Duke Medical Center Archive Blog

Over the past year, we’ve highlighted the Medical Center Archives’ rich oral history collection of over 350 interviews spanning from the 1960s to present day. In Part 6 of this series, we revisit the previous pieces (see below) and remind readers that while this series is over, the Archives’ Oral History Program continues to grow as we add more oral histories interviews to capture the medical center’s history in the words of the individuals who witnessed and participated in that history. Part 1: “Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives"This article outlined what an oral history is and the types of oral histories held at the Medical Center… MORE

Category: Collection Highlights

In July 2022, the Library & Archives debuted the newly redesigned and updated online exhibit of the Duke Poison Control Center: A Retrospective Exhibit. The retrospective exhibit conveys the profound impact of the Duke Poison Control Center from 1954-1995. From the design of the safety cap to community outreach and education, the Center has always been at the forefront of poison prevention and safety issues. The exhibit was updated and expanded by the Medical Center Library & Archives Exhibits Committee: Rebecca Williams and Beverly Murphy (Co-Chairs), Michael Ravenel-Baker, Victor Gordon, Steph Hendren, and Carter Hulinsky. Focused around the concept, "Is There a Killer in Your Medicine Chest… MORE

Category: News

This is Part 6 of a multi part series on oral histories at the Medical Center Archives. Part 1 “Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” outlines what an oral history is and the types of oral histories held at the Medical Center Archives.Part 2 “Women in Duke Health Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” highlights the oral history interviews with Duke women and showcases an online exhibit about these interviews.Part 3… MORE

Category: News

The Medical Center Archives is open for all researchers by appointment only. In order to limit the number of people in our building, we have designated Tuesdays and Thursdays as research days. Please contact us to schedule a visit. Patrons using the facility are expected to follow Duke's policies.

Staff are available for remote consultation (M-F) via our online request form. We are happy to assist you in locating digital materials for your research and making digital reference… MORE

Category: News

The Medical Center Library & Archives announces the debut of the newly redesigned and updated online exhibit of the Duke Poison Control Center: A Retrospective Exhibit. The exhibit conveys the profound impact of the Duke Poison Control Center from 1954-1995. From the design of the safety cap to community outreach and education, the Duke Center has always been at the forefront of poison prevention and safety issues, raising awareness throughout the world. Focused around the concept, "Is There a Killer in Your Medicine Chest?" the online exhibit includes sections on the Poison Epidemic, Innovations for Safety, and National Advocacy. In addition, there is a timeline of events and biographies and oral… MORE

Category: News

This is Part 5 of a multi part series on oral histories at the Medical Center Archives.

• Part 1 “Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” outlines what an oral history is and the types of oral histories held at the Medical Center Archives.
• Part 2 “Women in Duke Health Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” highlights the oral history interviews with Duke women and showcases an online exhibit about these interviews.
• Part 3… MORE

  Category: Collection Highlights

The Duke University Medical Center Archives is happy to announce that the Duke Midwifery Service Records are processed and open for research. The collection includes but is not limited to the administrative records, birth logs, bilingual (English and Spanish) curriculum materials for classes on pregnancy and parenting, and ephemera related to the patient-centered care of Certified Nurse Midwives. Major subjects include nurse midwives, high-risk pregnancies, and community health outreach in Durham County, North Carolina, documenting the work of the Duke Midwifery Service and professional activities of former director Amy MacDonald. … MORE

Category: Collection Spotlight

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so this month we are highlighting a relatively new collection added to the Medical Center Archives in 2021: the Duke Chapter of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association Records.

The Duke chapter of the national Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA) is a student-run organization dedicated to learning about, promoting awareness of, and improving Asian-American health issues. Since 2005, the Duke APAMSA chapter has been engaged in community outreach including holding service activities such as bone marrow registry drives, health screenings, and foreign-language health… MORE

Category: Collection Spotlight

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Duke Health assembled a COVID-19 Response Team (now named Duke Health Leadership). Along with Duke Health Nursing, they began to hold virtual town halls where they discussed Duke Health’s and Duke Nursing’s clinical response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each town hall had a theme, panelists, and a Q&A session for participants. Some themes included: COVID-19 patient surge preparations, COVID-19 testing, nursing issues, PPE, COVID-19 patient care, clinical and operations updates, COVID-19 vaccine, return to school, Duke Health’s voter registration and turnout initiative for the 2020 elections, and Moments to Movement (Duke Health’s collective stand against systemic racism and injustice). These videos are… MORE

Category: Collection Highlights

At the Medical Center Archives, we are the caretakers of valuable records, photographs, artworks, audiovisual materials, and other important materials that document the history and day to day activities of the Duke University Medical Center and Duke University Health System’s departments and divisions. Because of the nature of these materials and the work we do, we are aware that the presence of pests in our physical spaces and collections can seriously damage these materials. As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, we reappraised our current Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program last year with the aim of incorporating less harmful chemicals to control any potential infestation. IPM refers to pest control and prevention programs that rely on several simultaneous approaches to… MORE

Category: News

This is Part 4 of a multi part series on oral histories at the Medical Center Archives.

• Part 1 “Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” outlines what an oral history is and the types of oral histories held at the Medical Center Archives.
• Part 2 “Women in Duke Health Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” highlights the oral history interviews with Duke women and showcases an online exhibit about these interviews.
• Part 3… MORE

  Category: Collection Highlights

This is Part 3 of a multi part series on oral histories at the Medical Center Archives. Part 1 “Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” outlines what an oral history is and the types of oral histories held at the Medical Center Archives. Part 2 “Women in Duke Health Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” highlights the oral history interviews with Duke women and showcases an online exhibit about these interviews.  This month, we are… MORE

Category: News, Collection Highlights

This is Part 3 of a multi part series on oral histories at the Medical Center Archives. Part 1 “Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” outlines what an oral history is and the types of oral histories held at the Medical Center Archives. Part 2 “Women in Duke Health Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” highlights the oral history interviews with Duke women and showcases an online exhibit about these interviews.  This month, we are… MORE

Category: News, Collection Highlights

The Duke University Medical Center Archives is happy to announce that the Onyekwere E. Akwari Papers are processed and open for research. The collection includes but is not limited to correspondence; printed materials; datebooks, memorabilia, scrapbooks, certificates, and other personal papers; building plans; audiovisual materials; meeting minutes and agendas, photographs; newspaper clippings; publications; reprints; textiles; artifacts; and electronic records pertaining to Akwari's personal and professional interests and activities. Major subjects include the Society of Black American Surgeons (SBAS) and St. Titus Episcopal Church (Durham, N.C.) documenting the professional and… MORE

Category: News

This is Part 2 of a multi part series on oral histories at the Medical Center Archives. Part 1 “Oral Histories at the Medical Center Archives” outlines what an oral history is and the types of oral histories held at the Medical Center Archives.

An oral history is an interview that records an individual’s personal recollections of the past and historical events. The Women in Duke Health oral history project began in the fall of 2006, when Jessica Roseberry, who at the time was the Oral History Program Coordinator at the Medical Center Archives, was approached by Dr. Ann Brown, Associate Vice Dean for Faculty… MORE

Category: Collection Highlights