Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- bulk 1940-1990 (Creation)
- 1543-2004 (Creation)
Extent
12.5 cubic feet (16 boxes)
Name of creator
Administrative history
The McGovern Historical Center (MHC) is the historical and special collections department for The TMC Library. The MHC maintains rare book and archival collections. Artificial collections have been created to provide access to materials without clear provenance in order to increase discoverability.
The earliest acquisition records for the books in the MHC are found in the Houston Academy of Medicine’s (HAM) Library Committee reports for 1935 and 1936. Thirty Fellows of the Academy raised $300 to purchase a collection of 275 French medical books published between 1730 and 1830. In 1949, HAM and Baylor College of Medicine combined their medical libraries. In anticipation of the completion of the Jesse H. Jones Building for the library, the MD Anderson Foundation purchased the rheumatology collection of a New York physician, Dr. Reginald Burbank. This purchase was followed by a gift from the Cora and Webb Mading Foundation of more than 1,000 titles on sanitation and communicable diseases. After the 1954 dedication of the library building, many physicians donated books or historical pamphlets to be stored in a very small, locked room on the second floor. Soon after his arrival in Houston, Dr. McGovern became one of the Library’s most staunch supporters, annually supplying funds for the purchase of rare books and travel support for the librarians to attend meetings of the American Association for the History of Medicine. In 1977, The Library formed a new department with new quarters to collect historical materials and to enhance the rare book collections. In 1982, Dr. McGovern donated his personal collection of rare and historical books to the Library. In 1996 the Library’s Board of Directors named the historical department in his honor.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The TMC Library Historical Photograph Collection contains photographs, negatives, slides, published prints, printed materials, postcards, framed images, audiovisual materials, and a plaque. The collection consists of roughly 5300 items, which includes individual 35mm slides, 35mm negatives, 120 format negatives, photographic prints, and other printed materials. This is an artificial collection of several types of images collected by or donated to the McGovern Historical Center (MHC) through the years. The bulk of the materials date from 1940 to 1990. The entire collection depicts images from 1543 to 2004. The earliest date is related to copy photographs of pages from the 1543 edition of the Fabrica by Andreas Vesalius. Other early dates are framed prints of well-known medical pioneers from the 17th, 18th, and 19th Centuries. Some dates describe the date of the copy photograph others describe the date of the original image. The collection illustrates the history of medicine around the world and more acutely the Texas Medical Center and Texas Medical Center Library. Majority of the materials have been removed from this collection and incorporated into the original collections or new collections based on the donor records.
The collection is arranged into three series: Cataloged Photographs, Subject Photographs, and Oversize and Audiovisual Materials. Subject Photographs are arranged in files according to subject and then in alphabetical order. Subject terms used are as follows (in order): Attractions Photos, Building Photos, Event Photos, Individual Photos, Institutions and Organizations, Medical Equipment and Apparatus, and Surgical, Anatomical, and Medical Photos.
The collection was created to consolidate various photographs and images collected by the archive staff. Many were cataloged and assigned identification numbers (P-### for prints or N-### for negatives). These photographs were originally donated. The donor information in the card catalog was used to either create new photograph collections or incorporate into existing collections. This collection is comprised of the remaining items. Information about donors, if known, is available in the inventory. Uncataloged photographs were organized into general subjects and kept in alphabetical order. Oversize materials maintain the same identification number system and subjects. To increase discoverability of all archival materials, the collection was expanded to include materials with no known provenance. This includes framed items stored in the Garment Artifacts and Framed (GAF) section as well as audiovisual materials.
System of arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series:
- Cataloged Photographs
- Subject Photographs
- Oversize and Audiovisual Materials
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Material is open for research.
Physical access
Materials are in good condition.
Technical access
Digital media need computer to access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to publish from this material must be facilitated through the repository, McGovern Historical Center.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Deed-4
The TMC Library created the collection of photographs. It is comprised of photographic materials from various donors as well as materials acquired by the library over the years. Name of donor and date of donation are noted in the inventory if known.
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Accruals may occur. Materials may be removed from the collection and assigned to new collections if more information about the provenance of items becomes known.
