign fund to utilize the money collected for no other purpose than that for which it was solicited, the Board unanimously concluded to carry through the work of adding another wing, with the result that on April 19th, 1917, in the presence of several hundred friends the second wing, at a cost of near- ly $90,000, was dedicated to the services of suffering humanity, thus ad- ding 60 more beds to its capacity.
No pains were spared to make this new wing a model in every respect. From the first floor which contains the main and diet kitchens, together with the dining rooms, to the top floor of the building on which are to be found the operating rooms and pathological laboratories, every- thing is as modern and up-to-date as it is possible to be made, even to the lighting signal system for the use of patients, in place of the antiquated
241
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
electric call bell. In fact every part of the equipment is of the latest and best.
The following are some of the institution's benevolent friends who maintain either a ward, a room, a bed or a cot in the hospital as a memorial to some loved one, or for some equally noble reason.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Drexler for Rachel A. Clay, Jewish Ladies Aux- iliary I. O. O. B., Mr., and Mrs. Ferd Newman, Woman's Club of Braddock, Braddock Ministerial Association, Mrs. Henry Brown, Mrs. Fannie Handel, Valetta Commandery K. of M. No. 129, Ladies' Auxiliary of the Braddock General Hospital, Mr. F. G. Bishoff, Mr. J. Windt, Mr. Steinmetz and family, Dr. H. W. Morrow, Womens Christian Temperance Union, Bernath Weiss.
The staff and officers of the hospital are as follows :-
Surgery-A. W. Schooley, M. D., H. E. Dean, M. D., J. B. Smith, M. . D., T. H. Snowwhite, M. D.
Medicine-L. G. Rubenstein, M. D., J. C. Nicholls, M. D.
Gynecology-W. T. Morgan, M. D., H. F. Fisher, M. D.
Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat-D. A. Metzgar, M. D.
Pediatrics-W. T. Pyle, M. D.
Pathology-S. R. Mills, M. D.
Radiography-F. K. Whitfield, M. D., B. M. Bartilson, M. D. Laboratory Technician-Miss Anna May Young.
Superintendent of Hospital-Miss Margaret W. Woodside.
Assistant Superintendent-Miss Sophie E. Ripper.
Directress of Nurses-Miss Emma E. Church.
Assistant Directress of Nurses-Miss Amy Linsenmeyer.
Dietitian-Miss Martha L. Morgan.
Operating Room Nurse-Miss Lina G. Enders.
Night Superintendent-Miss Irene Kierman.
Clerk-Miss Dorothy Newman.
The hospital training school for Nurses, like the hospital, has re- ceived the official endorsement of the State, and has graduated, thus far, fifty-eight nurses. The first class received their diplomas in April, 1910 and a class has been graduated annually since that year.
The Board of Managers of the hospital consists of fifteen members, comprising an equal representation of the Contributors at large, the Med- ical Society and the Ladies Auxiliary-this latter a working body of women supplanting the original Hospital Association. The names and of- ficers of the present Board are as follows :
1
242
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
F. G. Bishoff, Mrs. Elizabeth James, D. A. Metzgar, M. D., W. T. Morgan, M. D., George H. Lamb, E. J. Striebich, C. B. Guttridge, F. K. Whitfield, M. D., H. E. Dean, M. D., Mrs. Elmira Scritchfield, Mrs. Louise Bachman, Wm. Conner, Miss Florence E. Mench, J. C. Nicholls, M. D. President W. T. Morgan, M. D., Vice President George H. Lamb, Treasurer Fogel G. Bishoff, Secretary Miss Florence E. Mench.
The first Superintendent of the hospital was Miss Mary J. Weir, serving in that capacity from the opening of the institution until July 1910, and it was due not a little to her executive ability that the hospital was early placed upon a good working basis. Miss Wier resigned to become the bride of Dr. Clinton S. Kerr, of Emlenton, Pa., and Miss Ellen Hunt was elected as her successor. Miss Hunt was a lady of exceptional qualities. Her kindly disposition and gentle manner during the three years of her official connection with the hospital had endeared her to all those with whom she came in contact. Miss Hunt died suddenly in July, 1913, while on a visit to friends during her vacation. By her death the hospital sustained a loss that was sincerely and greatly felt by all connected with it.
Miss Margaret W. Woodside, the present Superintendent assumed the duties of the office in December, 1913, and has demonstrated her abil- ity to grasp and control the requirements of the rapidly growing demands of the institution.
