Munk, Joseph Amasa

Munk’s Arizoniana library à Southwest Museum; eclectic physician: dean, Eclectic Medical College, L.A. ~1892-1913+?.
See History of Arizona medicine; collections of Orville Harry Brown, M.D. [AHSL Special Collections WZ 70 AA7 H673]: 4:482-485.
Quebbeman, Frances E. Medicine in territorial Arizona. Phoenix : Arizona Historical Foundation, 1966, page 360.
A historical and biographical record of the Territory of Arizona. Chicago : McFarland & Poole, 1896: Dr. J.A. Munk was born in Ohio in 1847. He enlisted in his sixteenth year in the 178th regiment of Ohio volunteer Infantry, and served in the army until the close of the war. After returning home he studied medicine and graduated in 1869 from
the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. He has practiced medicine ever since for a number of years in Topeka, Kansas and later in Los Angeles, California, where he now resides and stands eminent in his profession. He became interested in Arizona in 1883 when he joined his brother, Judge E.R. Monk, in the ranch and cattle business at Wilcox. Since then he has made annual trips to the Territory and spent much time in studying its history, climate and resources. He has written many newspaper and magazine articles on Arizona and has collected a large library on Arizona which now includes more than 400 titles.

MUNK, Joseph Amasa. Physician (Eclectic). Res. 747 S. Alvarado st.; office, 337V2 S. Hill st, Los Angeles, Cal. Born in Columbian Co., O., Nov. 9, 1847 ; son of Jacob and Maria (Rosenberry) Munk. Married to Emma Beazell in 1873. Attended public schools in Salem, O., Alliance, O., and Mount Union College, Alliance, O.; graduated in medicine from the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, O., in 1869. Practiced medicine in Lindsey, O., in 1870; moved to Chillicothe. Mo., in 1871; to Topeka, Kans., in 1881; to Los Angeles, Cal., in 1892, where he has since resided. Has an Arizona library, consisting wholly of literature on Ariz., embracing more than six thousand titles; donated this library to the use of the Southwest Museum in 1908, where it is open to the public. Joined the Southwest Soc. of the Archae[o]logical Institute of America and in 1908 was elected a member of its executive committee; elected a dir. of the Southwest Museum, 1910; in 1900 published a catalogue of his Ariz, books, and in 1908 a second edition. In l90S published s book of Arizona sketches; a regular contributor to Eclectic Medical literature since 1870; a member of all local and state Eclectic Medical societies and has held all offices in many. Member National Eclectic Medical Assn.; elected pres. of this organization in 1910; present dean of the California Eclectic Medical College, Los Angeles, and professor of climatology and materia medica. Served as a volunteer in the Civil War in Co. I, 178th O. V. I. Member of Stanton Post No. 55, G. A. R. Source: Who's Who in the Pacific Southwest… Los Angeles, Times-Mirror Printing & Binding House, 1913, page 271.

See also: McClintock, James H. Arizona, Prehistoric, Aboriginal, Pioneer, Modern; the Nation's Youngest Commonwealth within a Land of Ancient Culture. Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1916 (aka Arizona, the Youngest State), volume 3 (Biographical), pages 148, 149 [portrait], 151.

J Am Med Assoc, Jan 1928; 90: 134: Joseph Amasa Munk, Los Angeles ; Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, 1869; Civil War veteran; aged 80; died, Dec. 4, 1927, of angina pectoris and chronic interstitial nephritis.

Joseph Munk’s brother:
A historical and biographical record of the Territory of Arizona. Chicago : McFarland & Poole, 1896, p. 528: Judge Edward R. Monk [not Munk?], one of the pioneer cattle men of Arizona, is justly recognized as a man of superior ability, force of character and determination. He is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born January 31, 1855, and of German origin, inheriting all the thrift, enterprise and perseverance of his Teutonic ancestors. Judge Monk had excellent educational advantages in his youth. After a thorough course in Union College he entered Michigan University, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. A., and admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan in 1876. For a number of years after this he practiced his profession in Des Moines, Iowa, and St. Louis, Mo., but failing health caused him to give up his practice for some time. He went to Arizona, engaged in cattle raising at Willcox, Cochise County, and, being a good deal in the saddle, his health soon improved. Aside from the cattle business the Judge became interested in mines and is part owner of one in Cochise County. In 1886 he was elected county judge of Cochise County, and re-elected in 1888, serving until 1890. In December, 1893, he was appointed receiver of the Tucson land office and regent of the university in 1895, at the
session of the 18th Legislature. He is also a member of the Civil Service Examining Board of Arizona—postal and Indian service. He practices law in connection with all these other duties and his life is an extremely busy one. His brother, Doctor Monk [Munk], of Los Angeles, Cal., has one-half interest in all our subject's enterprises in Arizona. Both are wide-awake men and useful citizens.