Founding history
The historical overview was compiled by G. P. Galabov and M. S. Davidov, who express their special gratitude to Academician Prof. Dr. A. I. Hadjiolov and Corresponding Member Corresponding Member Prof. Dr. D. Kadanov for their assistance in writing the book on the history of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
There is no doubt that the establishment of an independent society of anatomists, histologists, and embryologists in Bulgaria has contributed significantly to raising the level of scientific research and teaching activities among Bulgarian morphologists, to the establishment of international contacts and the recognition of our achievements beyond Bulgaria’s borders, as well as to the awakening of interest in morphological research among a large number of young human physicians, veterinarians, zoologists, biologists, and others.
Some key documents are missing from the company’s archives, which makes it difficult to reconstruct the chronology of events related to its founding and development. At the same time, however, when the historical account was compiled in 1982, the company’s founders were still alive and recounted the initial difficult, yet highly enthusiastic, steps taken in its organization.
Although the archives do not contain the relevant documents, it appears that the establishment of the Society of Anatomists, Histologists, and Embryologists in Bulgaria was preceded by a lengthy period of preliminary discussions and preparations.
Before the establishment of an independent society, morphologists in Bulgaria were organized as a separate section within the so-called “General Medical-Biological Society” under the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. This society had separate sections for most of the medical-biological disciplines represented in our country. Such a form of organization clearly did not allow for the broader development of the Morphological Section’s activities. At the Society’s founding meeting, Prof. Goranov specifically pointed out that within the framework of the general Society, it was not possible to organize a national conference of morphologists on a relevant topic, nor to establish branches in cities with medical faculties. Despite the difficulties highlighted, morphologists in Bulgaria found an opportunity within the framework of the general medical-biological society, on behalf of the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, the Institute of Morphology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as well as the Departments of Anatomy and Histology at universities, to organize and hold the First Conference of Morphologists in Bulgaria.
The First Conference of Morphologists in Bulgaria
The conference took place from November 24 to 28, 1959, in Sofia, with the enthusiastic participation of all morphologists in the country. The conference was also attended by a significant number of prominent morphologists, guests from various European countries (the USSR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Greece).
The Organizing Committee of the Conference consisted of the following members: Chair—Academician A. I. Hadjiolov; Vice Chair—Corresponding Member Prof. D. Kadanov; Secretary – Assoc. Prof. Zh. Yordanov; and members: Corresponding Member D. Paspalev, Prof. M. Balan, Prof. P. Petkov, Prof. D. Dimov, Prof. St. Ivanov, Assoc. Prof. G. Galabov, Assoc. Prof. D. Stanishhev, and Senior Researcher R. Yanev.
The secretariat included Senior Researcher G. Boyadzhiev, P. Boev, S. Atsev, N. Ilkov, V. Dokov, E. Chakarov, H. Krastov, P. Emanuilov, I. Georgiev, and V. Nankov. The meetings were held in the following sections: Section on Cytology and General Histology – chaired by Prof. M. Moskov; Section on Special Histology and Neurohistology (Assoc. Prof. D. Stanishhev); Section on Special Histology and Hematology (Assoc. Prof. Zh. Yordanov); Section on Anatomy and Anthropology (Corresponding Member Prof. D. Kadanov); Section on Embryology and Comparative Histology and Embryology (Corresponding Member G. Paspalev).
Academician Hadjiolov recalls that during the conference, the issue of separating morphologists from the Medical-Biological Society and establishing an independent society of morphologists in Bulgaria was discussed. The holding of the Morphologists’ Conference in 1959 undoubtedly played a positive role in the realization of these ideas, because it demonstrated, above all, that there were quite a few well-trained morphologists in our country who possessed the necessary organizational skills to independently manage scientific and organizational activities.
At the same time, discussions were held at the Ministry of Health and specific measures were taken to reorganize the scientific medical societies under its jurisdiction.
The Founding Meeting
As a result of persistent preparation and the proper stance and support of a number of relevant authorities, on February 6, 1962, the founding meeting was held in Room 19 of the Department of Anatomy in Sofia, at which the establishment of REPUBLICAN SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY OF ANATOMISTS, HISTOLOGISTS, AND PATHOLOGISTS IN BULGARIA.
