Manager: Linda Lohr

Established: 1972

Location: Health Sciences Library, South Campus

Phone: (716) 829-3024

In brief: Established as a department within the Health Sciences Library in 1972 by then director C. K. Huang, the collection was renamed in 1986 to honor the late Robert L. Brown, former associate dean of the medical school, in recognition of his many years of support for the collection and the library as a whole. The Edgar McGuire Medical Instrument Collection includes a fascinating array of microscopes, dental and surgical instruments, and other artifacts that illustrate past medical and dental procedures. Also notable is the Bonnie and Vern Bullough History of Nursing Collection, which includes works by and about Florence Nightingale.

Highlights: The collection contains more than 12,000 volumes of 19th century books with particular strengths in surgery, gynecology-obstetrics, pharmacology, dentistry, psychiatry, and, more recently, oncology. There are about 500 volumes of pre-19th century books, the oldest of which dates to 1493.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Appointments are preferred.

http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/hsl/history/index.html

photography by Paul Francis