University Libraries Special Collections

Special Collections in the History of Medicine
and University Archives

Visit the homepage of the Medical History Society of New Jersey

The University Libraries medical history resources are located within Special Collections at the George F. Smith Library of the Health Sciences on the Newark Campus, but serve the entire University and state of New Jersey. Primary clientele are UMDNJ faculty, staff, and students. Service is also provided to researchers throughout the state and elsewhere, both nationally and internationally. Special Collections consists of the Barbara Manisty Peck History of Medicine Room, which serves as a resource center for biomedical history in general and the history of the health sciences in New Jersey in particular, and the Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD University Archives. The Bergen University Archives documents both the history of the University from its founding in 1954 as the Seton Hall College of Medicine & Dentistry, as well as New Jersey's medical heritage. Special Collections is the only collection in the state entirely devoted to providing resources in the history of medicine in New Jersey.

Resources include historical works as well as current materials including rare and current monographs, journals, manuscripts, archives, oral histories, videotapes, audiotapes, photographs, postcards, illustrations, vertical files, artwork, ephemera, and artifacts. The earliest book in the collection dates from 1517.

The core rare book collection -- the Morris H. Saffron, MD Collection of Books on Historical Medicine -- is representative of classic works in medical history – e.g. Galen, Hippocrates, Vesalius, Harvey & Osler, among others. The Academy of Medicine of New Jersey donated this core collection to the University in the 1970s when their library closed. The rare book collection was named in honor of Dr. Morris H. Saffron, who was instrumental in facilitating this gift. The rare book collection is particularly strong in the subject specialties of anatomy, surgery, neurology, obstetrics & gynecology, and herbals & botanic medicine. Book collections are cataloged and accessed through the University Libraries Catalog, and are primarily non-circulating. Exceptions are post-1930s imprints that are not obviously reference works (e.g. directories, dictionaries). New Jersey imprints never circulate nor do rare books, books in the "Classics in Medicine" facsimile series, oral history transcripts, and all non-book materials.

Non-book materials are accessed through Special Collections' website and partially, through the online catalog. Electronic links provide online description and access to the UMDNJ Archives, Faculty Collections, NJ Medical History Manuscripts, Miscellaneous Medical Manuscripts, Postcard Collection, and Oral Histories. Electronic finding aids developed for most collections are linked to the Web pages on an ongoing basis and also cataloged in the online system. Manual finding aids or box inventories are available for most primary source materials, as well as for photographic and ephemeral collections. Contact department staff for additional information.

The Barbara Manisty Peck History of Medicine Room includes the following resources: Morris H. Saffron, MD Collection of Books on Historical Medicine – rare books Aaron E. Parsonnet, MD Cardiology Collection New Jersey Medical History Collection - published monographs New Jersey Biographical and Subject Files Phrenology Collection – a special subject collection Illustration and Medical Cartoon Collections

The Stanley S. Bergen, Jr., MD University Archives contain the following resources: UMDNJ Archives - official & historical records of the University, including University publications Faculty Collections NJ Medical History Manuscripts Collections – non-official records or personal papers, primarily documenting a particular organization, subject or person in the state of New Jersey Miscellaneous Medical Manuscripts New Jersey AIDS Collection – a special subject collection Photograph Archives – University & New Jersey medical subjects and people, including New Jersey medical history postcards Oral Histories - UMDNJ history, "AIDS in New Jersey," medical book collecting, and “Medicine in the Great Depression in New Jersey” New Jersey biographical and subject files Medical Artifacts – primarily New Jersey related

	Researchers are advised to contact the department for further information since not all resources are cataloged on the online system. Non-UMDNJ affiliated researchers are advised to make an appointment before traveling to use the collection. The department is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm.
For reference service and information contact: Robert Vietrogoski Special Collections vietrora@umdnj.edu (973) 972-7830 FAX (973) 972-7474