Gardner Taber Swarts, M. D. — Founder of the first municipal health laboratory in the United States, the late Dr. Gardner T. Swarts, of Providence, by his accomplishments in the field of public health, left a marked effect on the history of the country. He was among the first American physicians to make a specialty of bacteriology, and made an exhaustive study of disease germs. Dr. Swarts was secretary and later president of the American Public Health Association, and was president of the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of North America. His contributions to the civic welfare of his native city of Providence are beyond estimation in value and influence.
Gardner Taber Swarts, M. D., was born in Providence, December 13, 1857, son of Gardner T. and Harriet A. (Wood) Swarts. From attendance at the public schools of Providence he passed to Harvard University, from whose medical school he was graduated Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1879. He took two years of post-graduate work at the great medical centers of Vienna, Paris, and London.
In 1881, Dr. Swarts became a general practitioner in the city of Providence, and was appointed city bacteriologist. In association with Dr. Charles V. Chapin he established the original municipal health laboratory to be put into operation in this country. This laboratory was outfitted mostly at his own expense. He was early drawn to the subject of bacteriology, and too great praise cannot be accorded him for his courage in espousing and practicing that then new phase of medicine. He became an enthusiast on the subject, and was in the van of American physicians who, with like courage and a true sense of the advance step being taken, became specialists in bacteriology. His deep and long continued researches into the study of the subject took a great deal of his time in the development of cultures.
Dr. Swarts’ bacteriological studies on sand filtration were the first conducted in this country. He was easily one of the leading national authorities on public health work in the United States, and served as an inspector in the Health Department of Providence many years. For a considerable period also he was an active member of the Common Council of that city.
In 1894, Dr. Swarts was appointed secretary of the State Board of Health, State bacteriologist, and State registrar of vital statistics, in which capacities he served for twenty-three years. He was secretary of the American Public Health Association for several years, and from that office was elevated to president, serving as such in 1908-09. His services as president of the Conference of State and Provincial Boards of Health of North America were conducive to the promotion of the affairs of that body. He was a member of the State Medical Examining and Licensing boards. In 1917 he retired from public health work, and thereafter devoted himself to specialization in dermatology.
During the World War period, Dr. Swarts performed a signal service as a member of the Rhode Island Executive Committee of the Volunteer Medical Service Corps under the Council of National Defense. For thirty-five years he was attending surgeon of the dermatology department of the Rhode Island Hospital, and consulting surgeon of the Providence City Hospital and the Memorial Hospital of Pawtucket. He wrote many interesting and instructive articles on the subject of health for magazines. His professional affiliations included the Providence Medical Association, of which he was president in 1896-97; the Boston Bacteriological Club, the Massachusetts Association of Boards of Health, which he had served also as president; a charter member of the Providence Clinical Club; and the Rhode Island Medical Association, which he served as president.
Dr. Swarts was interested in many private business enterprises, and especially in real estate development. He was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite member of the Free and Accepted Masons; affiliated also with Adelphoi Lodge of that order, and with St. John’s Commandery, Knights Templar; a charter member of the University Club, the Providence Art Club, and the Players Club; in addition he belonged to the Town Criers, the Providence Engineering Society, the Rhode Island Historical Society, and was a past president of the Harvard Club of Rhode Island.
Dr. Gardner Taber Swarts married Fannie May Stinson, of Portland, Maine. Two children were born to them: 1. Gardner Taber, Jr. 2. Gertrude Blanchard, now Mrs. Raymer B. Weeden, of Providence.
The death of Dr. Swarts, which occurred on May 12, 1925, removed a man and physician who had given his life for the health and happiness of the community.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 4 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.