A fascinating glimpse into a rare collection
More than two dozen UMRA members gathered for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes visit to the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine on the U of M Twin Cities campus in early March. The visit was hosted by Curator Lois Hendrickson. She and her colleagues Emily Beck (pictured behind the table) and Anna Orskov assembled some 40 items from the library’s collection of 73,000-plus volumes of rare books, journals, and manuscripts that span more than 500 years, and 8,300 artifacts.
The event was the second in the new “Cabinets of Curiosity” series of visits to obscure collections on the U of M campus, organized by UMRA members Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, Jan Morlock, and Cathy Lee Gierke.
More events are being planned for the coming months.
Cabinets of Curiosity: Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine
Wed, Mar 8 2023, 1pm
516 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis 55455
Medical books and artifacts remind us of the amazing breakthroughs that benefit us in the 21st century. At the same time, many remind of us of some surprising continuities in health challenges like pandemics and endemic medical challenges. Documenting this history is the goal of the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine. Somewhat hidden in the lower level of the Phillips-Wangensteen Building in the Medical School complex, the library houses both tantalizing artifacts and rare volumes that date back more than half a millennium. Strange instruments for bloodletting, advertisements for quack medicines, rare copies of books by Vesalius and other anatomical pioneers, and illustrated accounts of Japanese water cures are just a sample of its more than 75,000 holdings.
Participation will be limited to 25. There is no fee for the outing, but advance registration is required. Registration has now closed. We hope you can attend a future event! Contact Cathy at [email protected] if you would like to be added to a wait list.
The second in our series of Cabinets of Curiosity on the UMN campus, the library was established by Owen Wangensteen, a renowned and successful surgeon who taught at the University in the middle of the 20th century. Aware of the importance of historical records and familiar with rare books collection in Europe and other major medical schools, he began to build a collection. He contributed part of his salary and encouraged grateful patients to support this university collection as it acquire books and manuscripts, as well as significant instruments. Generous and dedicated to science and medicine, he never patented his Wangensteen suction apparatus because he wanted it to be widely accessible at a modest cost, which is to the present day. It is another of the treasures on our campus.
Long-time curator and collector Lois Hendrickson has agreed to bring out significant examples of these rare materials for us to marvel about. This is a wonderful opportunity to see and view manuscripts and books primarily available primarily to scholars, some of come from well beyond our campus to use these materials for research purposes. This event is an opportunity to see them up close and hear about their provenance and currency today.
The plan is to visit from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on March 8 (while the campus is quiet during Spring Break). Parking is adjacent at the Washington Avenue Ramp, and there will be optional post-event conversation at the nearby Beacon Pub in the Graduate Hotel.
Questions? Contact Sally Gregory Kohlstedt at [email protected] or Jan Morlock at [email protected].
Upcoming Events
Silk Parachute, an anthology of essays and the 40th of 44 published books by author John McPhee, will be the topic of discussion when UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club meets via Zoom from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CDT on April 26.
We are fortunate to have UMRA member and former Minnesota Landscape Arboretum director Peter Moe to lead this approximately 3.7-mile hike at the Arboretum on Monday, May 6. Plan to have lunch together after the hike at the Eatery café inside the Oswald Visitor Center.
This session will continue the discussion begun in the May 8, 2023 session. See that article for details.
If you currently live in your own home or apartment, have you looked ahead to when you might want to consider a senior living option? Do you have any idea what those options might be? How much they cost? What they provide? UMRA’s May 14 workshop will provide an overview of the world of senior living and the basic information you need.
You’re invited to join the final Family History Interest Group meeting for 2023–24. This will be an opportunity to ask questions related to family history, share insights, talk about recent projects, and suggest topics for next year.
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by best-selling author Mary Roach when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.