From Special Collections & Institutional Archives:
This month I’ll highlight a scrapbook created in 1950. Most of the “objects” we house here in Special Collections are paper-based rather than the traditional objects you would find in museums or certain object-oriented archives.
This scrapbook was created in 1950 to commemorate the travels of two women who crisscrossed the Southeast, from North Carolina to South Carolina to Georgia. There are brochures in the scrapbook, as well as photographs, maps, and magazine cut-outs. The descriptions give an insight into the travel culture of America, particularly the American South, in the 1950s.
While most of our objects are not on display year-round, they are sometimes employed in special exhibitions, so keep your eyes open for the displays that are put up at Reese Library throughout the year!
-Maranda Christy, Special Collections Assistant
From Historical Collections & Archives (HCA):
On display in the Historical Collections and Archives room are several anatomical models. Two of the models are unique from the other models in that they are made from wood. The other anatomical models were made from plaster or plastic or other material. Both of these wooden anatomical models are enlarged versions of what they represent.
The Anatomical Model: Brain, Carved Wood appears to have been carved from one solid piece of wood as no joints or seams are visible. The model is in excellent condition and shows a transverse slice of the brain, and is painted light grey and crimson. The model is 6 inches in height; 12.5 inches in width; 16.5 inches in length; and weighs 15 pounds and 8 ounces. Carved into the wood on the bottom of the model is “H Lex Sc 1830”. Nothing more is known about this model, including its provenance.
The Embryology Model was made by Chester H. Heuser, PhD, date unknown. Dr. Heuser was a micro anatomist with the Department of Embryology at the Carnegie Institution of Washington from 1921-1950. After retiring from there, Heuser was appointed Professor of Microscopic Anatomy at MCG. Using photographs of the microscopic slides of embryos that he prepared, Heuser made embryology models. He used slices of wood at a larger scale of his microscopic slides. At the time of his death in 1965, Heuser was known as “one of the world’s two or three outstanding embryologists.” (Foundation and Alumni News, Medical College of Georgia, March 1965, page 14.) This model is 22 inches in height; 6.5 inches in width; 14.75 inches in length; and weighs 36 pounds.
More images of these two anatomical models may be seen by clicking on the above hyperlinks.
– Renée Sharrock, Curator
About the Heritage Unit: The University Libraries has a department devoted to the preservation and archival keeping of the campuses’ unique histories. The Historical Collections & Archives (HCA) is located on the 2nd floor of the Greenblatt Library on the Health Sciences campus. Special Collections & Institutional Archives is located on the 3rd floor of the Reese Library on the Summerville campus.
