Farming for the Cure: How the Lancaster County Vaccine Farm Changed the Distribution of the Smallpox Vaccine, 1882–1903

The eradication of smallpox in 1980 has long been understood as one of humanity’s most outstanding achievements. Even though the origin of smallpox is still unknown, its effect on the world was widespread. At times, there were few fates worse than getting infected by this deadly scourge, which had ravaged America since before the founding of the thirteen colonies. It is easy to forget a time when a smallpox epidemic was feared as a result of the creation of vaccines, which allowed the possibility for eradication. Many studies have been dedicated to this matter, praising Edward Jenner’s discovery in 1796. Yet, remarkably few scholars have studied the dissemination of this vaccine in America, most notably by Dr. H. M. Alexander of Marietta, Pennsylvania. In 1882, Dr. Alexander founded what was known nationally as the Lancaster County Vaccine Farm (otherwise published as the Marietta Vaccine Farm), which produced and supplied the entire country with smallpox vaccine. The Lancaster County Vaccine Farm drastically shaped Pennsylvania’s ability to eradicate smallpox and the whole country.

It is nearly inconceivable to think about the world today if the population still had to fear an epidemic of smallpox. But this is mainly due to the work and effort done by Dr. Alexander, a name that has since been lost to history. This vaccine farm was not a small-scale venture either. At one point in its history, it had been producing 100,000 doses a day for shipment to the rest of the country, even overcoming the business depression of 1894 when the city of Chicago placed an order for ten thousand points (the specimen used for vaccination) to be delivered daily if possible. Combined with the fact that the Marietta Vaccine Farm was known and scientifically proven to be the cleanliest facility and the best specimen being regulated and produced with procedures even before the Biologics Control Act held the enterprise and did away with the so-called “backyard’ producers.” Dr. Alexander and the Lancaster County Vaccine Farm may have been lost to history. However, society is still discovering the strides made in Marietta, which have become a cornerstone in learning about mass vaccine production and regulation.

The goal of this poster is to introduce viewers to the process of developing vaccine matter at a vaccine farm like the one in Lancaster County. It will also address Dr. Alexander's contributions to the cause, including experimentations in safety standards, tools, and laboratories. A brief history of inoculation techniques before Dr. Alexanders' standardization will also be mentioned. Images are integral to this poster and will be used as a tool. Images include ones from the vaccine farm, political cartoons of Jenner’s invention, tools for successful vaccination, and others (all under public domain usage).