Library Archives Help Tell the Story of the GSBMS First 50 Years

October 9, 2013

On October 3, the university gathered to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences. The day was a celebration of the history, the founders, the leaders, the faculty, the alumni, the students and the research of the School. In preparation for the day, Edward J. Messina, Ph.D. ’73, Professor of Physiology, who presented a history of the School, did extensive research utilizing the resources of the Archives of the Health Sciences Library. At the celebration, the Library presented a poster created by an internal Exhibit Committee titled, ” The Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences (GSBMS) of New York Medical College: Telling the Story though the Health Sciences Library.” The poster included representative documents from the Archives relative to timeline of the GSBMS.

The Library Archives contains over 2,000 documents and items pertaining to the history of the college, including but not limited to:

Members of the Health Sciences Library Exhibit Committee with Dr. Francis Belloni during the GSBMS 50 year celebration. From left: Piedade Rodrigues; Marie Ascher; Phoebe Stein; Diana Cunningham; Dr. Francis Belloni.
Members of the Health Sciences Library Exhibit Committee with Dr. Francis Belloni during the GSBMS 50 year celebration. From left: Piedade Rodrigues; Marie Ascher; Phoebe Stein; Diana Cunningham; Dr. Francis Belloni.
  • Thirty archival boxes of photographs and memorabilia, such as programs and brochures;
  • The college yearbook, the Fleur-o-Scope, dating back to the very first one issued in 1924;
  • A full run of The Chironian, first published in 1884;
  • Various newsletters:  Images, Newswire, previous library newsletters and more.
  • Annual Announcements listing all matriculants and graduates, faculty, curricular requirements, and other important college data;
  • Works by and about William Cullen Bryant;
  • And so much more.

The library has begun to digitize these collections utilizing newly installed repository software in order to preserve this history into the future. Many of the materials are fragile and must be handled with extreme care.  But we welcome their use and provide historical research assistance as part of our services. If you are interested in learning more about the Library’s Archives, please discuss with  Diana Cunningham, Associate Dean and Director of the Library, or Judith Gitlin, Associate Director for Resource Management, or your respective librarian liaison.

Current members of the Health Sciences Library’s Exhibit Committee are: Marta Ambroziak (Chair), Marie Ascher, Deborah Crooke, Diana Cunningham, Shawn Manning, Lori Perrault, Piedade Rodrigues, and Phoebe Stein. The poster created for the celebration remains on display in the library.