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With over 45,000 volumes, the Clendening History of Medicine Library houses one of the nation's finest collections of rare, historical medical books and manuscripts. The library also maintains an extensive collection of monographs and periodicals in the history of medicine, medical humanities and biomedical ethics. Some personal medical papers and archival records are found in the library's collections, but the majority are housed in the KUMC Archives.

We continue to acquire rare books illustrating the history of medicine to complement and enhance the existing collection. Additionally, the Library supports teaching and research in ethics, history, and medical humanities by actively acquiring contemporary secondary works in these areas. 

Please contact Emma Malinee, Special Collections Librarian, (emalinee@kumc.edu, 913-588-7244) for more information.

Mission

The mission of the Clendening History of Medicine Library is to support the University of Kansas Medical Center and its faculty, staff, and students by adding an integral historical and humanistic dimension to their intellectual and professional development.

In fulfilling its mission, the Library sets forth the following goals:

  • To acquire and make accessible in traditional and emerging formats such as digital facsimile, texts, images, manuscripts, and artifacts that support and encourage research in the history of medicine, biomedical ethics, and medical humanities.
  • To act as a cultural custodian by preserving medicine's rich heritage through active conservation, preservation, and restoration efforts.
  • To sponsor educational programs which facilitate the understanding of medicine's evolution.
  • To increase awareness and knowledge about the contributions of Kansas and surrounding areas to the history of medicine.
KU School of Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center
History and Philosophy of Medicine

Mail Stop 1025
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
Tel: 913-588-7098 | Fax: 913-588-7060