Fran E. Kovach, MLIS, AHIP
Reference and Education Librarian
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Library

Five years ago, Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine Library was asked to participate in a project to document African American contributions in Medicine and Biomedical Research for the History of Medicine Resource Guide to Library and Archival Collections. The National Library of Medicine published this guide on the website March, 2005. The guide is a useful resource for scholars and researchers and can be found at the following URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/afroguide/.

The collection at SIU School of Medicine Library consists of monographs, videos and photography of the History of Blacks in Medicine. Some monographs range from African American alternative medicine and Black folk medicine to early collections. Included are such titles as Life of Dr. James Still (1812-1885) and A Woman Doctor’s Civil War: Esther Hill Hawks’ Diary (1833-1906). Two of the medical leaders represented in video are One Doctor: Daniel Hale Williams MD (1893), founder of the first interracial hospital; and Charles Drew: Determined to Succeed, founder of the modern blood bank.

The public may view the collection at the SIU School of Medicine Library. The collection is searchable through the ILLINET online catalog located on the SIU Medical Library website. The items are available for loan.

This photo, taken at the turn of the century, shows a group of black medical students dissecting a cadaver. The words carved on the wooden table say, “He lived For Others But Died For US.” Click on the thumbnail to see the full-size image online.

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