Newsletter of Volume II, 1\Tumber 2
The Association of Librarians in the History of the Health Sciences October; 1978
Copyright 1978 by the ..A.Bsociation
Recent literature on preservation compiled by loci A. Bowman
A review of recent literature shows that Darling, Pa.."llela W. "Preservation: a National preservation is no longer a problem tackled by Plan at Last?" Libzary Journal, 15 Februazy 1977, rare book cuzators and arehivists alone; zather it pp. 447-49. is a national concern shared by librarians in gen ezal. The following is a select list of publications Ms. Darting summarizes basic issues cliscussed which would be of interest to libzarians involved· in at the Planning Conference for a National Preser historical collections. vation Program which took place on December 16- 17, 1976, at the Libzary of Congress. As the re Banks, Paul H. "The Conservation of Maps and sult of this conference, a National Preservation Atlases." In 1976 AB Bookman's Yearbook. Clif Progzam Office was established under auspices of ton, N.J.: AB Bookman Publications, Inc., 1976, the LC. pp. 53-62. . Libzary of Cong:-ess. Office of the Assistant Direc The conservator of the Newbeny Libzary dis tor for Preservation. Preservation Leaflets. Wash cusses the control of the environment, protective ington, D.C., 1975- storage, and the treatment (deacidification and en capsulation) of maps and atlases. The series of leaflets is intended for librarians and archivists who need basic L.'lfonnation on the "Books in Peril.'' Library Journal, 15 November preservation of collections. So far, five leaflets 1976, pp.2342 -51. (available without charge) have been iss~ed: 1. Selected References in the Literature of Con The special section on conservation, which be servation, February 1975 (being revised) gins with a passionate plea, "Call to Action," by 2. Environmental Protection of Books and Re Pamela W. Darting, is devoted to the genezal prob lated Materials, Februazy 1975 lem of millions of books deteriozating in American 3. Preserving Leather Bookbindings, February libzaries. It includes "A Local Preservation Pro 1975 g.ram: Where to Start," by Pamela W. Darting; 4. Martdng Manuscripts, February 1977 "Coopezative Approaches to Conservation," by Paul 5. Preserving Newspaper.:; and Newspaper-Type N. Banks; and "The Proposed National Preservation Materials, October 1977 Program of the Library of Congress, •t by Frazer G. Leaflets covering various other topics are in Poole. prepazation.
Cunha, George M. " Preservation of Lib.rru:y Mater Poole, Fzazer G. "Current Lamination Policies of ials." In the ALA Yearbook 1977. Chicago, Amer the Library of Cong-ress.'' The American ..tu-chivist ican Library Association, 1977, pp.245-48. 39(2): 157-59, 1976. One of the leading conservators summarizes the The Assistant Director for Preservation at the year's activities in the field of preservation. LC explains the results of investigations on lamina Stressing the increasing awareness by librarians of tion, and recommends encapsulation for documents their role in preserving libra.ry materials, Mr. Cun considered in the "archival preservation" category. ha reviews conferences and tzaining progzams, de acidiflcation experiments, and signifi~a. nt publica Poole, Frazer G. "Some Aspects of the Conserva tions on the subj ect of conservation. tion Problem in Archives," The American Archivist The Watermark, Volume II, No. 2, October, 1978 page two
4 0(2): 163-171, 1977. entire volume is a "must" for those invr;lved in In this useful summary of problems in conser paper conservation.- vation, Mr. Poole reviews improvements and ... inilovations, and makes recommendations for Wingate, Robert B. "' Kitc.hen ChemistrJ' in the acnon. He argues that the preservation of col Care of Books.'' AB Book..llan' s Weekly, 6 June l ections is a shared concern, problems and so 1977, pp. 3506-07,- lu tions varying only in degTee. Dr. Wingate, Chief of Rare Books and Special Collections of the State Library of Pennsylvania, Rath, Frederick L. and 0' Connell, Merrilyn R~ outlines simple Lechnique s of preservation which eds. A Bibliography on Historical Organization can be applied safely by librarians who are no t PractiCes. Vol. 2: Care and Conservation of trained in conservation. Topics cover deacidifying Collections, compiled by Rosemary S. Reese. paper, repairing tom pages and bindings, treating Nashville: American Association for State and old leather