Mr. George Hogg was the first President of the Board of Managers and during the time he served in that capacity there was no detail in the installation of the hospital and its subsequent management requiring his consideration that he did not give his personal attention. He easily demonstrated himself to be the right man, in the right place and at the right time. After serving as president for about a year Mr. Hogg, on account of the pressure of his personal business, resigned from that office and Mr. George Moore was de-
GEO. HOGG.
(Editor's Note.)-To one man more than any other-Dr. Wm. T. Morgan, the present president of the Braddock General Hospital and author of this chapter-is due the consummation of the Braddock hospital idea. Dr. Morgan has given credit to others, deservedly so, but with his commendable and natural modesty, he has en- tirely eliminated himself from the chapter as a leading factor in the ultimate com- pletion and success of the hospital. Dr. Morgan took up the project when it was in abeyance, revived it through various mediums, and kept the movement going with such impetus that it came to full realization. No better tribute for Dr. Morgan's un- tiring, unselfish zeal for the hospital can be given than the hospital, completed and serving humanity, which will always be a lasting testimony to his purely altruistic labors.
243
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
servedly elected in his stead. Early interested in the hospital project Mr. Moore not only labored unremittingly to bring the enterprise to a success- ful conclusion, giving liberally of his time and his money to the work, but continued that same inter- est with unabated zeal to the end of his life. Even during the last few months of his life, when he was, physically, unable to give his personal atten- tion to the affairs of the institution as became the- office of president, he was as solicitous of the wel- GEO. MOORE. fare of the hospital as though it were his own per- sonal affair. Mr. Moore died January 25th, 1914, and by his death the hospital lost one of its real friends, and the legacy he helped make pos- sible for the physical unfortunates of Braddock and vicinity will ever re- main a monument to his unselfish interest in the cause of suffering hu- manity.
DR. W. T. MORGAN.
Since the death of Mr. Moore, the writer(1) has worn the mantle of the Presidency with as much grace as is possible for him to do, and, fully appreciating the responsibilities attached thereto, has endeavored, at all times, to perform his duty as he sees it.
While the three organizations mentioned were the leading influences in promoting the or- iginal hospital, there are a host of others who de- serve great credit for their heroic efforts to make the present institution a reality.
The merchants and citizens of Greater Braddock should not be neglected in the list of those who so nobly planned and worked that Brad- dock might be possessed of such an institution.
The newspapers, also, lent valuable assistance and the publicity given every step aided greatly in keeping the hospital idea ever before the people. When the subject is entirely summed up it will be clearly seen that the Braddock General Hospital is the result of the united efforts of all, and there is scarcely a man, woman, or child in the entire district who has not, in some way, made possible the glorious monument on the hill, and it is pleasing to record that the Braddock General Hospital is open to the afflicted of all classes and conditions, regardless of creed, nationality, color or financial standing, each and every one receiving the kindness
(1) See Editor's Note on opposite page.
244
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
and consideration that his or her case demands and from the day the first patient was admitted on June 28th, 1906, until the present time when near- ly 12,000 have received medical and surgical care under its roof and 500 have first seen the light of day within its walls, the hospital has proved itself to be what its friends have always claimed for it, a much needed in- stitution.
MEDICAL HISTORY OF BRADDOCK.
BY S. ROY MILLS, M. D.
The Physician, like the "Proverbial Poor", we have always with us, for go where you will, there within call will be found one who bears the burden of our infirmities, both physical and mental.
In the not very distant past this individual was considered one of the Honored Members of the community and as such, was accordingly re- spected and looked up to. He was a welcome visitor at all times, either professionally or otherwise. Very often he was held before the children as an example for good, and in some cases used as a whip to lead erring youngsters in the right paths, but always was the surname Doctor applied with a sense of honor, amounting almost to reverence. To-day the term is used indiscriminately to designate numerous classes of callings and oc- cupations, regardless of the educational requirements, be it a simple three months or prolonged over a course of seven years.
Think what you will of the Physician, let the Cynic say that his "Mistakes are all buried", and we emphatically deny this, (they live. on forever as Living Mill-stones) -yet are you bound to admit that he is the first to be called and the first to respond in the time of need but al- ways the last to be thought of, if at all, when accounts are to be settled. In this connection I was very much amused at the account given me by one of our most successful and best known Practitioners, in relation to his first year of practice which he spent in a nearby city. It seems that in this year he worked as hard and saw as many patients as he has ever seen since in a like time and received for this the magnificent sum of $235.00, which you can easily see did not even pay for the upkeep of his horse. Time certainly has made no material change in this respect.
