Documenting Medical History in the Center for the History of the Health Professions

Medical artifacts

Located in the new Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library is the Center for the History of the Health Professions (CHHP), a rich resource of books, journals, archives, photographs, and medical artifacts of the history of medicine in Cincinnati and the history of medicine in general.

The center was organized in 1974. It consists of over 35,000 rare and classical works in the history of medicine, dating from 1500 to 1920, and a modern circulating history of medicine collection. The collection includes 2,000 medical artifacts such as Civil War field surgery kits, busts and paintings of past UC faculty, and an iron lung. An excellent photograph collection from the 1890s to date represents medicine as it was practiced in the late 19th century to the most modern technology of today's scientists. Class and
individual photographs of UC faculty members are also available.

Over 64 archival collections are available in the center including the Cincinnati Obstetric and Gynecology Society minutes and papers, local hospital archives from Jewish Hospital, the now defunct Seton and Dunham Hospitals, and University Hospital patient indexes from 1837-1977. Among the most noted archives in the CHHP are those of:

• Daniel Drake, founder of the Medical College of Ohio and of Cincinnati College in 1819. His archive includes manuscripts, diplomas, and personal memorabilia.
• Albert B. Sabin, UC researcher and developer of the oral polio vaccine.His archive includes his papers, medals, awards, and honors.
• Robert A. Kehoe, a pioneer in occupational and environmental medicine. His archive includes his studies in lead and all of his research materials from the early 30's to the mid-1970s.
• Leland C. Clark, the “Father of Biosensors” and pioneer of the first viable heart-lung machine. His archive includes one of the first heart lung apparatus, papers and manuscripts, photographs and awards, spanning over 30 years or research.
• Elwood V. Jensen, Lasker award winner for his work on estrogen receptors. The center houses awards, photographs, and papers related to his work.

On November 6, 2008, Dr. John J. McDonough, Chair of the Center for the History of the Health Professions Advisory Board, and Victoria A. Montavon, Dean and University Librarian, hosted a gathering of fellow CHHP Advisory Board members, friends, and colleagues to celebrate the grand opening of the center in the new Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library.

The new facility includes the Stanley J. Lucas, M.D. Board Room, a meeting space and showcase for some of the CHHP’s treasures such as the spectacular Cantagalli Jars (a 109-piece set of ceramic jars replicating a 15th-century apothecary shop), as well as a sampling of medical artifacts, photographs, and ephemera.

For more on the Center for the History of the Health Professions, visit <www.libraries.uc.edu/hsl/history/>.

Source Index