bindings, and cellulose tape removal. Local History, 1977. Compiled to assist administrators, curators, specialists in conservation as well as non-spec ialists. the bibliography covers publications deal ing with pnnciples of conservation, training of conservators, a.nd care of books, photographs, paintings, and other artifacts. Chapter 6 is de Books 8.: articles of note ... voted to the conservation of library materials. Smithsonian Institution. Office of Museum Pro CHAFF, SANDRA L., Ruth Hain1bach, Carol grams. Conservation Information for Museums, Fenichel, Nina B. Woodside, eds. Women in Medi A;.! Jiovisual Loan Program, 1 9'd -78. Wasrung ..:ine: A Bibliography of the Literature on \Vomen to n, D.C., 1977. P'i1Ysicians. Metuchen, N.J:: Scarecrow Pr~ Prepared by the staff of the Smithsonian In 1977. 113a pp., index. $35.00. LC 77-24914. .; titution, the slide and videotape presentation.s ISBN 0-1808-1056-5 . deal mostly with museum conservation. How Women in Medicine provides a greatly m~ecl ed t>ver , a number of programs are of interest to reference to the published literature about women l ibrarians wo rking with historical collections. physicians from the 18th century through 1975. Sb de and videotape presentations, which a~ de This exceptional volume is an annotated bibliography signed either to create awarenes.c; of basic prin of 4, 000 citations which conprehensively cover the ciples or to illustrate techniques, can be bor published literature about women physicians in all rowed or purchased from the Smithsonian In parts of the world. Arranged in fourteen broad sub s titUtion. ject classificiations, the citations include books, Weinstein, Robert A. and Booth, Larry. Collec medical and nonmedical journal articles, alumnae tion, Use, and Care of Historical Photogra~ and alumni magazine articles, and doctorat theses. Nashville: American Association for State and In add.i.tion to the subject divisions, enhi.es are di Local His tory, 1977. vided geographically. Complete bibliographic cita tions are provided, along with carefully written anno An extremely important guide on historical tations which are informative and allcw the research photographs, the book deals with various as er to detem1ine the most useful items. As an addi pects of administering a photographic collec tional aid, the volume is indexed by personal name, tion - acquisition, arrangement, preservation author and subject. and restoration. It also contains a useful bibli ography index and information on materials and The authors 0f this impressive work include resources. a medical librarian, an editor with a major publish ing company, an information science specialist, Williams, John C., ed. Presetvation of Paper and a physician. The project was developed at the and Textiles of Historic and Artistk 7alue. Ad Florence A. Moore Library of Medicine, Medical vances in Chemistry Series, no. 164. Washing College of Pennsylvania. ton, D. C. : American Chemical Society, 1977. Women m Medicine is an indispensable rE: The book is the result of a symposium spon sr;arGh tool which will be of interest to anyone ex sored by the American Chemical SocieLy, and ploring women's heritage in genE:ral, as well as to the first section includes 11 papers on thE: care those interested in th€ history of women in and preservation of books and manuscripts. OLIJ. medicine. er sections relat~ to the care of textiles and estimation of pennanence. A number of ar Virginia E. Allen ticles deal with d~acidification, d1ying and fumi gation of watt!r-damaged library materials. The The Watermark, Volume II, No. 2, October, 1978 page three
At the Washington University School of Medi cin~ Library several methods of insurance are used. The general run of the collection is insured on an average- value basis, while the rare collections are Discussion on Valuation insured on an exact-value basis. For the latter we have used professional evaluation finns -rare book dealers or art history companies who do evalu WHAT IS YOUR COLLECTION WORTH? ation - and we have attached a copy of these evaluations to our insurance policies. The cost of by Estelle Brodma~ this service (usually l 1/ 2% of the total value) is All librarians with any sense of responsibil normally borne by the library, if it wishes the col ity must worry about what would happen to their lection. collections in case of theft, fire water damaae Such a system is fine when one receives a