Blog – Page 4

Cartophily & The Early World of Cigarettes

Staff Out of the stacks, Staff research December 7, 2020December 7, 2020Advertising, Digital image library, Philadelphia General Hospital, Tobacco, Trade cards

– by Josh Bicker, Visitor Services Floor Supervisor

The hobby of collecting trading cards has always been a popular pastime for many people. From trading cards of sports stars and pop stars, to collecting cards of characters from movies and popular TV shows, young and old have shown an interest in this hobby. The reason for collecting cards can vary. For some, it could just be an attractive piece of paper to look at, while for others it is a more serious form of collecting involving scrap books and getting appraisals for each card. Regardless of the reasons, collecting cards has been a pastime for many for a long time. Read more

Capon Springs

Staff #TravelTuesday December 1, 2020December 5, 2019Health resorts, Outdoor sports, Spring water

Back to West Virginia to visit Capon Springs! Henry Frye discovered the mineral springs of Hampshire County in the late 1760s, and by 1787, there was enough interest in the area that 20 acres of land was named as the town of Watson.

Once for Yes, Twice for No: Examining Spiritualism in a Historical Medical Context

Staff Out of the stacks, Staff research November 25, 2020December 4, 2020Mediums, Spiritualism

For some, Fall is a time for cozy sweaters, stepping on crunchy leaves, and enjoying all things pumpkin spice. For others, the autumnal season also marks a thinning of the veil between the mortal and spiritual planes. Holidays like All Souls Day allow the living to remember and commune with the spirits of the departed. This presents a unique opportunity to examine a few of Historical Medical Library’s materials on the topic of Spiritualism, the 19th century movement that asserted spirits could communicate directly with the living through special tools or mediums. This small smattering of resources on Spiritualism provides an interesting opportunity to examine matters of the soul and Spiritualism through the lens of science and medicine. Read more

Cauterets

Staff #TravelTuesday November 3, 2020December 5, 2019Spring water, Winter recreation

It is time to go abroad to the spa town and ski resort of Cauterets! Located in western France, the thermal springs of the area have attracted famous families, such as the Bonapartes and Victor Hugo. The springs were known well before that as a favorite of Queen Marguerite’s sister in the 15th century.

Not So Scary Skeletons: The Support System of the Human Body

Staff Out of the stacks, Staff research October 22, 2020October 22, 2020Anatomy, Fractures, Gunshot wounds, Skeletal trauma, Skeleton

– by Kristen Pinkerton, Library Assistant

For the month of October, the theme the Historical Medical Library has chosen to highlight is skeletons. Skeletons are commonly viewed as creepy or associated with death and horror, particularly around Halloween. As a trained osteologist, however, I view them as a beautiful structure that supports the human form. This selected theme was an exciting chance for me to explore the fascinating materials we house regarding the human skeleton. While searching through our catalog I came across multiple monographs that piqued my interest. Read more

Silurian Spring

Staff #TravelTuesday October 6, 2020December 5, 2019Health resorts, Spring water

Waukesha, located in Wisconsin, was once home to Silurian Spring, and was competition for the neighboring Bethesda Spring. The land was surveyed and purchased in 1868, and was named after the prehistoric sea that once covered the area. David Jackson, a postmaster, soon fell in love with the springs and built a log cabin on the land. In 1874, he began promoting the springs to visitors.

Berkeley Springs

Staff #TravelTuesday September 1, 2020December 5, 2019Health resorts, Hot springs

Berkeley Springs is located in West Virginia, and before European settlement was used by the native people of St. Lawrence Seaway, Canada. Later, settlers took to the springs because of its warm, healing properties as early as 1730.