The Medical Heritage Center is the brainchild of librarian Barbara A. Van Brimmer. In 1992, she shared her vision for the Center with members of the Columbus Medical Association (then the Academy of Medicine of Columbus and Franklin County) History Committee. Many agreed that the activities of the OSU Health Sciences Center needed to focus on the medical history of Central Ohio. When the John A. Prior Health Sciences Library began renovating in 1995, plans included a design for the entire 5th floor to be designated as the Medical Heritage Center. The Columbus Medical Association provided funding to develop the areas for rare books, preparation and preservation space, offices, a reading room, and an archival storage space. Reed Fraley, OSU Hospitals, contributed additional funds to complete the large meeting room. Van Brimmer was appointed curator and in May 1997 the Medical Heritage Center opened.
From its establishment in May 1997 to today, the Center stands as a testament to a unique collaboration between the Columbus Medical Association and The Ohio State University Medical Center.
The Medical Heritage Center recognizes and celebrates historical health and medical personalities and events; collects, display and archives artifacts; provides an avenue or historical medical research; and supports medical history education. The Center also serves as the repository of data, artifacts, and historical information relating to health and medical education and the medical profession in central Ohio.
The Medical Heritage Center is the only scholarly facility in central Ohio concentrating solely on the accomplishments of the people, organizations and institutions at the forefront of the development of health care and medicine in the region. It is the only institution dedicated to researching and collection the region’s health and medical past and sharing the information through exhibits and scholarly publications for the educational benefit of scholars, students and the general public.
The Medical Heritage Center Records (approximately 30.5 linear feet) is a compilation of material that documents the history of the Center and its current and past activities.
Related collections in the Medical Heritage Center holdings are listed below:
This collection is arranged in eleven series:
Series I: Oversized (6 boxes) contains oversized posters and banners that were too large to fit in standard – size boxes. The items are arranged in two subseries:
Series II: Advisory Committee (1 box) contains meeting packets for the MHC Advisory Committee meetings as well as other information about the committee and its sub-committees. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Series III: Annual Reports (1 box) contains the annual reports of the MHC. This series is arranged chronologically.
Series IV: Collections (2 boxes) contains collection use forms and reference question forms that document what books are being used and what types of reference questions the staff of the MHC is asked. There is also information about artifact cataloging, archival projects and preservation. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Series V: Exhibitions (8 boxes) contains papers about past exhibitions at the MHC. Box 7 is about the Frankenstein Exhibition hosted by the MHC in 2003. There is material about committees, events, photographs, publications, and support materials as they relate to the Frankenstein Exhibit. Box 7 is arranged alphabetically. Box 8 contains paper files about MHC exhibits, including publicity materials, and is arranged chronologically. Boxes 9 through 9.5 contain mounted exhibit labels and are arranged in alphabetical order by exhibit title or topic.
Series VI: History (2 boxes) contains papers about the founding and construction of the MHC. There is also information about funding sources, services and staff. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Series VII: Lectures (1 box) contains documentation about the annual lectures held by the Medical Heritage Center. This series is arranged chronologically.
Series VIII: Media (2 boxes) contains disc media, photographs and a videotape that document lectures, exhibitions and other programs sponsored by the MHC. Photographs include images of the MHC’s founding curator, Barbara Van Brimmer. This series is organized by type of media and arranged chronologically.
Series IX: Publications (1 box) primarily contains Medical Heritage Center brochures, postcards and copies of the quarterly newsletter, House Call. There is also some information about "The Second Blessing: Columbus Medicine and Health, The Early Years" by Barbara Van Brimmer and Charles F. Wooley. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Series X: Friends of Nursing History Committee (1 box) contains information related to the activities of the MHC Friends of Nursing History Committee. This series is arranged alphabetically.
Series XI: Scholar-In-Residence (1 Box) is comprised of general information about the MHC’s Scholar-In-Residence program. There are also files relating to individual scholars and their publications. This series is arranged alphabetically.
The collection is open to the public and is available for viewing in the Medical Heritage Center. Materials do not circulate and must be used in the supervised reading room. Restrictions, including copyright, may exist and some materials may be too fragile to photocopy or digitize. The MHC charges for duplication services, which must be performed by staff.
[Identification of item], Medical Heritage Center Records, SPEC.200805.MHC, Medical Heritage Center, Health Sciences Library, The Ohio State University.