acts of God or of rioting people: The first thi~g new and large collection; it may be used, also, such librarians do is to try to guard as much as when an individual volume is purchased and added possible against any of the above happening; as a to the collection. It becomes less helpful when a result, fire extinguishers are sprinkled around the donor gives one or a few items, which hardly premises (no pun intended); entrances and ac warrant the use of specialists to evaluate them, cesses to the collection are controlled in various but which need to have a value set on them both ways; and air conditioning and humidity controls fqr insurance and for the income-tax deductioR of are routinely installed; while especially valuable the donor. Here this Library tries to determine collections are protected by specially filtered what the same or a similar edition of the volume lighting and security systems which alert guards brought at a sale in the recent past. Sometimes and police when no staff are in the premises. this is not possible, and an arbitrary value has to In spite of all this, however, catastrophes be assigned. Of course the Library does not eval do occur. and most libraries tend to have some uate anything likely to fall into the category of the fom! of insurance to reimburse the institution at Internal Revenue Service's ceiling for recipient ap such times. (Occasionally a governmental or praisal. large university may find that its parent body The most complicated problem, however, is will decide to act as co-insuror; this is becom how to cope with the increases in value due to ing more common as insurance rates go up.) The inflation - a problem which libraries share with usual library insurance follows . the A. L.A. guide homeowners and businesses, of course. In this lines on the subject, and usually includes fire Library we have merely added the increase in the and theft lcsses, if nothing else. 1\vo methods cost of living to our gross valuation each time we of accounting for the value of the collection are renew our insurance policy, hoping that this will used: one assigns an average value to each vol take care of the problem. This is a pragmatic ap ume in the collection. Here the amount the libr proach; if other libraries know of a better one, ary will be reimbursed for losses is the sum of we would like to learn of it. the number of books lost, burned, or destroyed Luckily so far we have never had to claim umes the average value per book. The shelf-list our insurance; deo volente, we will contint:e to is the proof of the holdings of the library and is be so lucky. normally deposited (in microfilm or microfiche form) with the insurance company or some out side-the-library depository. Naturally this system PRICING OF OLD MEDICAL BOOKS is invoked only when a large amount of the collec by G. S. T. Cavanagh tion is damaged; to claim recompense for a single or a few books is not worth the time and eff01t The general impression that the prices of old required. medical books have been rising is of course correcL A second method is to list each item in On the surface it might seem that some rough for the collection and to attach a value to each one. mula could be arrived at whereby insurance values, This method is employed most frequently with for example, could be updated across the board rare material and especially with collections of from time to time. Several factors complicate the artifacts and art object, such as coins, stamps, scene to the point where such a formula is not or statues. The loss of any one item can then practicable. be reimbursed easily and comp::tratively speedily. First and most cbvious, over any prolonged The problem here. of course, is to obtain the period val'.1es do not rise with any degree of evaluation of each item. The Watermark, Volume II, No.2, October, 1978 page four uniformity. Comparison of prices in the 1930's of Physicians of Philadelphia, to undertake grad with those in the 70's will reveal some that have uate study at the Unive:rnity of Pennsylvania. remained static, or even declined, as well as She is replaced by Christine Ruggere, formerly othe:rn which have increased by multiples of ten As sistant to the -'Curator, New York Academy or even fifty times. Radical increases are usu of Medicine. ally explainable by changes in fashion such as the New Member, ALHHS: Ms. Barbara Wil growth of the Osler cult, increased attention to