The resources and services of the History of Medicine section are available to anyone whose research needs may be met in our collections.
Materials in the non-circulating collections may be used by the public and U of R students, faculty, and staff under supervision in the History of Medicine Reading Room during library hours, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. An appointment is required.
We are happy to assist with research inquiries by email, phone, or virtual appointment, but the best way to initiate your inquiry is to contact us.
Procedures:
All first-time visitors must register and present photo identification in the form of University of Rochester ID or valid government-issued photo ID.
Personal belongings are not allowed in the reading room and must be checked upon entrance. All researchers are subject to search before departure. Pencils and loose paper, laptops, or other portable electronic devices are admissible means of note taking. Please ask for permission if you intend to take photographs. Images may only be taken for personal research purposes only. Arrangements must be made with staff to publish or otherwise reproduce images from the collections.
In addition to photographic material present in individual collections, the History of Medicine Section holds The University of Rochester Medical Center Photograph Collection. Ranging in date from the conception of the Medical Center to the early 2000s, the collection includes photos of faculty and staff, SMD and SON class years, buildings and places within the Medical Center campus, and more. Please contact us for more information.
Below are several collections particularly relevant to the Medical Center's history. Additional faculty papers can be found here.
Donald Grigg Anderson (1913-1995)
George Libman Engel (1913-1999)
George Hoyt Whipple (1878-1976)
The History of Medicine Section has analog and digital copies of a number of oral histories recorded with notable faculty and staff members from the 1970s through the early 2000s. Access to an inventory of these interviews is available upon request. Please note that access and distribution is restricted for these interviews.
Additionally, we have a number of audiovisual items that are unprocessed and/or undergoing digitization. Please contact us for more information.