Comprising the Archives, Reading Room,
Special Collections and Programs
The impetus for creating this Center came from George
T. Harrell, M.D., founding dean of the University of Florida College
of Medicine. He left a legacy of interest in medical education, a
tradition of commitment to humane patient-physician relationships,
and a love of libraries. In fact, his own love of libraries prompted
him to leave his ashes to the Health Science Center Library at the
University of Florida. The Harrell Medical History Center commemorates
his commitment and provides a resting place for his ashes.
In order to celebrate Dr. Harrell’s memory and accomplishments,
we plan to establish the George T. Harrell History Center as a center for the pursuit of medical history(listed through the Directory of History of Medicine Collections), and document
the history of the College of Medicine in time for our 50th anniversary.
Goals
The primary goal will be to establish an archive in which to house collections, exhibits, and programs. It will function as an archives for the College of Medicine and, eventually, all the Health Science Center Colleges. The intent is to preserve materials relating to the history of the College of Medicine, to make such materials accessible to researchers, and to create a spacious reading room. The intent also is to develop a variety of collections, exhibits and programs.
Special Collections
In addition to collections related to the history of the College of Medicine we intend to establish other special collections. These will include materials related to the history of medical education in the state of Florida, and of southern medical education. These collections can attract scholars doing historical research on medical history and serve as a base for developing future exhibits.
Exhibits
There will be space for rotating exhibits, as well as a large permanent exhibit that highlights the College of Medicine, using material from oral histories, artifacts from the medical school’s early years, and photographs.
Programs
There will be a number of programs that involve community outreach, and special events to commemorate the College of Medicine’s 50th anniversary. These include:
- Expansion of the Oral History Project’s efforts to interview the College of Medicine faculty, administrators, and alumni. With sufficient funding we will include a wider range of people connected with the Health Science Center, including the Colleges of Dentistry, Health Professions and Veterinary Medicine, Shands Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
- A documented history of the College of Medicine for our 50th anniversary.
- Teacher training programs.
- Lecture series.
- Web site development
Historical Photos
 |
Dr. Gerold Schiebler (on the left) receiving the Hippocratic award.
Dr. E. Suter, then dean stands next to him. |
| Right: The Hippocratic tree in 1970. This tree was flown from
Greece as a sapling in 1969, an, where Hippocrates is said to have
sat beneath it to teach. This tree is associated with the Hippocratic
award. Each year a faculty member is chosen by medical students
and his/her name inscribed on a plaque beneath it. |
 |
 |
Left: Every year the recipient of the award is a closely guarded
secret. Here students have gone to a great deal of trouble to hide
the name. This picture was taken in the mid 1970s- notice how large
the tree has grown in a few years! |