liams, recently appointed Archivist and History the history of the neurosciences or, more generally, of Medicine Librarian. Hahnemann Medical Coll w the Pnnting-and-the-mind-of-man syndrome -,vhich requires that books be recognized not for ege and Hospital, 245 N. 15th Street, Philadel phia Pa., 19102, brings to that new post some autho:rnhip, style or beauty but for their impact eighteen yeare ' experience at Hahnemann. We on "our way of life." are glad to welcome her to AI:.HHS . A second factor tending to _make life short and judgment difficult is the astonishing :range at which the same book can be found offered for sale within a matter of weeks or months. Con Directory of libraries in the dition alone cannot account for variations of one thousand per cent in prices asked by two knowled geable bookselle:rn, yet both prices go on record and history of the health sciences ... have their effect on trends. Finally, in some cases there is the appear ance of facto:rn extraneous to the original pu.rpose Selected entries for which a book was acquired. The clearest cur rent example is the sudden, recent interest in the ARIZONA. UNIVERSITY. ARIZONA HEALTH development of photography which has led to some SCIENCES CENTER LIBRARY. Founded 1967 books of minor importance in medicine taking on 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, much greater value as landmarks in photography. 85724. 602-626-6121 TWX: 910-952-1238 The moral is simply that appraising books is Hours: Library open 24 hours; History Room a matter of individual judgment, and that librar ~ Mon. -Fri., except by prior arrangement. ians are rarely in a position to acquire the right Librarian: T. D. Higdon. kind of experience to make such a judgment in the Services to the general public: Not open except light of changing conditions. There really is no by letterof1ntroductionoradequate identificatioa; substitute for the opinion of someone who sets photocopy ( 1 Oy page, $1 minimum; 5y page on prices daily and who makes a profit or a loss ac premises); interl.ibr.uy loan (journals by photo cording to their validity. copy; books by ALA code; no early material.) No borrowing. General collection: Serves teaching hospital and Note: The Editor is in hopes that more contri the Colleges of Medicine, Nu:rning, and Phanmicy. butions will be submitted on this important sub- 100, 000 volumes; 2, 900 current subscriptions • .l ect. Comments, formal and informal, are so lie Materials in the history of the health sciences: ited. Collectionbegun in 1969with trnnsfer from Univ e:rnity Library of Hugh H. Smith collection (180 titles in general medical history, public health, and tropical disease, 17th to 20th centuries). 400 titles in Medical History Room. Non-print News & announcements ... and artifacts not yet organized. Catalogues, History of Medicine Librnrian. 16 leaves. No longer available. Ellen G. Gartrell has resigned as Curator Holdings reported to Pacific Southwest Re of the Historical Collections, Library, College gional Medical Library (UCLA ) Region XI. The Watermark, Volume II, No. 2. October, 1978 page five
KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. General collection : Papers and records pertain MANUSCRIPT DEPARTMEI-;'T. ing to Nebraska history. 120 West Tenth Street, Topeka, Kansas Materials in the history of the health sciences: 66612 Fbunded 1875 -ManuscriPts-.-ar chives,-etc. : --organizations: 913-296-3251 Omaha-Douglas County Medical Society, scrap Hours : 8 - 5 Mon.-Fri. books, 1860-1956; 2 vols. Nebraska State Med cura:for: Jack W. Traylor. Assistant ical Associatlo11, records, 1965 -1969; 2, 000 Curator: Patricia A. Michaelis. items. Nebraska Society of Radiological Tech Services to the general public: Limited nologists, records, 1930-1976, 8,400 items. reference; photocopying~y standard Nebraska State Medical Association, records, sized page); no borrowing; interlibrary 1868-1959; 5C items. loan of some microfilm. Physicians, etc.: Charles Harrison Arnold, General collectfon: Material relating to the 1888-1966, scrapbooks and papers; 1,000 items. history of Kansas and the Great Plains. George W. Covey, 1889-1966, papers, 1910- Materials in tre history of the health scien 1944; 200 items. Harry E. Flansburg, 1885- ces: PhysTciails, etc.: John R. Brinkley, , papers, 1918-1974, 13 items. R ay papers, ca.1925-1976; 4 boxes, 7 reels of Orvin Hummel, 1880- , papers, 1900-1938, microfilm. George Washington Brown, let 500 items. Homer L. Kindred, 1866- , ters, 1900-1914; 1 box. Gilbert Dary, ac account books, 1897-1916, 1 box. Jarr,es Wes count books & case records, 1931-1936; 1 ley McKibbin, 1852-1921, papers, 1875-1922; box. Andrew Hinsdale Fabrique, birth reg 400 items. Laur:=ston Alphonso Merriam, 1843- ister, 1871-1876, & visiting list, on film. , papers; 13 items. John Marshall Neely, Jo.lm E. Love,- records, 1888-1933; 2 boxes. 