The founding meeting was attended by 39 morphologists from Sofia and Plovdiv. At the suggestion of Prof. Goranov, the meeting was chaired by Corresponding Member Prof. D. Kadanov, Dr. D. Penev, and Dr. G. Dashev.
The meeting proceeded according to the following agenda:
1. Reading of the order issued by the Scientific Medical Council (SMC) at the Ministry of Health regarding the establishment of the Scientific Society of Anatomists, Histologists, and Pathomorphologists;
2. Adoption of a model charter (proposed by the Ministry of Health)
3. Board election
The meeting proceeded with very active participation from most of those present. The remarks made by all participants reflected a desire for better internal structuring and organization of the Society’s academic activities. Initially, the formation of two sections was proposed: one on normal morphology and one on pathological morphology. Recommendations were also made for the creation of a histochemistry section. Another interesting proposal was that the scientific output of morphologists be reviewed by the society. It was also proposed that morphologists from other higher education institutions, such as zoologists, veterinarians, biologists, and others, be invited to become members of the society. Already at the founding meeting, the question was raised regarding the advisability of uniting anatomists and histologists on the one hand and pathologists on the other. The primary argument cited was the specific scientific issues of the individual disciplines, as well as the importance of forming two separate societies for establishing and maintaining international contacts with corresponding societies abroad.
Resolutions of the Founding Meeting
The decisions made at the founding meeting were summarized by the chair, Corresponding Member Prof. D. Kadanov, and recorded in the minutes as follows:
1. The Society of Anatomists, Histologists, and Pathomorphologists in Bulgaria is hereby established, with its headquarters in Sofia.
2. Two sections are established within the Society: a) the Section of Anatomists and Histologists, and b) the Section of Pathomorphologists.
3. A Sofia branch is established, as well as a branch in Plovdiv
4. The following are appointed to the Society’s Executive Board: Prof. Kadanov (Chair), Prof. Goranov (Board Member and Chair of the Section of Pathomorphologists), Prof. Kardzhiev (Member), Prof. N. Yordanov (Member), Dr. Manolov (secretary of the Society and of the Section of Anatomists and Histologists), Dr. Dashev (secretary of the Section of Pathomorphologists), Dr. Teoharov (treasurer), Dr. Pavlov (member), and Dr. Petkov (member).
5. The headquarters is located in Sofia.
6. Propose to the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Health that it organize a periodic journal for morphologists. In the meantime, participate in editing the section of the journal *Contemporary Medicine* (Experimental Medicine and Morphology).
On March 29, 1962, it became necessary to hold another general meeting of the association because the National Council of Ministers (NCM) at the Ministry of National Economy (MNE) had objected to the executive board consisting of nine members. It insisted on compliance with the bylaws, according to which the board must consist of seven members. At this meeting, the committee responsible for electing the board proposed a change, and the meeting unanimously voted for the following composition: Corresponding Member Prof. D. Kadanav (chair), Prof. B. Kardzhiev, Prof. A. Prodanov, Prof. Zh. Yordanov, Assoc. Prof. I. Georgiev, Assoc. Prof. V. Vankov, Dr. B. Teoharov.
Meanwhile, the Plovdiv branch held an organizational meeting at which it elected the following leadership: Prof. A. Prodanov (chair), Prof. D. Stanishhev (vice chair), Assoc. Prof. I. Georgiev (secretary), Dr. H. Milenkov, and Dr. P. Petrov (members).
At the meeting held on March 29, 1962, in Sofia, the leadership of the Sofia branch of the society was elected: Prof. Iv. Goranov, Dr. G. Dashev, Dr. P. Petkov, Dr. S. Manolov, and Dr. K. Pavlov.
Immediately after the society’s founding, the leadership convened and developed a program for the current year. In accordance with this program, the first section meetings and the first general scientific gatherings of the society were held. The first scientific papers were presented at these events. The first scientific presentations by foreign guests are also delivered to BAS's members (Dr. Manina of the USSR, who presents a report on regenerative changes in the central nervous system during embryonic development following radiation damage). The program also includes reports on the results of our morphologists’ trips abroad. The first two general meetings of the society were devoted to contemporary issues in morphology, with reports prepared by Corresponding Member Prof. D. Kadanov, Dr. Manolov, Dr. Atsev, Prof. Zh. Yordanov, and Dr. Chakarov. The preserved documents from this period attest to the great interest in the first scientific events and the desire of most members to actively participate in their organization.
