by Sandra Yates, Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Have you ever wondered what four years of medical school looks like? Or maybe even wondered about the courses, material, and techniques taught in medical schools in the 1930s? Well, you’re in luck! I came across six volumes of notes taken by Edward Trowbridge Wolf during his… Continue Reading Dr. E. Trowbridge Wolf's Notes […]
Texas Medical Center Library Centennial: Doctors and their cars
By Alethea Drexler Archives assistant Next year is the centennial of the Texas Medical Center Library. The Library started out as the library for the Harris County Medical Society, which was founded in 1903[1], so it predates the Medical Center by several decades. In celebration, The Black Bag is going to include a series of… Continue Reading Texas Medical Center Library Centennial: Doctors and their cars […]
Life and Limb
By Philip Montgomery Archivist The Texas Medical Center Library is hosting a National Library of Medicine exhibit called Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War. Here Sandra Yates, archivist/special collections librarian, arranges lancets and an 18th century bleeding bowl as part of the items on display from the McGovern Historical Center. Creating… Continue Reading Life and Limb […]
Hanger Artificial Legs and Arms
By Sandra Yates Archivist and Special Collections Librarian We all know how amazing old magazine advertisements are. I found this gem in a June 1938 issue of the Texas State Journal of Medicine. Looks to me that the Hanger artificial limbs are easier to wear than wrapping a robe around a négligée! What do you… Continue Reading Hanger Artificial Legs and Arms […]
Feigning neurological illness
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E. Cullen and the Texas Medical Center
By Philip Montgomery Head of the McGovern Historical Center There is a street named for Ezekiel Cullen that runs past the Texas Medical Center Library. Since, Cullen died in 1882, according to the Handbook of Texas, I wondered why his name is linked to the medical center, which wasn’t founded until the 1940s. The answer… Continue Reading E. Cullen and the Texas Medical Center […]
Thingamajig: The Mystery Scissors
by Alethea Drexler, archives assistant The past few months have brought us several donations that were heavier on artifacts than they were on paper. That’s a little unusual for an archive but not necessarily a bad thing. Honestly, artifact donations are often very entertaining. The heirs of a Fort Worth-area nurse named Senorita (that was… Continue Reading Thingamajig: The Mystery Scissors […]
Moon-sun man with owl
I love the archives. I found this image today while doing a random check of a box with a lid that was not properly seated. There is no context, no official caption, no indication of why the man and the owl, probably stuffed, are posing together. It was the 60s. Enough said. Philip Montgomery, archivist […]
Hermann Hospital Sweetheart
by Philip Montgomery, archivist A few months ago, Dr. Adrian Melissinos was searching for nursing photos when she discovered “Sweetheart” the donkey. Today, I had to find the photo of this early Hermann Hospital mascot. I love that the photographer, who remains unknown, made an effort to capture this donkey’s personality. What is even more… Continue Reading Hermann Hospital Sweetheart […]
Archival Surprises
by DK Smith, Project Archivist In part, the fascination of an archivist’s job lies in the discovery of bits of lost history hidden in doctors’ papers. For example, the photo below contains a wonderful unknown trophy, faceless major characters, and an obviously emotional scene. What is going on? Five minutes with a loupe, an archivist’s… Continue Reading Archival Surprises […]