Highlights From the Warren Anatomical Museum
The collections inside this museum hold intriguing objects that tell the story of 19th century American medicine
- By Brian Wolly
- Smithsonian.com, January 01, 2010
(Warren Anatomical Museum)
Founded in 1847 from John Collins Warren's personal collection of anatomical preparations (and $5,000 of railroad stock), the Warren Anatomical Museum, a part of the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, explores the history and science of American medicine. It was founded, according to Dominic Hall, the museum's curator, for the “very specific reason to teach anatomy to incoming students.” Unlike gift programs that exist today, in which people agree to donate their bodies for study, “those mechanisms didn't exist in mid-19th century America, so human remains were very valuable,” says Hall. The Warren filled that gap.
Once gift programs began to develop in the mid-20th century, the museum no longer had the same utility and the medical school began the process of turning the focus toward the history of medicine, culminating with the final transfer of authority to the Center for the History of Medicine in 2000. In spite of this change, Hall insists that the museum is “still a tool for education and teaching, and discussing health and medicine.”
In the mid-19th century, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., the father of the famed Supreme Court Justice, taught at the school and even served as its dean. This 1862 anatomical preparation of six muscles radiating from the second cervical vertebra was indicative of how medicine was taught at the time, and is a classic example of the types of objects found at the Warren today.
Comments (7)
I think the most important/interesting piece at the museum is the skull of Phineus Gage and the tamping rod that was blow through it.
Posted by Shawn Winter on December 3,2012 | 05:22 PM
This 1862 anatomical preparation of six muscles radiating from the second cervical vertebra was indicative of how medicine was taught at the time, and is a classic example of the types of objects found at the Warren today.
Posted by Patricia on February 4,2010 | 03:15 PM
Very interesting. But I'm stuck:
What is the "anatomical preparation" in the first photo?
Posted by Beth Lynch on January 28,2010 | 09:56 PM
A couple decades back I arranged a tour for some friends, art teachers, and librarians. The museum was tiny even then but fascinating as was the curator, a former art major. Warren's skeleton was kept in a cabinet, but a few brooms had found their way there as well. Anyway, one of the guys FAINTED! That was the best. Good to know I maybe able to visit again.
Posted by Virginia Kropas on January 12,2010 | 09:43 PM
A simple google search would've answered your questions:
Warren Anatomical Museum
10 Shattuck St.
Boston, MA 02115
Exhibition Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM,
except Harvard University Holidays.
Phone: 617.432.6196 • Fax: 617.432.4737
Posted by Mark on January 12,2010 | 02:54 PM
Yes, indeed, I also wonder in what city the museum is located. Boston or Cambridge? Washington D.C.? La Paz, Bolivia? (;-)
Posted by D W SCOTT on January 10,2010 | 05:18 PM
ARTYICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF MUSEUM ADDRESS AND HOURS OPEN TO PUBLIC ACCOMPANIED IT SO ONE COULD DO THEIR OWN FOLLOW-UP
Posted by GARY MININSOHN on January 7,2010 | 02:02 PM