Duke Medical Center Library & Archives News Category: History & Archives

Fifty years ago the ribbon was cut in the doorway of the new Medical Center Library space in the Seeley G. Mudd Building on November 17, 1975. Prior to this date, the library was housed in the basement of the Duke Hospital. The interiors of the building have changed since 1975 as well as the area that surrounds the library. To celebrate the 50th birthday of our building, we are sharing some photos of our library from 1975 and from today in 2025! 

Then and Now: Entrance to the Library 

Then and Now: 1st floor 

Then and Now: 1st Floor Reading Room

Then and Now: Lobby Area

Then and Now: Stairs to Second Floor

Then…

Categories: History & Archives

Did you know we’ve hosted miniature horses and other fun surprises? Get stories, behind-the-scenes highlights, and important updates delivered straight to your inbox with our quarterly newsletter. If you’re new to Duke or not yet a subscriber, now is a great time to sign up for the Library’s newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram for library tips, event sneak peeks, and amazing archival photos. Follow us online or by searching dukemedlibrary on the Instagram app. 
 

Categories: Alerts, Classes, Events, For Researchers, History & Archives, Resources

Happy Veterans Day! On this day, we honor the service of all military veterans in the United States Armed Forces. Currently at Duke, approximately 2,200 employees and 450 students identify as military veterans.

As we celebrate this federal holiday, we invite you to revisit our digital exhibit Remembering the 65th: Duke’s General Hospital Unit, which documents the staff, activities, and accomplishments of the 65th General Hospital, Duke's World War II unit.

Remembering the 65th features artifacts, photographs, and documents from the Medical Center Archives collections. Items include medical instruments used by hospital staff, an…

Categories: Events, History & Archives

At Your Service: Duke's Civilian Public Service Camp #61    
The Josiah Charles Trent History of Medicine Room    
On Display October 21, 2025 – May 3, 2026

On October 16, 1940, the Civilian Public Service (CPS) was established as an alternative to military conscription for conscientious objectors. These men who declined military service due to religious beliefs were placed in CPS camps, or units, across the United States and given jobs on the home front to help support the war effort. They worked in soil conservation, forestry, firefighting, agriculture, social services, and mental health. In all, there were…

Categories: History & Archives

The Duke Community was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Dr. E. Harvey Estes. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of leadership, advocacy, and commitment to care.

Dr. Edward Harvey Estes Jr., MD was born May 1, 1925 in Gay, Georgia. He graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia (1944, BA; 1947, MD). He began his medical internship at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and completed it at Duke University Hospital. Prior to joining Duke's staff in 1953, Estes served in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1952. He became chief of the cardiology service at Durham Veterans Affairs Hospital from 1953 to 1954 and chief of the medical service at the Durham Veterans Affairs Hospital from 1956 to 1962. In 1966, Estes was appointed Chair of the newly created…

Categories: History & Archives

Duke became more interested in global health issues following World War II. It saw an opportunity to learn more about cultural and medical practices in developing countries, to influence physicians through training, and to provide its expertise. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Medical Center Archives wishes to highlight a few programs and projects that Duke physicians undertook in several Latin American countries.

Starting in 1941, Duke began offering post-doctoral training to physicians from outside of the United States. The Rockefeller Foundation, the Institute of Inter-American Affairs, the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, as well as the U.S. Department of State, were the primary…

Categories: History & Archives

Archives Month is an annual, month-long observance of the agencies and people responsible for maintaining and making available the archival and historical records of our nation, state, communities, and people. Archives serve as the memory of our nation, and by celebrating, we recognize and give legitimacy to the enduring value of American records and America’s archives.

  
We encourage you to check out our Instagram account where we'll be highlighting treasures from the Medical Center Archives collection all month long.

This year the Society of North Carolina Archivists' theme for Archives Month is “North Carolina's 250th”. As the nation approaches its 250th birthday, North Carolina archivists are celebrating the…

Categories: History & Archives

Location: Medical Center Library & Archives, Room 212E

Date: Friday, October 31, 11am – 2pm

Please join us for the Duke University Medical Center Archives’ annual Halloween event! This casual open house event will feature a selection of odd, intriguing, and significant materials from our collections.

All are invited to drop in to view detailed medical illustrations, touch old medical instruments, explore forgotten stories from the history of Duke Health, and much more.

Come by for a fun break to learn some history and enjoy free Halloween candy!

Categories: History & Archives

This is the third post in a three-part series about Dr. Eugene A. Stead Jr. (1908-2005), professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine from 1947 to 1967. To spotlight the addition to and reprocessing of the Eugene A. Stead Jr. Papers, this post will discuss how the Archives preserved the scrapbooks and the steps we took to maintain context while separating materials for preservation. 

The first post introduces Stead, highlighting his accomplishments and career.

The …

Categories: History & Archives