Health and medicine ephemera subject files, 1847-2012 (bulk 2005-2012)
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Arrangement: Alphabetical by subject.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: A wide variety of material relating to health and medicine as practiced in the Nashville area. Subjects include: hospitals, medicine and pharmacy, health and wellness, papers on the history of medicine, specific diseases and ailments, public health, mental illness, particular specialties of medical practice, and a variety of related subjects. Formats include: brochures, reports, statistics, advertisements, almanacs, manuscripts, journal articles, visitor guides to hospitals, and a variety of other materials. Many items date from the early 21st century, although a few pieces are from the 1800s.

A small quantity of material concerns hospitals in the Nashville area, mostly isolated items from 2005-2009. Subjects include: building expansions and dedications; patient guides; maps of the interior of hospitals; public and educational events; and other topics. Items relating to pharmaceutical and drug history are among the oldest materials in the collection, dating from 1860 to 1929, and include a hand-written prescription ordered by W.H. Mussie [?]; almanacs featuring articles on health and diseases, with medicinal advertisements, which were distributed by local pharmacists; and blank U.S. Internal Revenue order forms for opium, probably used at St. Thomas Hospital.

Other materials in the collection cover such diverse topics as health awareness and education; public health; mental health; sexual abuse; medical publications and professional papers; advertisements for individual doctors or clinics; and a variety of other topics. Quantity of materials ranges from a single item to several folders. Most folders contain less than five items, and often only a single item. Some items are photocopies.

Some individual facilities, organizations, or people include: VA-Women Veterans Comprehensive Healthcare Center; Miller Medical Group; Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center; Interfaith Dental Clinic; Amos Christie; Owen H. Wilson; Sam L. Clark; Alive Hospice; Baptist Hospital; General Hospital; Skyline Medical Center; Southern Hills Medical Center; Tennessee Christian; Vanderbilt Hospital; R. & O. Drug Co. (1929); Pendleton Drug Co. (1888); Cardui tonic; U.S. Internal Revenue (1914); Leon M. Lanier; St. Thomas Hospital (1914); Association of American Medical Colleges (1934); American Medical Association (1925); William D. Haggard

Specific diseases or conditions include: Cancer; menopause; rabies; breast health; mental illness; suicide; female complaints; sexual abuse

Cite as: [folder title or item description], Health and Medicine Ephemera Subject Files, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

Some items may be restricted by copyright law or donor restriction.

Intentionally assembled by staff of the Special Collections Division, beginning at an unknown date, probably in the late 1960s, and collected on an ongoing basis.

Related materials can be found in other Ephemera Subject Files such as Biography; Communities (especially for local government's role in health); Fairs, Festivals and Events; Organizations; Schools; Sports; and others. Information about Civil War-era hospitals, including those in Nashville, is to be found in Wars and Military Ephemera Subject Files.

In English

Finding aid available in repository;,folder level control.,https://assets.library.nashville.org/documents/finding-aids/Special_Collections_Division_Finding_Aid_Ephemera_HealthandMed.pdf.

Process;,2014;,Linda Barnickel.

Catalog;,2015;,Linda Barnickel.

Additional accruals are expected.