Seventy-four years ago, the 58th General Assembly of Arkansas approved HB106 which would eventually become Act 180 of 1951, the Massage Registration Act!
This particular piece of historic legislation was a priority of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Association of Masseuses & Masseurs (AAMM, later known as the American Massage Therapy Association/AMTA).
But the enactment of the Massage Registration Act didn't come without its setbacks and challenges.
Just less than a week before approval, for the legislature, the bill (HB106 of 1951) was the only legislation to be defeated on February 21, 1951 when the Senate failed to pass the bill by the narrowest of margins. But the Senate voted to reconsider the matter at a later date.
The bill go on to be signed into law (as Act 180 of 1951) by Arkansas Governor, Sid McMath, and become the law of Arkansas three months later on May 27, 1951.
With Act 180, Arkansas made history by becoming one of the first five states in the country to regulate the practice of massage and issue licensing for practitioners. Only Ohio, Florida, Hawaii (a territory at the time), and Oregon (1951 too) were regulating massage at the time.
As a fun fact, the schedule of fees outlined in the 1951 was as follows:
Registered Masseur/Masseuse $35
Registration for a Massage School $150
Renewal Certificate $7.50
Renewal of a School Certificate $15
It goes without saying that the law for massage therapy would undergo many revisions through the ages and with varying degrees of support from the legislature.
From 1951 to 2015, the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy (ASBMT) would also go through many changes, but continue to lead the way in massage therapy for other states. Specifically, becoming one of the first states to join the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) as well as being one of the first states to accept the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) for licensure.
There is much for Arkansas massage therapists to look back on with pride when we consider our history. But the usefulness of history serves us best to look back and learn from, not to try and imitate and repeat. I hope the work I have done as an amateur historian (including my recent work with the Society Of Massage Archives) will inspire massage therapists in Arkansas (and throughout the nation) to consider their history and begin researching and preserving stories like this.
Accompanying Vlogs: https://www.tiktok.com/@kirbyclarkellis.mti/video/7340122646446722346
Peace and Healing,
Kirby Clark Ellis, MTI, BCTMB
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