Becker Medical Library’s rare book collections are among its most spectacular assets. Consisting of more than 15,000 volumes that cover more than 500 years of medical history, they include some of the most significant works in the medical canon. But collections do not form in a vacuum; they are shaped by the interests and decisions of private collectors and institutional curators. This lecture examines the history of Becker’s rare book collections, from its 1912 beginnings to the present, in light of how special collections can serve as both repositories and gatekeepers for cultural heritage.

No registration is required. Join the lecture via the stream link at the time of the event.

Becker Medical Library’s rare book collections are among its most spectacular assets. Consisting of more than 15,000 volumes that cover more than 500 years of medical history, they include some of the most significant works in the medical canon. But collections do not form in a vacuum; they are shaped by the interests and decisions of private collectors and institutional curators. This lecture examines the history of Becker’s rare book collections, from its 1912 beginnings to the present, in light of how special collections can serve as both repositories and gatekeepers for cultural heritage.

No registration is required. Join the lecture via the stream link at the time of the event.