Contemporary laryngology had its beginnings near the close of the 19th
century and is probably best exemplified in the work of Morel McKenzie
and of Czermak. Subsequent to their pioneering efforts, another surge of
interest could be said to have centered about the efforts of the
Chevalier Jacksons in the 1920's. After those bold steps, and for almost
40 years, research in laryngology and interest in laryngology continued,
but at considerably and increasingly less intense levels, certainly so
far as the otolaryngologist population was concerned. In the 1940's
Julius Lempert sparked a renaissance in otologic research, deVelopment,
and surgery, and exciting new frontiers opened in otology. In our own
time, otology remains a large basic and fundamental segment of the
otolaryngologic purview, but the flood of new discoveries which followed
Lempert, like those which had followed the Jacksons in the 1920's in
laryngology, appears to have diminished. When the authors of this
publication made acquaintance in the late 1960's, there were
approximately 10 centers in the United States for laryngologic research
which could be truly designated as voice research facilities. The senior
author was at that time instrumental in formulating the major criteria
for laboratories to be so designated. In the early 1980's interest in
laryngology has revived. At a recent meeting it was possible to list
over 40 such laboratories which now were known to the authors over a
broad geographic sweep, covering the entire United States.