BAS was recognized as a legal entity by a court ruling dated July 24, 1962, for which a certificate was issued by the Sofia People’s Court—Commercial Division, under No. 6 of 1962.
After the necessary stabilization of the BAS’s internal organization on May 20, 1962, the management decided to affiliate BAS with international associations and establish lasting ties with them. For this reason, and in connection with the participation of our representatives in the International Symposium on Histochemistry and Cytochemistry in May 1963 in Warsaw, a meeting of the management was held on November 22, 1962, at which a decision was made to propose the establishment of a histochemistry section within the society. Of primary importance for its establishment were the preparations for the creation of an international association for histochemistry and cytochemistry, of which our section was to become a collective member. On November 29, 1962, such a section was to be established at a general meeting, and although the minutes of that meeting are not in the archives, later documents unequivocally show that it took place and that such a section was formed. This is also evidenced by the fact that our section was included in the international organization of the symposium in Warsaw in 1963 and finally at the Federation Congress in Frankfurt in 1964. Furthermore, at the meeting where the division of the society’s main sections was approved, the question arose as to which society the histochemical section would join.
While working to strengthen the BAS’s internal organization, recruit new members, and establish its first international contacts, the company’s management actively participated in assessing the state of morphological science in Bulgaria, as well as in discussing its main directions and challenges. This joint initiative at the national level proposes addressing a number of important issues, such as: Age-related changes in the body under normal and pathological conditions; Changes in the cardiovascular system under normal and pathological conditions; Regenerative and adaptive capacities and capabilities of the central and peripheral nervous systems; Liver, lung, and experimental cancer with regard to histogenesis, as well as the significance of diet (including vitamins, cholesterol, hormones, and antibiotics); Occupational pathology, toxicodynamics, clinical manifestations, prevention, and dynamics of new toxic occupational hazards emerging in agricultural and industrial production. As is evident, the focus of scientific morphological research has shifted to the most pressing issues that have been posed for resolution to the global scientific community.
The active work of the society’s two sections, as well as of the society as a whole, is gradually revealing that the merger of the two main sections was, to a large extent, artificial. Despite the common ground—the use of the same morphological methods—the specific nature of the issues addressed by the two disciplines is quite different and, in practice, leads to a clear distinction between them.
This, along with the Society’s full participation in the international scientific community, led to a consensus against splitting the Society into two separate entities: one for normal anatomy and the other for pathological anatomy. On April 18, 1963, the issue of the Society’s division was specifically raised at a meeting. The minutes of that meeting do not indicate that a final decision was made on this matter. Some remarks suggest that raising this issue at that meeting was not in accordance with the bylaws. In practice, a decision was made to refer the matter to the Ministry of National Education. A letter sent to the National Council of the Ministry of National Education (the copy lacks an outgoing number and date) states that the division of the society was approved by a majority vote and requests confirmation of the decision by the society’s general assembly. There is no record of a response from the Ministry of National Economy. Regardless, the company is split, and the following are established:
1. The Bulgarian Society of Anatomists and Histologists
2. Bulgarian Society of Pathologists.
The initial version of BAS’s articles of association, adopted at the founding meeting on February 6, 1962, had been issued by the Ministry of National Education. As early as February 15, 1962, the management made proposals for amendments. Later, on May 29, 1969, Acad. Hadjiolov made new proposals for amendments to the bylaws, which were necessitated by the establishment of the Union of Scientific Medical Societies in Bulgaria (the founding congress was held on November 29, 1968). Prof. St. Manolov took on this task and, at the general organizational meeting held during the 6th National Conference in Pamporovo, presented a revised text of the Society’s bylaws for discussion. Discussions of this version did not lead to a vote, but a decision was made to have a three-member commission draft the final text, which would be put to a vote at the general meeting during the 7th conference in Varna. The vote took place on June 4, 1978.
The newly established independent society of anatomists and histologists has taken on a life of its own in both organizational and scientific terms, with the leadership continuing to carry out the planned program.