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
- William D. Seybold, MD papers
- Michael K. O'Heeron, MD papers
- Howard T. Barkley, MD papers
- John Roberts Phillips, MD and Rebecca Hall Phillips, RN papers
- Homer E. Prince, MD papers
- A. Louis Dippel, MD papers
- Lee D. Cady V.A. Photograph Collection
- San Jacinto Lung Association records
- ABCC Photograph Collection
- Texas Medical Center (TMC) Photograph Collection
- H. Grant Taylor, MD papers
- Memorial Hospital Photograph Collection
- Kenneth L. Burdon, MD papers
- Leta Denham, RN papers
- Hermann Hospital Archive records
- Judson L. Taylor, MD papers
- James Greenwood Sr. and Jr., MDs papers
- Doctors' Club records
- Medical Arts Publishing Foundation records
- Medical World News Photograph Collection
- Hilde Bruch, MD papers
- Texas Heart Institute Film Collection
Notes element
Specialized notes
- Citation: TMC Library Historical Photograph Collection; IC 098; John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center, Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library. Please cite the box and folder numbers where appropriate.
- Processing information: The images were previously cataloged and housed in acid-free envelopes. At that time, a photo identification number (P-### for prints or N-### for negatives) was assigned to each photograph or group of photographs. In 2018-2019 the collection was processed as a new collection and inventoried by Archives Assistant, Gagina Leonard. The items were kept in the acid-free envelopes from the previous processing. The descriptions provided on the catalog cards were written on the envelope and inventoried, noting the description, dimensions, and quantity. The descriptive information was encoded for each envelope along with the color and quantity of photographs ([in square brackets]) in each envelope. When available, the photographer, agency, studio, or department is credited within the item description. For items without catalog cards, descriptions were created from either annotations available on the item or summarizing visual content.
- Processing information: The collection was stored in filing cabinets until 2016 when they were rehoused in archival boxes. After materials were transferred to more appropriate collections, the remaining items were inventoried and rehoused in standard 0.5 cubic foot document boxes.
- Processing information: Materials were arranged in ascending order according to catalog number (P-###). Oversize materials were stored in appropriate oversize boxes and placed in the oversize (OV) section. Oversize materials were separated by size between various sizes of oversize boxes. Framed images were placed in the Garment, Artifacts, and Framed (GAF) section. These items were photographed, inventoried and assigned identification numbers (GAF-####). Separation sheets were placed within the main collection boxes to help locate specific items in OV and GAF storage locations.
- Processing information: Many items also have N-####, but P-### have been used as the main identification number.
- Processing information: Separation sheets are available at the end of Series 1 to provide location of items transferred to other collections.
- Processing information: Separation sheets for material moved within the collection have been interleaved by P-#### providing location information in oversize or other storage sections.
- Processing information: Two boxes of prints were added to the collection in October 2021.
Alternative identifier(s)
TARO
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sources used
Archivist's note
Finding aid prepared by Gagina Leonard and Sandra Yates, 2019.
Archivist's note
Finding aid encoded by Sandra Yates, 2020.
Archivist's note
Additions noted by Matt Richardson, October 2021.
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Baylor College of Medicine (Subject)
- Texas Medical Center (Subject)
- Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library (Subject)
- Hermann Hospital (Houston, Tex.) (Subject)
- Medical Arts Publishing Foundation (Subject)
- Houston (Tex.). Department of Health and Human Services (Subject)
- Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (Houston, Tex.) (Subject)
- University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Subject)
- Texas Children's Hospital (Subject)
- Texas Woman's University (Subject)
- University of Houston College of Pharmacy (Subject)
- University of Texas Medical School at Houston (Subject)
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Subject)
- St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (Houston, Tex.) (Subject)
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. School of Public Health (Subject)
- Harris County Medical Society (Tex.) (Subject)
- Veteran's Administration Hospital (Houston, Tex.) (Subject)
- University of Texas Speech and Hearing Institute (Subject)
Genre access points
- photographs
- photographs » negatives (photographs)
- printed materials (object genre)
- film (material by form) » 16mm (photographic film size)
- audiovisual materials
- plaques (flat objects)
- prints (visual works)
- copy prints
- aerial photographs
- paintings (visual works)
- newspapers
- contact sheets
- compact discs
- digital media
- photographs » slides (photographs)
- picture postcards