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].