What is the primary function and location of the Wellcome Library?

The Wellcome Library is a free library and museum situated in central London, England. It serves as a significant research collection, particularly focused on the history and understanding of medicine.

Who was the original founder of the collection that became the Wellcome Library?

The Wellcome Library was developed from the extensive collection amassed by Sir Henry Wellcome, who lived from 1853 to 1936. His considerable personal wealth enabled him to build one of the most ambitious collections of the 20th century.

Which organization is responsible for the Wellcome Library's collection and funding since Henry Wellcome's death?

Since Sir Henry Wellcome's passing in 1936, the Wellcome Trust has been tasked with the responsibility of maintaining the Library's collection and providing funding for its new acquisitions. The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation dedicated to improving health.

When was the Wellcome Library officially established?

The Wellcome Library was established in 1949, formalizing the collection into a public institution.

Who was the architect responsible for the Wellcome Library building?

The architect associated with the Wellcome Library is Septimus Warwick.

What types of items are collected by the Wellcome Library?

The Wellcome Library collects a wide array of materials, including books, journals, archives, manuscripts, sound and music recordings, films, videos, databases, ephemera, prints, drawings, paintings, and photographs. This diverse collection reflects its broad focus on medicine and related fields.

What is the approximate size of the Wellcome Library's collection?

The Wellcome Library's collection comprises approximately 2.5 million items, making it a vast resource for researchers and the public.

When did Henry Wellcome begin to seriously collect books, and how did he acquire them?

Henry Wellcome began seriously collecting books in the late 1890s. He utilized a network of agents and dealers and also traveled globally to gather materials, demonstrating his dedicated approach to building his collection.

What was Henry Wellcome's first significant acquisition in the book market?

Henry Wellcome's first major entry into the book market occurred at the 1898 auction of William Morris's library, where he was the largest single buyer, acquiring about a third of the lots available.

What characteristic makes the Wellcome Library's collection particularly strong, regarding its international scope?

The library's strength lies in its truly international interests and the broad coverage of languages and traditions represented in its collections, reflecting Henry Wellcome's global approach to collecting.

What was the primary duty of the Wellcome Trust after Henry Wellcome's death?

After Henry Wellcome's death, his estate and collection were bequeathed to trustees who formed the Wellcome Trust. Their main duty was to use the income generated by the trust to support ongoing biomedical research, alongside fostering the study of medical history through the collections.

What significant addition was made to the library's collection during the 1980s?

A notable addition to the library's collection during the 1980s was the purchase of manuscripts and approximately 10,000 printed books from the Medical Society of London Library.

What were some of the formal and informal names used for the Wellcome Library throughout the 20th century?

Over the 20th century, the Wellcome Library was known by several names, including 'The Wellcome Reference Library' (around 1930), 'The Wellcome Research Library' (until 1941), 'Wellcome Historical Medical Museum and Library' (until 1968), 'The Wellcome Historical Medical Research Library' (late 1960s and early 1970s), 'Wellcome Institute of (later 'for') the History of Medicine [Library]', 'Wellcome Institute Library' (1980s), and 'Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine' (early 2000s). Informally, many refer to it as 'The Wellcome Library, London'.

What is the current name and affiliation of the library as of 2007 and 2019?

Since 2007, the library has been known as 'Wellcome Collection: The Library'. As of 2019, it is part of Wellcome Collection and aims to promote both the history and understanding of medicine, reflecting a broader remit than just medical history.

What is the scope and size of the History of Medicine collection?

The History of Medicine collection includes over 80,000 volumes of books, journals, and other print and electronic materials. These resources cover the history of all aspects of medical science and practice, as well as allied scientific disciplines, social sciences, and humanities, published from 1850 to the present day in many languages.

What types of materials are found in the Medical Collection?

The Medical Collection contains printed works of medical and scientific literature from the 15th century to the present, including rare books, anatomical atlases, pharmacopoeias, and about 20,000 items of medical ephemera. It also includes electronic resources on popular science, consumer health, biomedical science policy, research ethics, science education, and public engagement with science.

Describe the contents and unique materials of the Asian collections.

The Asian collections consist of 12,000 manuscripts and 4,000 printed books in 43 different languages. These items are written on various materials such as paper, palm leaf, silk, ivory, metal, bone, bamboo, and tree bark, showcasing the diversity of Asian cultural and medical traditions.

