The Massachusetts State Laboratory originated back in 1894 and was led in its first years by a leading microbiologist of the time, Theobald Smith.  The Biologic Laboratories were dedicated to the production of anti-toxins and anti-serum.  

The lists of accomplishments and a number of "firsts" in public health include vaccine production, lead screening, newborn screening for metabolic disorders and the development of clinical tests such as the Eagle-Hinton test for syphilis.

The pictures in this exhibit show the steps in the process of producing vaccines during the 1950's.

Today, the William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute in Jamaica Plain houses four Massachusetts of Public Health Programs: the Bureau of Laboratory Sciences, the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, the Drug Control Program and the Food Protection Program.  The University of Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories carry on the tradition of the original vaccine facility as the only public sector biologics manufacturing operation in the United States.