In going back over the Medical History of this vicinity I find the earliest mentioned Physicians are Drs. Murray, Rush Marchand and Willi- am Penny. Of these, nothing can be found except that Dr. Marchand was spoken of as being especially proficient in the treatment of dog-bite (From an account of J. B. Corey) and that his colleague Dr. Penny was something of a Lay Preacher as well, and was frequently to be found in the pulpits of the various churches when their Pastors were indisposed.
Next on the scene comes William Gore, who at this time, (slightly before 1860) was located at what is now Monroetown, and who later re-
-
246
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
moved to Turtle Creek and then to Braddock. He is remembered by the residentors as the Chesterfield of the profession, as he was always attired in the most correct dress and at all times was the Perfect Gallant. Death called him after but a few years of practice in this vicinity.
THE OLDEST LIVING PHYSICIANS OF BRADDOCK. IN REGARD TO TIME OF SERVICE.
A. W. SCHOOLEY.
E. W. DEAN.
1871.
1876,
About this time, we find that another Physician has made his ap- pearance and is located in Port Perry, in the person of J. C. F. Maggini. Dr. Maggini was graduated from the Ohio Medical School in 1841 and es- tablished himself in Cincinnati for about a year, when he removed to Fayetteville in the same State. Here he remained until about 1859, when he brought his family to Port Perry and here practised until his removal to Braddock in 1875. All of his family were well known here, especially B. A. Maggini, who is at present one of our prominent and successful hard- ware dealers. Doctor Maggini died in 1877.
From this time on Braddock seems to have had an especial call for Physicians. Dr. J. D. Schooley, the father of the present well known
247
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
Practitioner, A. W. Schooley, located here in 1861. He graduated from Starling Medical School and practised in Cadiz, Ohio for about six years before coming here. His first office was in the McCune House on Jones Avenue, but after a year here, he removed to his own property on Braddock Avenue, and later added to his practice the management of a drug store, located at the same site. The Grim Reaper relieved him of his arduous duties in 1880.
At about the same time that we find Dr. Schooley, Doctor J. W. Linn put in his appearance, located a little farther along Braddock Avenue, and like him also maintained a drug store along with his office.
James Matlack opened an office in the Old Robinson House in 1868 and remained here for several years when he removed to Turtle Creek and continued to practise until his death in 1877.
Next comes W. A. Sandles, who had an office at the head of Ninth Street, and later on Verona Street. One of the "Old School", Dr. Sandles has left behind a most enviable reputation. He is spoken of as one of the . most likeable as well as successful men of his time. His death surely caused a distinct loss to this community.
Doctor Kimmel located here in 1868, but remained only until 1871, when he removed to the West.
A. W. Schooley, the Oldest Living Practitioner of this district and the first example of a son following his father in the practice of medicine in Braddock, graduated from Jefferson Medical School in 1871 and came to Braddock in the same year, going in with his father on Braddock Avenue. He was born at Everett, Penna., coming to Braddock in 1861, and has lived here ever since, with the exception of the last few years, when he removed his residence to East Liberty, though he still maintains his office here. Few indeed are the children or the younger grown-ups of this vicinity who are not friends of this Grand Old Member of our Profession. Shall any of us forget that familiar snow-white beard or that ever present friendliness, which are so characteristic of our esteemed colleague? As he is to-day, so do I remember him from my youth and must say that Time has cer- tainly not made any very appreciable change in him, not even in ap- pearance.
The year 1876 finds E. W. Dean located on Library Street in the building just next to what is now Strights Pharmacy, but in about a year he removed to what is now the Stewart building at the head of Eighth Street. A short time later, he was installed in his own property on Li- brary Street, where he still maintains his office, although it has been
248
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
somewhat changed about because the building has been but lately re- modeled into the Masonic Temple. Doctor Dean, next to Dr. Schooley, is the Oldest Living Physician of Braddock in regard to time of service. He is the father of Dr. H. E. Dean, one of the most successful of the "Younger Physicians"-the second example of father and son practising medicine in this vicinity.(1) Dr. E. W. Dean took a special course in Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat at the New York Polyclinic from 1887-90 and returned to Braddock to specialize in this branch of medicine and surgery.
We find among the local physicians quite a few who are distinctly Local Products, as it were, i. e., born here and educated in this district. These are H. E. Dean, C. C. Gardner, Ira Harris, F. K. Whitfield, John Zeok and myself.