Which is the largest manuscript collection within the Wellcome Library's Asian holdings?

The largest manuscript collection within the library's Asian holdings is the Indic collection, which includes one of the largest Sanskrit collections outside India, comprising approximately 6,500 items.

What kind of European records are included in the Archives and Manuscripts collection?

The Archives and Manuscripts collection features many unpublished European records, spanning from antiquity to the 20th century, with materials in 25 different languages. These include papers of prominent figures in medical science and related fields.

Name some eminent figures and organizations whose archives are held by the Wellcome Library.

The archives include papers of eminent figures such as Francis Crick and Melanie Klein. Records of numerous organizations are also held, including Action on Smoking and Health, the British Psychological Society, the Family Planning Association, the Neonatal Society, and The Physiological Society.

What is the approximate size and scope of the Rare Book collection?

The Rare Book collection contains approximately 60,000 books published before 1851. This includes about 600 incunabula (books printed before 1501) and around 5,000 books from the 16th century, covering all aspects of medical science and practice, as well as allied subjects.

What does the Paintings, Prints, and Drawings collection encompass in terms of quantity, date, and geography?

This collection comprises over 100,000 prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, and other media. It spans from the 14th century to the present day and covers a vast geographical range, from Japan and China in the east, through Tibet and India, to Turkey, Europe, and the Americas, with smaller collections from Africa and Australasia.

What is the underlying philosophy guiding the content of the visual arts collection?

In line with Henry Wellcome's philosophy, the works in the visual arts collection illustrate the historical and cultural contexts of medicine, in addition to showcasing internal developments in medical techniques and practices.

How many items are in the Moving Image and Sound collections, and what topics do they cover?

The Moving Image and Sound collections contain over 4,000 films and videos, and 1,500 audio tapes, both broadcast and non-broadcast. They cover diverse aspects of medicine, including social and clinical areas of science, historical and current topics, and physical and psychological aspects of health and surgery.

Where can some of the Wellcome Library's moving image and sound titles be accessed?

Some of the titles from the Wellcome Library's moving image and sound collections are available through a dedicated YouTube channel.

What was Wellcome Images, and what significant change occurred in January 2014?

Wellcome Images was a selection of images from the Wellcome Library's collections, ranging from manuscript illustrations to photographs. In January 2014, these images were released under a Creative Commons-Attribution license, allowing for both commercial and non-commercial use.

How many CC-licensed images from Wellcome Images were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons?

A substantial number of 97,455 Creative Commons-licensed images from Wellcome Images were bulk-uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.

What other types of images did Wellcome Images include, and how were they made available?

Wellcome Images also featured a large collection of contemporary clinical and biomedical images sourced from teaching hospitals, research laboratories, and photographers across the UK and beyond. These were freely available for download for personal, academic teaching, or study use, also under Creative Commons licenses.

What happened to Wellcome Images in 2017?

In 2017, Wellcome Images was closed, and its images were subsequently made available through the main catalogue search on wellcomecollection.org, under Creative Commons and Public Domain licenses.

When did the Wellcome Library host a Wikimedian in Residence, and what organization supported it?

The Wellcome Library hosted a Wikimedian in Residence from May 2016 until October 2017, a position jointly supported by Wikimedia UK.

What were the primary goals of the Wikimedian in Residence program at the Wellcome Library?

The residency aimed to improve the visibility and use of images from the Wellcome Library that had been uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. It also sought to train staff and visitors in editing and to enhance content related to medicine and the history of medicine on Wiki-projects, with a particular focus on mental health pages.

What is the Wellcome Trust's broader mission beyond maintaining the library's collections?

The Wellcome Trust's broader mission, as established after Henry Wellcome's death, is to use the income generated by the trust to support ongoing biomedical research, in addition to fostering the study of medical history.

How did the Wellcome Trust's activities evolve in 1998 regarding the history of medicine and public understanding of science?

In 1998, the Wellcome Trust brought together its activities concerning the history of medicine and the public understanding of science to form a new Medicine, Society, and History Division. This recognized a wider scope beyond just the history of medicine.

What is the significance of the 'Nuremberg Chronicle' in the Wellcome Library's collection?

The 'Nuremberg Chronicle', also known as 'Liber chronicarum', is a historical chronicle written in Latin by Hartmann Schedel, a doctor from Nuremberg, starting from the Creation. Henry Wellcome purchased this book in 1898 at the auction of William Morris's Library, marking one of his early significant acquisitions.

