History

The Historical Collections division contains the Museum's artifacts. Based on the Museum's history as a military institution, many of the artifacts in the collection were used or purchased by the U.S. Army and reflect the concerns of military medicine. The collection includes medical instruments used in every major conflict that the U.S. armed forces were involved in from the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War.

Historical Collections

Part I: MESH (Subject Headings) Collections

Most of the artifacts in Historical Collections are maintained as one collection and are categorized according to function or use as described by the 1993 Medical Subject Headings (MESH) of the National Library of Medicine. The collection is cataloged on a computerized database which is intended to define search categories for the object, rather than written descriptions. Object can be searched for according to any one of the various cataloging numbers used by the Museum, either the manufacturer's or owner's serial number, up to three Medical Subject Headings, a defined object description, individual or institutional affiliation, manufacturer or distributer, country of origin, and time period of manufacture. In addition to the description of the main object, the computerized record also records the location of the objects in the museum and provides a listing of all the components of a set, if appropriate. All MESH collections are active; there are no restrictions.

• Procedures and Techniques - Diagnostics (HC1 - HC8)
• Procedures and Techniques - Therapeutics (HC9 - HC18)
• Anesthesia and Analgesia (HC19)
• Procedures and Techniques - General Surgery (HC20 - HC31)
• Procedures and Techniques - Miscellaneous (HC32 - HC41)
• Procedures and Techniques - Dental (HC42 - HC51)
• Equipment and Supplies (HC52 - HC55)