Again, there are physicians in other localities, who were raised and educated in this community. Among such are Drs. Griffith, Frank Mervis and Frank Patterson. Also, Dr. Jacob Rosenbloom has achieved distinction in Biological chemistry and toxicology, while Dr. Grover C. Weil is a prominent and successful surgeon. Both of these are at present lo- cated in Pittsburgh. The writer's brother, Dr. W. W. Mills, is located in Duquesne.
To keep an accurate record of the physicians who have come and gone is almost an impossibility, as there were many whose sojourn here lasted less than a year, and many who remained only a few months in all. Dr. F. S. Rossiter, who had an office in the McDonald building during 1909-11 and then went to Swissvale, has reopened an office at the site re- cently vacated by Dr. A. E. Bulger, who has joined the army.
It would seem on the surface that Braddock had more than its share of physicians, but on closer view we find that the pro-rata number of peo- ple per doctor is well above the general average for the same in this part of our country.
Following is the list in brief :
(1) The life history of Braddock doctors presents other interesting family connections which should be known, though Dr. Mills' modesty prevents his referring to them. In the Mills family are two doctors, brothers, Dr. S. Roy, and Dr. Wm. W., both raised in Braddock, graduates of Braddock High School, and of the University of Pittsburgh. The Doctors Bair, both practicing in Braddock, are also brothers. In this case there is a whole family of doctors, as two other brothers are engaged in the profession. while a sister is the wife .of Dr. Jas. N. Stanton of Pittsburgh, and another sister is the wife of Dr. I. M. Eisaman, a Braddock dentist. Dr. A. W. Hinman, who has been practicing veterinary surgery in Braddock for twenty-three years, has four brothers who are doctors of medicine. Dr. Harold H. Lamb can claim a long line of close relationship among the profession, two uncles, three great uncles, and nine cousins .- (Ed.)
249
THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF BRADDOCK'S FIELD.
Year
Death or Removal
Name
University (1) R Located Practice (2) H
Here
J. C. F. Maggini.
Ohio Medical
R
1859 __
General
Died 1877
J. D. Schooley.
Starling
R
1861
.... General
Died 1880
J. W. Linn.
Jefferson
R.
1861. General
Died 1880
Jas Matlack
Jefferson
R
1868.
General
Died 1877
W. A. Sandles
Jefferson
R
1869
General
Died 1891
Dr. Kimmel
R.
1869.
General
Moved West, 1871
A. W. Schooley
Jefferson
R
1871
General
E. W. Dean
Hahnnemann
H
1876
Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat
J. W. Weddel
R
1876
General
Deceased
W. M. Corothers
Jefferson
R
1877
General
Died 1902
E. O. Anderson.
Hahnemann
H.
1877
General
Died 1897
J. H. Mclaughlin.
Cincinnati
R
1877.
General
Died 1913
B. F. Price.
Cincinnati
R ..
1882.
General
Died 1909
Christian Hagar
Dublin
R
1885
General
Chas. H. Clifford
Jefferson
R
1888
General
W. S. Stewart
Medico-Chi
R
1888 ...
General
Moved West, 1910
C. B. Weida
Jefferson
R ..
1889.
General
Died 1905
W. T. Morgan.
Maryland
R
1889.
General and Gynaecology
G. E. Bair
Jefferson
R ..
1890
General
P. C. Cope.
Pittsburgh
R
1890
General
Died 1917
Geo. Tell
R ...
1891
General
Died 1907
Anna Watts
Hahnemann
H ..
1892.
General
B. M. Bartilson
Jefferson
R
1893
Medicine and Surgery
G. H. McGeary.
Hahnemann
R
1894
General
Died 1913
J. Behane
Dublin U
R
1894.
General
Died 1906
W. A. Clementson
Jefferson
R 1895.
Genito-urinary, Died 1912
H. F. Fisher
Pittsburgh
R ..
1895.
Gynaecology
C. A. Meals
Jefferson
R
1896.
General and Surgery
A. J. Korhnak
Jefferson
R
189
General
J. C. Hartman
Pittsburgh
R
1899
General
J. C. Nichols
Pittsburgh
R ...
1899
General
Max Horowitz
Bellevue
R ..
1900
General
Removed 1903
Samuel Howard
Shaw
R.
1902 ...
General
E. W. Ellis
Pittsburgh
R ..
1902
General
Removed 1904
T. S. Hicks (3)
N. Y. Homeo H
1903
General
H. H. Turner.
Jefferson
R. 1904
190
General
Died 1911
F. K. Whitfield
Louisville
R
1905.
