Collections

Since the early 20th century, OHSU Library's collections have been distinguished by rare and unique materials. OHSU Historical Collections & Archives is the home of OHSU's collections of rare books, archives, manuscripts, and artifacts. Our staff collect, preserve, and provide on-site and remote access to these valuable primary resources, which are used for research and teaching in fields including health sciences, history, the arts, and interdisciplinary fields.

Statement on harmful content in Historical Collections & Archives

Archives and Manuscripts

Spanning the late 19th century to the present day, the university archives constitute the documentary record of OHSU and its predecessor institutions. Administrative records, photographs and artwork, campus publications, research data, personal papers, and more are collected in both analog and digital formats. Our holdings also include manuscript collections with an emphasis on health sciences in the Pacific Northwest. Collection guides are best accessed and searched through Archives West.

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Artifacts

Our artifact collections include medical instruments, supplies, specimens, uniforms, and other cultural objects. Highlights include the belongings of Oregon's pioneer doctors, artifacts of 20th-century military medicine, 19th-20th century dental instruments, the Ernest Starr Memorial Museum of Dental Anomalies, and samples of innovative technologies developed at OHSU.

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Digital Collections

Our digital holdings include the Historical Images Collection, OHSU's web archives, digitized rare books from HC&A and Oregon National Primate Research Center collections, the Oral History Collection, Public Health in Oregon: Discovering Historical Data, the contemporary campus image collection, theses and dissertations, classic articles, and much more.

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Rare Books

Our holdings include over 4,000 rare books on the health sciences, dating from the early 16th century to the mid-20th century. Highlights include the 1555 edition of Andreas Vesalius's De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem, and hundreds of other classic titles. Strengths of our collections include anatomy, neurology, ophthalmology, and dentistry. Rare books can be searched via the Library's catalog.

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OHSU Health Zine Library

The OHSU Health Zine Library collects zines on the subjects of health, wellness, and the human condition. A zine is a DIY, self-published, non-commercial publication typically made in limited quantities. The collection is available for browsing and checkout across from the OHSU Library Service Desk, 3rd floor, BICC building. Zines can be searched via the Library's catalog.