1836-1'897, diary, 1864. Hiram Wilmett Orr, Samuel Schwaup, copy of obstetrical rec 1877-1956, papers, journals; 2,000 items. ords, 1906-1941; 36 pp. Horace G. Slavens, Joseph Armitage Paxson, 1842-1888, diary, daily records, 1880-1912; 7 vols.; accounts, 1869-1870 1 reel microiilm. George E. Pen 1874-1912; 7 vols.; returns of births, 1885- nington, 1S75-1960, papers, 25 items. William 1888; misc., 2 vols. C. L. and Pauline V. Rice, record of patient accounts, 1854-1868. Stocks, metiical and financial records, 1902- Samuel F . Sanders, 1854-1926, papers and rec 1943, 8 boxes. John A. Read, records, 1867- ords· 600 items. H. G. Smith, patients' reg 1918; 34 vol.s . Annie B. Sweet, collector, iste;, evidently from a Civil War hospital prescriptions, 1870's; 23 items. James (Union), 1862; 1 vol. Mel.;-ille W. Stone, Thompson, diaries, 1873-1874; microfilm. 1837- , papers; 20 items. Richard Jerome ::::>ruggists, etc. : J. W. Cookson, prescrip Tanner, 1869-1943, correspondence and papers; tion ree:ister 1901 -1902 . Gavitt Medical Co., 4, 000 items. John M. Watem1an, 1833-1896, Topeka: pap'ers, 1884-1921; 1 box. Linn diary, papers; 6 items. Charles Henry Wilson, and Jenner, ledger, 1870's; 1 vol. Adolf 1835-1890, papers, 1, 000 items. Hudson Josiah Lange, prescription book, n. d. Isaiah Winnett, 1846-1918, papers; 1 box. Moore. prescription book, 1857-1860; 1 vol. Catalogues, etc.: Microfilm collection of local Howard M. Sale, prescription register, 1874- newspapers,eatalogue, 1977, available for pur 1878; medical formulae; 2 vols. B. W. chase. Woodward and Co., records of prescriptions. 1874-1878, 1 vol. Museum materials: Some physicians' and YALE UNIVERSITY. YALE MEDICAL LIBRARY e dentists' instruments. Reconstruction of HISTORICAL LIBRARY. Fbunded 1941 dentist's office ca. 1890, and doctor's of 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Conn., 06510 fice. ca. 1900. , 203-436-2566 TWX: 710-465-1145 Cataiogues, etc.: Guide to major manuscript Hours: 8:45-4:45 Mon.-Fri. collections available. MediCal Librarian: Betty Feeney. Historical Librarian: Fenmr. Gyorgyey. Assistant Histor NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. ical Librarian: Thomas Falco. H~storical 1500 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68508. COnsultant: Madeline Stanton. Assistants: 4 02 -4 32 -2 79 3 Founded lS '7 4 1 full -time; 2 part-time. Hours: 8 -5 Mon.-Sat.; 1:30-5 Sun. Services restricted to members of the univer State Archivist: James Potter. sity, the health professions, scholars and ser:\Tces to the general public: Rererence; pho students of the history of medicine and tocopy ( 10 r; page, 30 <;- from microfilm ); no allied fields. Photocopy (charged a..t 5 ~ microfilming, no borrowing, no interlibrary loan. The Watermark, Volume II, No. 2, October, 1978 page six
page; m ~nimum $3 .50.); microiilm: int c:r histories, 2, 500 vols. Biographies, approx. 6, 500 libra.ry loan, at discretion of librarian. vols. Collected biographies, 750 vols. Bibliog _; en.::ral collection: 413,000 volumes. raphies: G. MilleZ:: s Checklist II, complete. Cur Viat'eiials in the histo.ry of the health sciences: rent journals in the histo.ry of medicine: 4 6. Printedmaterials : IncuJJabula, 333 vols. Museum materials: 8 6 oil paintings by Lam Qua Classics (works of authors born before 1475) : of patients of Peter Par':eer, 1804-1888. in C'lnton, 3, 470. 16th centu.ry (works of authors born be China. Clements C. F.ry Collection of Prints and fore 1575): 3,000. 17th centu.ry (works of au Drawings, about l, 200 items. Currier and Ives thom born before 1S'i5 ): 4, 600. 18th centu.ry engravings of children, 65 items. Warren S. Lowen ( 'VO IY-5 01 authors born before 1775): 9, GOO. haupt Collection of 3, 000 foreign and American book 19th (;~nturv (works printed before 1901; au plates· of physicians. Lithographs and photographs of than> born -after 1774) : 19, 500. ~reign med physicians, about 2, 000. Motion-picture films: ical theses, 1870-1954: 100,000.- "Har