Welcome

Countway Library's Center for the History of Medicine is one of the world's leading resources for the study of the history of health and medicine. Our holdings reflect nearly every medical and public health discipline, including anatomy, anesthesiology, dentistry, internal medicine (and medical specialties), medical jurisprudence, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, pharmacy and pharmacology, psychiatry and psychology, and surgery, as well as a wide array of public health subjects, including industrial hygiene, nutrition, tropical medicine, and medical activism throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries.  The Center’s archives and manuscripts include the personal and professional papers of prominent American physicians, Harvard faculty and biomedical researchers, the records of medical organizations and health care institutions, and the institutional records of Harvard Medical School (founded 1782), Harvard School of Dental Medicine (founded 1867), and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health (founded 1922).

Who We Are

Our librarians, archivists, museum specialists, and medical historians offer expertise in many subjects, including 19th & 20th century therapeutics, the history of clinical trials, anatomical teaching at Harvard, the history of American medical journals, and the history of the schools that form the Longwood Medical Area Campus: Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Our goal is to enable historical research and appreciation to foster a deeper understanding of the contemporary forces that shape healthcare and human health. Meet our staff.

Our Users

We serve the Longwood Medical Area community, Harvard University, Harvard Medical School’s affiliated hospitals, and the general public. We’re also a resource for those who are educating others. Our educational sessions provide an opportunity for educators to work with our staff to select collection materials that support specific educational objectives. We can help by serving up ideas and solutions on data, collections, and records challenges. We can also schedule educational sessions that focus on how to find history of medicine resources and provide bibliographic instruction.

Research Consultations & Appointments

A personalized research consultation can help you make the most of Center resources. We’ll strive to understand the work you’re doing so we can help you identify collections that support your area of inquiry. Our staff can also explain how to handle special collections and submit requests for access to restricted records if collections of interest contain them. 

We highly recommend that you schedule a consultation or research visit in advance by emailing us. To get the most out of your consultation, give us as much information as you can about your research project. Let us know your objectives and your time frame. The more we know in advance, the more thoroughly we can prepare materials and the more productive and efficient we can be with your time. Keep in mind that we have some resources that are not kept onsite and that those items may require additional lead time to secure them for you. 

Hours of Operation

We are open weekdays between 10am and 4pm in the Center’s Reading Room on L2 of the Countway Library. For directions and holiday calendar, visit Hours & Location.

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