Voices in Humanism

Fiery Sunset

Incandescent blanket
blazing warmth and peace
over bubbling effervescence
once thundering waves
roaring breeze
crashing fronds
now calm whisps
happy palms
waving to flames above
dancing between warm breaths
like a phoenix from ashes
the fiery sunset will rise again.

Catherine A. Fabian
OSU College of Medicine Class of 2022

For the first time since our founding in 1997, the Medical Heritage Center has professional archival quality exhibit cases!

What makes an exhibit case archival quality you may be wondering? The answer lies in the materials used in the construction. The top of our cases is an acrylic vitrine with a inert cloth deck that allows minimal air exchange from the outside to the inside of the case (ie. a sealed environment).

The current exhibit on display through June is artifacts about central Ohio nursing and the Breathing Association. Stop by Prior Hall (376 West 10th Ave), 5th floor to view.

A finding aid is a guide to an archival collection. One could think of it like the table of contents for a book. It contains all of the content needed by a researcher to know what they will find in the collection.

The elements, or sections, of a finding aid at the Medical Heritage Center include Access, Citation, Processing Notes, Property Rights, Provenance, Series Listing, Related Collections (if applicable), Historical Sketch, Scope and Content Note, Series Descriptions, and Container Listing.

Access lists any restrictions, such as copyright, on the collection.

Citation is the preferred citation to use when citing materials from the collection.

Processing Notes is the information about who processed the collection and when they did so.

Property Rights lists who owns the collection.

Provenance explains from who and when the collection was acquired.

Series Listing is the listing of the series in the collection. This only applies to larger collections as small collections do not have series.

Related Collections lists what other collections within the MHC relate to this one. This is not always applicable and when it is not, it is not included in a finding aid.

Historical Sketch is biographical information about the person or organization the collection is about.

Scope and Content Note is an overview summary of the collection.

Series Descriptions are a listing and summary of what is found within each series.

Container Listing is the listing of the box, file or item, description and date of what is contained within the collection.

To see all of the Medical Heritage Center finding aids, click here.

Convalesce (v.): to recover health and strength gradually after sickness or weakness. The first known use of the term was in the 15th century.

While sorting through an archival collection last week, while a cold was beginning to establish its hold within me, I came across the following passage: “Unfortunately this was complicated and interrupted by an atypical pneumonia and nephritis. I came home to my sisters to convalesce.”

As my cold developed and fully grew within me over the weekend, I found myself thinking more about the term convalesce and why it has fallen out of favor when it so perfectly captures the more frequently used term recovery. I, for one, have used it multiple times over the past several days and plan to add it to my general vocabulary for future use.

To all of you suffering from winter illnesses, I wish you a speedy convalescence.

Source: TopRNtoBSN.com

Starting today, January 7^th, the MHC is changing our open reading room hours to better accommodate our researchers. The new hours are Monday-Thursday 1-4pm and by appointment.

The Medical Heritage Center reading room hours are affected due to the upcoming holidays. Please see below:

December 24 – 25: closed for Holiday
December 26-31: please contact Carol Powell for assistance
January 1: closed for Holiday
January 2 – 4: by appointment