Archives with a Pulse: Come Tour Our History Collections!

Published Jul 23, 2025 by
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If you’ve ever been curious about how medicine and healthcare has shaped the lives of eastern North Carolinians over the last few centuries, look no further than Laupus Library’s History Collections.

Dating back to 1536, our History Collections contains materials from across the world, encompassing the fields of medicine, nursing, allied health sciences, dentistry, pharmacology, public health, and domestic health.

Located on the fourth floor of Laupus Library, the collections include rare books, photographs, oral histories, artifacts, and personal papers of influential medical professional.

BSOM’s Medical Humanities & Ethics Distinction Track

This June, the new Medical Humanities & Ethics Distinction Track of Brody School of Medicine, directed by Dr. Sheena Eagan, came to learn about our collections.

A historical library room with wooden floors and shelves, featuring an open book with anatomical drawings on a large table surrounded by documents and artifacts, with two people in the background.

This track offers students an opportunity to explore the ethical, cultural, and humanistic sides of medicine through interdisciplinary study and mentored projects. Starting with an immersive summer experience after the first year, students complete coursework, monthly seminars, and a capstone project over three years. Graduates earn a “Certificate of Clinical Ethics” and recognition on their transcript and MSPE. Admission is competitive and requires good academic standing. Learn more about the Medical Humanities & Ethics Distinction Track.

Ready to Visit?

Whether you’re a student, researcher, or simply a history enthusiast, we invite you to tour the collections and experience firsthand the unique materials that bring the past to life. Highlights of our collection include:

  • The Papers of Dr. Andrew A. Best (LL02.13), a civil rights advocate and leader in medical education and public health
  • Oral histories (LL02.03) that capture the voices and experiences of healthcare workers and patients across generations
  • Hospital postcards and patent medicine trade cards (LL02.26), visually illustrating historical public health communication and medical marketing
  • Artifacts and instruments (LL02.48, LL02.05, QS G779A 1858) , including microscopes, handcrafted medical tools, and a first edition of Gray’s Anatomy
  • Magic lantern slides (LL02.58), offering a glimpse into the visual culture of medical instruction and nursing care
  • The Country Doctor Museum Archives (CD01.01-), celebrating rural health care history and preserving materials from the oldest museum of its kind in the U.S.

Many of these resources are also available online.

Six people gathered around a large wooden table in a well-lit room, examining open books including one with an anatomical drawing.

Tours are available by appointment and can be tailored to you or your students’ interests. We welcome faculty, students, classes, community groups, and anyone interested in the history of health care in our region.

Schedule a Tour

Email: hslhistmed@ecu.edu
Phone: 252-744-3181 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.)
Learn more: Visit the History Collections website

Come see how the past lives on in the records of those who shaped it and discover what history can teach us about the future of health care.