History of Medicine

Welcome to the History of Medicine Collection at the Ruth Lilly Medical Library!

The History of Medicine Collection is committed to supporting the research, learning, and educational success of Indiana University students, faculty, and community members by collecting, preserving, interpreting, and providing access to unique materials documenting the history of medicine; medical education, training, research, and practice; and health and disease treatment and prevention in the state of Indiana and beyond within the global context of the Western medical tradition.

The History of Medicine Collection includes, but is not limited to, the archival records and papers of Indiana University School of Medicine faculty and alumni, researchers, professional organizations, advocates, and practitioners in the medical and health care professions; a significant number of medical instruments and other artifacts; and rare and early print books, periodicals, and other publications on various subjects including anatomy and physiology, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, pathology, pharmacology, psychiatry, military medicine (especially during the U.S. Civil War), medical ethics, and public health.

The History of Medicine Collection is located on the third floor of the Ruth Lilly Medical Library, Room 307. After a generous gift in 2015, the newly remodeled room was named for Dr. Leo J. McCarthy, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and former Director of Transfusion Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The room is open for research by appointment only at this time. Research appointments and classes can be scheduled by emailing medlref@iu.edu.

For more information about the History of Medicine Collection, please visit our website: https://library.mednet.iu.edu/history-of-medicine/

Take a virtual 3-D tour of the Leo J. McCarthy, M.D. History of Medicine Room using Matterport.

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This work is by Brandon Pieczko and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.