Historical Research Center

In October, 2002, the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library opened the Historical Research Center (HRC) for the preservation of its historical research collections. With the necessary environmental controls, there are nearly 9,000 square feet for shelving historical collections, ample space for researchers and offices for manuscript and technical processing staff.

Some of the unique collections now housed in the HRC are theses and dissertations from schools in the Texas Medical Center (TMC), hundreds of newsletters and reports from Houston hospitals and medical schools, manuscript collections from Texas physicians, (http://mcgovern.library.tmc.edu/ ) and over 40,000 photographs documenting 20th century health in Texas and the United States. The Menninger Rare Book Collection, the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission collections, and selected, older books from the Library's main circulating collection are also being preserved at the HRC.

Texas medical history is one focus of the collections at the HRC. There is a growing reference collection on the history of Texas hospitals, physicians, and nurses. Older medical directories and early Texas medical journals provide researchers with the resources to locate biographical information on Texas and U.S. healthcare workers.

Located about 4 miles from the TMC at 8272 El Rio, Suite 190 (Directions), The HRC is open weekdays from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Photocopying, scanning service, and reference assistance are available. Visitors are always welcome and free parking is available close to the front door.

page updated on: 12.12.2006