Finding aid for the Medical Heritage Center Collection
Title:
Medical Heritage Center Collection
Repository:
Medical Heritage Center
http://hsl.osu.edu/mhc
Creator:
Medical Heritage Center
Dates:
1990-2010
Quantity:
35 linear feet
Abstract:
 This is a collection of material about the Ohio State University Medical Heritage Center.
Identification:
Spec.200805.MHC
Language:
The records are in English

History of Medical Heritage Center

The Medical Heritage Center is the brainchild of librarian Barbara A. Van Brimmer. In 1992, she shared her vision for the Center with members of the Columbus Medical Association (then the Academy of Medicine of Columbus and Franklin County) History Committee. Many agreed that the activities of the OSU Health Sciences Center needed to focus on the medical history of Central Ohio. When the John A. Prior Health Sciences Library began renovating in 1995, plans included a design for the entire 5th floor to be designated as the Medical Heritage Center. The Columbus Medical Association provided funding to develop the areas for rare books, preparation and preservation space, offices, a reading room, and an archival storage space. Reed Fraley, OSU Hospitals, contributed additional funds to complete the large meeting room. Van Brimmer was appointed curator and in May 1997 the Medical Heritage Center opened.

From its establishment in May 1997 to today, the Center stands as a testament to a unique collaboration between the Columbus Medical Association and The Ohio State University Medical Center.

The Medical Heritage Center recognizes and celebrates historical health and medical personalities and events; collects, display and archives artifacts; provides an avenue or historical medical research; and supports medical history education. The Center also serves as the repository of data, artifacts, and historical information relating to health and medical education and the medical profession in central Ohio.

The Medical Heritage Center is the only scholarly facility in central Ohio concentrating solely on the accomplishments of the people, organizations and institutions at the forefront of the development of health care and medicine in the region. It is the only institution dedicated to researching and collection the region's health and medical past and sharing the information through exhibits and scholarly publications for the educational benefit of scholars, students and the general public.

Scope and Content

The Medical Heritage Center Collection (approximately 32 linear feet) is a compilation of material that documents the history of the Medical Heritage Center and its current and past activities.

Statement of Arrangement

Series I: Oversized (3 boxes) contains oversized posters that were too large to fit in standard - size boxes. The items are arranged into 2 subseries: • Exhibitions (1 box) • Exhibitions and Lectures (2 boxes) The items in this series are arranged by size to insure the proper storage of odd-shaped items. These oversized items are boxed and arranged in categories that correspond to the topics in the series as a whole, for example, an oversized exhibition panel would be found in the Oversized series and the Exhibitions subseries. Series II: Advisory Committee (1 box) contains meeting packets for the monthly MHC Advisory Committee meetings. This series is arranged alphabetically. Series III: Annual Reports (1 box) contains the annual reports of the MHC. This series is arranged chronically. Series IV: Collections (1 box) contains collection use forms and reference question forms that document what books are being used and what types of reference questions the staff of the MHC is asked. This series is arranged alphabetically. Series V: Exhibitions (7 boxes) contains papers about past exhibitions at the MHC with a focus on the exhibit labels. A box of material in this series is about the Frankenstein Exhibition hosted by the MHC in 2003. This box has material about committees, events, photographs, publications, and support materials as they relate to the Frankenstein Exhibit. In this series, Boxes 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are arranged alphabetically, and Box 8 is arranged chronically. Series VI: History (2 boxes) contains papers about the history of how the MHC came to be as well as other general information such as floor plans. This series is arranged alphabetically. Series VII: Lectures (2 boxes) contains documentation about the annual lectures held by the Medical Heritage Center. This series is arranged chronically. Series VIII: Media (2 boxes) contains photographs and CDs that documents various lectures and exhibitions sponsored by the MHC. This series is arranged chronically. Series IX: Publications (1 box) contains Medical Heritage Center brochures and copies of the quarterly newsletter, House Call. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Restrictions on Access

The collection is open to the public and is available for viewing during the hours that the Medical Heritage Center is open to the public (1-5PM, Monday-Friday) or by appointment. Materials do not circulate and must be used in the supervised reading room.

Restrictions, including copyright, may exist and some materials may be too fragile to photocopy or digitize. The MHC charges for duplication services, which must be performed by staff.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Ohio State University

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Medical Heritage Center Collection, Spec.200805.MHC, John A. Prior Health Sciences Library, Medical Heritage Center, The Ohio State University.