General and X-Ray
Ira Harris
Louisville
R
1905
General
C. E. Bair.
Jefferson
R 1906 .... General
H. E. Dean.
Pennsylvania R
1906.
General and Surgery
H. S. Isaacs
Pittsburgh
R
1906
Gen., Killed in Accident 1912
J. B. Smith
Pittsburgh
R
1908
General and Surgery
C. C. Gardner (4)
Pittsburgh
R
1910 Genito-urinary
A. E. Bulger
Pittsburgh
R. 1910
General
Army 1917
A. A. Wall
Shaw
R 1910
General
W. J. Lowrie
Medico-Chi
R 1911
General
S. R. Mills (5)
Pittsburgh
R 1911
General and Pathology
O. I. Polk
Pittsburgh
R 1912
General
R. N. Lowrie.
Medico-Chi
R.
1912
General
J. P. Egan
Medico-Chi
R
1913.
General
F. L. Morrow
Pittsburgh
R
1914
General
T. H. Snowwhite (6)
Pittsburgh
R 1914 .... General
John Zeok
Louisville
R 1914
General
S. A. Godlewski.
Valparaiso, Ind. R 1915
General
M. S. Bowers (6)
Pittsburgh
R ... 1917 .... General
H. H. Lamb
Pittsburgh R 1917 .. General and Pathology
(1) R-Regular.
(4) Enlisted in Naval Reserves.
(2) H-Homeopath.
(5) Enlisted in Navy.
(3) Enlisted in Cavalry.
(6) Enlisted in Army.
R ..
.1899
Eye, ear, nose & throat
L. G. Rubenstein
Pittsburgh
R
1901
General
D. A. Metzgar
Pittsburgh
R.
1891
General
J. A. Miller
Pittsburgh
H ..
1893
Gen'l .. Wilkinsburg, 1917
D. A. Molyneaux
Dublin U.
W. M. Proctor.
Hahnnemann
H.
Eye only
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES. BY REUBEN D. ABBISS, JR.
I. O. O. F., Braddock's Field Lodge No. 529, Inst. Nov. 17, 1856. F. & A. M., Braddock's Field Lodge No. 510, warranted June 5, 1872.
I. O. O. F., McMaster's Encampment No. 239, instituted April 23, 1873.
O. of I. A. Monongahela Council No. 122, instituted June 21, 1879. G. A. R., Major A. M. Harper Post No. 181, instituted July 31, 1880. R. A., Edgar Thomson Council No. 512, instituted August 10, 1880. Ladies of G. A. R., instituted September 1, 1883.
N. S. S. of U. S. A., Slavian Assembly No. 21, founded Jan. 20, 1889. The Maccabees, Bessemer Tent No. 92, organized Feb. 16, 1889.
C. M. B. A., Branch No. 65, instituted July 8, 1889.
S. M. A. S. S., Branch No. 35, organized Feb. 9, 1890.
K. of P., Husband Lodge No. 386, instituted Feb. 13, 1892.
S. E. U., St. Paul's Branch No. 4, organized Oct. 30, 1892.
A. & I. O. K. of M. Valetta Commandery No. 129, instituted Feb. 23, 1893.
St. J. R. C. U. of A. Branch No. 6, organized March 14, 1895.
I. K. S. J. Cisle 197, organized Aug. 3, 1895.
A. & I. O. K. of M., Melrose Commandery No. 179, instituted Nov. 27,1895.
G. U. O. O. F. Triumphant Lodge No. 3954, instituted Jan. 26, 1896.
T. B. H. Arrius Court, No. 4, organized Feb. 4, 1896.
Z. B. S. S. Branch No. 34, organized May 17, 1896.
G. C. U., St. Ann's Society No. 108, organized December 20, 1896. S. E. U., Branch No. 47, organized Feb. 1898.
F. W. C. of C., No. 163, organized Mar. 22, 1898.
L. V. H. H. R., No. 1334, instituted April 11, 1898.
I. O. of G. T. North Star Lodge No. 2, instituted June 24, 1900.
I. O. B. B., Braddock Lodge No. 516, instituted Sept. 8, 1901.
S. E. U., John the Baptist Branch No. 92, organized June 5, 1902.
S. & D. of L., instituted June 27, 1902.
I. O. B. B. Ladies Auxiliary, instituted Jan. 15, 1903.
B. P. O. E., Braddock Lodge No. 833, instituted Nov. 19, 1903. S. of V., Capt. W. R. Jones Camp No. 218, instituted Mar. 19, 1904. K. of C. Braddock Council No. 711, organized Nov. 27, 1904.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.