What types of materials are included in the 'ephemera' category within the Medical Collection?

The Medical Collection includes thousands of items of medical ephemera, which refers to printed materials that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity, such as pamphlets, advertisements, or tickets, but which now hold historical value.

What is an 'incunable' and how many does the Wellcome Library possess?

An incunable is a book, pamphlet, or broadside printed before the year 1501. The Wellcome Library's Rare Book collection includes approximately 600 incunabula.

What is the geographical focus of the 20th-century archives within the Archives and Manuscripts collection?

The 20th-century archives within the Archives and Manuscripts collection primarily concentrate on material written in English.

What is the purpose of the Wellcome Library's current aim to promote both the history and understanding of medicine?

The library's current aim to promote both the history and understanding of medicine reflects its expanded remit, moving beyond solely historical studies to also engage the public with contemporary scientific and medical issues.

How did Henry Wellcome's collecting habits contribute to the library's international strength?

Henry Wellcome's practice of using agents, dealers, and personal travel around the world to gather materials ensured that his collection had broad coverage of various languages and traditions, which is now a key strength of the library.

What kind of content can be found on the Wellcome Library YouTube channel?

The Wellcome Library YouTube channel provides access to some of the films and videos from its moving image and sound collections, which cover social and clinical areas of science, historical and current medical topics, and physical and psychological aspects of health and surgery.

What does the term 'Creative Commons-Attribution licence' mean in the context of Wellcome Images?

A Creative Commons-Attribution licence means that the images can be used, distributed, and built upon, even for commercial purposes, as long as the original creator (Wellcome Images/Library) is credited. This promotes wide accessibility and reuse of the content.

How does the Wellcome Library contribute to the public understanding of science?

The Wellcome Library contributes to the public understanding of science through its collections, which include popular science and public engagement materials, and by making its vast image collection freely available under Creative Commons licenses, encouraging wider use and dissemination of scientific and medical knowledge.

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Library Overview

A Public Research Hub

The Wellcome Library, situated in central London, functions as both a free public library and a museum. It originated from the extraordinary personal collection amassed by Sir Henry Wellcome (1853–1936), whose substantial wealth enabled him to curate one of the most ambitious and comprehensive collections of the 20th century. This institution is freely accessible to anyone with a research or study interest in the history and advancement of medicine.

Henry Wellcome's Vision

Sir Henry Wellcome's intellectual curiosity extended broadly to the history of medicine, encompassing diverse subjects such as alchemy, witchcraft, anthropology, and ethnography. This expansive vision shaped the library's foundational collection, making it a unique repository of human knowledge related to health and its cultural contexts. His dedication to a global perspective is reflected in the collection's international scope and linguistic diversity.

The Wellcome Trust's Stewardship

Following Sir Henry Wellcome's passing in 1936, his estate and collection were entrusted to a body of trustees, who subsequently established the Wellcome Trust. The Trust's primary mandate is to generate income to support cutting-edge biomedical research. Concurrently, it is also charged with the vital responsibility of nurturing the study of medical history through the meticulous care and ongoing development of the Library's extensive collections.

Historical Trajectory

Genesis of a Grand Collection

Henry Wellcome initiated his serious book collecting endeavors in the late 1890s. He employed a network of agents and dealers, and personally traveled extensively across the globe to acquire materials. A pivotal moment in his collecting journey was the 1898 auction of William Morris's library, where Wellcome emerged as the single largest purchaser, securing approximately one-third of the lots. His commitment to international scope and diverse languages laid the groundwork for the library's enduring strength.

Key Acquisitions and Growth

During its formative years, the Wellcome Library significantly expanded its holdings through notable acquisitions. In 1911, it acquired the library of Joseph Frank Payne, a distinguished medical historian and librarian of the Royal College of Physicians. This was followed in 1930 by the purchase of the major portion of the library belonging to the Munich historian Ernst Darmstaedter. After Wellcome's death, a comprehensive program of sorting and rationalization was undertaken throughout the 1940s and beyond to manage the vast collection. The library continued its growth into the later 20th century, notably acquiring manuscripts and approximately 10,000 printed books from the Medical Society of London Library in the 1980s.

