The American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) was established in 1965 at an organizational meeting held in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association meeting in Portland, Oregon. This followed several years of informal discussions organized by Dr. Harry Berrier at annual AVMA meetings.

The charter members of the society were Drs. Maxine J. Benjamin, Harry J. Berrier, H.A. Carper, Clarence R. Cole, Embert H. Coles, Donald E. Jasper, Horace C. Morgan, Harry C. Mussman, Victor Perman, Jay H. Sautter, Oscar W. Schalm, Margaret W. Sloss, and John B. Tasker.

The purposes of the ASVCP are to (1) further scientific progress in veterinary clinical pathology, (2) promote a wider application of clinical pathology to the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases, (3) provide an organization for individuals with an interest in teaching, research or the practice of veterinary clinical pathology, (4) further education in veterinary clinical pathology, and (5) encourage and promote the establishment of standards for the performance of laboratory procedures.

The ASVCP is run by an executive board that consists of a president, president-elect, immediate past-president, secretary, treasurer, and two executive board members. Standing committees of the society include education, membership, regulatory affairs, and development. Special committees are appointed as is deemed necessary by the Executive Board, often in response to the desires of the membership. For example, the Leukemia Study Group established and published in Veterinary Clinical Pathology criteria for the classification of leukemias in dogs and cats and the Joint Scientific Committee for International Harmonization of Animal Clinical Pathology Testing in toxicity and Safety Studies helped to shape the laboratory standards used internationally in industry for animal studies.

In 1983, the society began holding its annual meetings in conjunction with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

The collection contains written histories of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathologists and of the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Missouri.