Welcome to the Center

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 rare books, manuscript and archival collections, artifacts, and audiovisual materials attract a global audience of researchers.

Our mission is to enable the history of medicine and public health to inform healthcare, the health sciences, and the societies in which they are embedded.

The Center for the History of Medicine is open to everyone. 
Please email us to learn how you can access our collections or see scheduling your visit.

Remote reference services and virtual research consultations are available.
Please email us with your reference questions and consultation requests.

Follow us on Instagram @HarvardHistMed and X @HarvardHistMed.

Meet Our Staff

Upcoming Events and Classes

Browse upcoming events, classes, and tours taking place at the Center.

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Programs & Initiatives

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black and white photo of HSDM class of 1881

Archives for Diversity and Inclusion

Ensuring that the Center's collections reflect the diversity of the Harvard Medical, Dental, and Public Health communities by acquiring the teaching and professional records of underrepresented faculty and Longwood Medical Area researchers.

Brigham Hospital School of Nursing Homecoming, May 1941.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Archives

Preserving the history of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, by collecting and making accessible historic records from BWH and its parent hospitals.

Two people measure respiration using a spirometer in 1961.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Archives

Charting the evolution of one of the oldest and most influential schools of public health in the United States through its faculty collections and departmental records.

Research Services

Connect with Experts

Our Archives and Records Management, Acquisitions, Public Services, and Curatorial staff are ready to help you with your work.

Our Collections and How to Access Them
Headshot of Stephanie Krauss

Meet our Reference Archivist

Digital Resources

OnView

Our primary portal to digitized content and exhibits.

CURIOSity Digital Collections

Curated collections from across Harvard Library

Center Dataverse

 Access to research data in the Center's collections.

More About the Center

We're here to help you

Our Archives and Records Management, Acquisitions, Public Services, and Curatorial staff offer a variety of services for Harvard University, Harvard Medical School's affiliated hospitals, and the general public.

Our Services
A hub of activity for the history of medicine

The Center is one of the world's leading resources for the study of the history of health and medicine. Our rare books, manuscript and archival collections, and artifacts attract a global audience of researchers.

About the Center

News