Evolving Identity: Nomenclature

Over its history, the Wellcome Library has undergone several name changes, reflecting its evolving scope and institutional affiliations. Initially known as "The Wellcome Reference Library" (circa 1930) and later "The Wellcome Research Library," it transitioned through names such as "Wellcome Historical Medical Museum and Library" and "Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine [Library]." Since 2007, it has been formally recognized as "Wellcome Collection: The Library," though it is often informally referred to as "The Wellcome Library, London." Since 1998, the library has been an integral part of the Medicine, Society, and History Division, dedicated to advancing both the historical understanding and public comprehension of medicine.

Diverse Collections

History of Medicine

This collection comprises a rich array of books, academic journals, other print materials, and electronic resources. It comprehensively covers the history of all facets of medical science and practice, extending into allied scientific disciplines, social sciences, and humanities. With over 80,000 volumes, it features works in numerous languages, spanning publications from 1850 to the present day, offering a deep dive into the evolution of health knowledge.

Medical Literature

The Medical Collection houses printed works of medical and scientific literature from the 15th century to the contemporary era. This includes a significant number of rare books and ephemeral materials. Researchers can explore thousands of medical monographs, detailed anatomical atlases, pharmacopoeias, and approximately 20,000 items of medical ephemera. The collection is continuously growing with electronic resources that address popular science, consumer health, biomedical science policy, research ethics, science education, and public engagement with science.

Rare Books

The Rare Book Collection is a treasure trove of approximately 60,000 books published before 1851. Among its most valuable holdings are around 600 incunabula—books printed before 1501, representing the earliest period of printing in Europe—and about 5,000 books from the 16th century. This collection encompasses all aspects of medical science and practice, alongside extensive and varied holdings in related subjects, providing a unique window into early scientific thought and medical understanding.

Asian Collections

Eastern Wisdom & Healing

The Asian collections are a remarkable assembly of 12,000 manuscripts and 4,000 printed books, spanning 43 different languages. These invaluable documents are inscribed on a diverse range of materials, including traditional paper, delicate palm leaves, luxurious silk, intricate ivory, various metals, bone, bamboo, and even tree bark. This collection offers profound insights into the medical traditions and scientific knowledge systems of Asia.

Paper: Traditional medium for many texts.
Palm Leaf: Common in South and Southeast Asian manuscripts.
Silk: Used for delicate and ceremonial documents.
Ivory: Rare and precious material for inscriptions.
Metal: Engraved texts, often for durability or ritual.
Bone: Ancient inscriptions, particularly from East Asia.
Bamboo: Strips used for early writing in various Asian cultures.
Tree Bark: Utilized in specific regional traditions for manuscripts.

Ancient Medical Records

Among the most ancient artifacts in the Wellcome Library is a medical prescription from ancient Egypt, meticulously written on papyrus and dating back to approximately 1100 BCE. This document stands as a testament to the long and rich history of medical practice. The largest manuscript collection within the library is the Indic collection, which boasts one of the most extensive Sanskrit collections outside of India, comprising approximately 6,500 items. These texts provide unparalleled resources for studying ancient Indian medicine, philosophy, and science.

Archives & Manuscripts

European Records

This collection encompasses a vast array of unpublished European records, spanning from antiquity through to the 20th century. The manuscripts are presented in 25 different languages, offering a multilingual perspective on historical medical and scientific thought. These documents provide primary source material for understanding the development of medicine and related disciplines across various European cultures and historical periods.

Eminent Figures & Organizations

The 20th-century archives primarily focus on materials in English. They include the personal papers of highly influential figures in medical science and related fields, such as the co-discoverer of DNA structure, Francis Crick, and the pioneering psychoanalyst Melanie Klein. Additionally, the archives preserve the records of numerous and diverse organizations that have shaped public health and scientific discourse. These organizational records offer invaluable insights into the institutional history of medicine and social welfare.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH): Records related to public health campaigns against tobacco.
British Psychological Society: Documents detailing the history and development of psychology in the UK.
Family Planning Association: Archives concerning reproductive health and family planning services.
Neonatal Society: Records pertaining to the advancement of neonatal care and research.
The Physiological Society: Materials on the history of physiological research and education.

Visual & Auditory

Paintings, Prints & Drawings

This extensive collection features over 100,000 items, including prints, drawings, paintings, photographs, and other media. Spanning from the 14th century to the present day, its geographical reach is truly global, encompassing works from Japan and China in the East, through Tibet and India, to Turkey, Europe, and the Americas, with smaller but significant collections from Africa and Australasia. Consistent with Wellcome's overarching philosophy, these works illuminate both the historical and cultural contexts of medicine, as well as internal advancements in medical techniques and practices.

Moving Image & Sound

The moving image and sound collections comprise more than 4,000 films and videos, alongside 1,500 audio tapes. These include both broadcast and non-broadcast materials, covering the multifaceted aspects of medicine. The content ranges from social and clinical areas of science to historical and contemporary topics, and from the physical to the psychological dimensions of health and surgery. A selection of these titles is also made available through the Wellcome Library's dedicated YouTube channel, enhancing public access to these dynamic resources.

Digital Initiatives

Wellcome Images Legacy

A curated selection of images from the Wellcome Library's vast collections was previously featured in "Wellcome Images," showcasing illustrations from manuscripts and rare books, as well as paintings, prints, and photographs. In January 2014, these images were groundbreakingly released under a Creative Commons-Attribution license, permitting both commercial and non-commercial use. A substantial portion, specifically 97,455 of these CC-licensed images, were subsequently bulk-uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, significantly expanding their global reach. "Wellcome Images" also included a large collection of contemporary clinical and biomedical images sourced from teaching hospitals, research laboratories, and photographers worldwide, also freely available under Creative Commons licenses. In 2017, "Wellcome Images" was integrated into the main catalogue search at wellcomecollection.org, where its images remain accessible under Creative Commons and Public Domain licenses.

Wikimedian in Residence

From May 2016 to October 2017, the Wellcome Library hosted a Wikimedian in Residence, a collaborative initiative jointly supported by Wikimedia UK. This residency aimed to significantly enhance the visibility and utility of images from the Wellcome collections that had been uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. Key objectives included providing training to staff and visitors on how to contribute to and edit Wikipedia, and actively improving content related to medicine and the history of medicine on various Wiki-projects, with a particular focus on mental health topics. This initiative underscored the library's commitment to open knowledge and public engagement.

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References

Poynter, F. N. L. (1955), 'The Wellcome Historical Medical Library', The Book Collector, 4, pp. 285â291.

Symons, H. J. M. (1993), "'These crafty dealers': Sir Henry Wellcome as a book collector", in Myers, R., and M. Harris (eds), Medicine, mortality and the book trade, St Paul Bibliographies, Folkestone.

Allan, N. (ed.) (1993), Pearls of the Orient: Asian treasures of the Wellcome Library, London: Serindia.

Wellcome Library YouTube channel

Nicholas, Dean, Wellcome Library Releases Huge Collection of Images, 22 January 2014.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Wellcome Library Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not official institutional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for consulting the official Wellcome Library or Wellcome Collection resources, or for seeking advice from qualified librarians, archivists, or academic professionals for specific research needs. Always refer to official institutional documentation and consult with experts for detailed information.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

The Wellcome Library: A Global Nexus of Health Knowledge

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Library Overview ℹ️

🏛️ A Public Research Hub

🌐 Henry Wellcome's Vision

🤝 The Wellcome Trust's Stewardship

Historical Trajectory 🕰️

📈 Genesis of a Grand Collection

📚 Key Acquisitions and Growth

🏷️ Evolving Identity: Nomenclature

Diverse Collections 📖

🔬 History of Medicine

⚕️ Medical Literature

📜 Rare Books

Asian Collections 🌏

🎋 Eastern Wisdom & Healing

⏳ Ancient Medical Records

Archives & Manuscripts 🗃️

✍️ European Records

👥 Eminent Figures & Organizations

Visual & Auditory 🖼️

🎨 Paintings, Prints & Drawings

🎬 Moving Image & Sound

Digital Initiatives 💻

📸 Wellcome Images Legacy

🤝 Wikimedian in Residence

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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References

📜 References

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📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Library Overview

A Public Research Hub

Henry Wellcome's Vision

The Wellcome Trust's Stewardship

Historical Trajectory

Genesis of a Grand Collection

Key Acquisitions and Growth

Evolving Identity: Nomenclature

Diverse Collections

History of Medicine

Medical Literature

Rare Books

Asian Collections

Eastern Wisdom & Healing

Ancient Medical Records

Archives & Manuscripts

European Records

Eminent Figures & Organizations

Visual & Auditory

Paintings, Prints & Drawings

Moving Image & Sound

Digital Initiatives

Wellcome Images Legacy

Wikimedian in Residence

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice