Skip to main content
Ruth Lilly Medical Library News Archive Indiana University

A Human Paradox: The Nazi Legacy of Pernkopf’s Atlas Online Lecture

Posted on by Ruth Lilly Medical Library

Eduard Pernkopf’s Atlas of Topographical and Applied Human Anatomy is a four-volume anatomical atlas published between 1937 and 1963, and it is generally believed to be the most comprehensive, detailed, and accurate anatomy textbook ever created.
However, a 1997 investigation into “Pernkopf’s Atlas,” raised troubling questions regarding the author’s connection to the Nazi regime and the still unresolved issue of whether its illustrations relied on Jewish or other political prisoners, including those executed in Nazi concentration camps. Following this investigation, the book was removed from both anatomy classrooms and library bookshelves. Having encountered a first edition copy at the IU School of Medicine Ruth Lilly Medical Library, these authors were given a unique opportunity to engage with the text through the respective humanities lenses of history, ethics, and narrative.

In this talk, we recount the difficult and somewhat opaque provenance of this book, engage the ethical questions surrounding both its creation and its use, and ultimately propose a pedagogical methodology for its continued use in medical education.

Presented by:
Emily Beckman, DMH
Director and Assistant Professor, Medical Humanities and Health Studies
Jane Hartsock, JD, MA
Director of Clinical Ethics, IU Health
Registration for this event has ended.
This event is sponsored by the John Shaw Billings History of Medicine Society, IU School of Medicine Student Interest Group, IUPUI Medical Humanities & Health Studies Program, and the Ruth Lilly Medical Library.

Job Opportunity – Liaison Librarian

Posted on by Ruth Lilly Medical Library

The Ruth Lilly Medical Library seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and talented Liaison Librarian to join our team. The person in this position will plan, promote, and provide instruction and information services that support the needs of students, residents, faculty, researchers, and staff of the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM). This is a tenure-track faculty position that will report to the Associate Director for Public Services.  To view the full job posting please go to: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/1043

Virtual Book Event with Megan Rosenbloom Monday, October 26th at 6pm

Posted on by Ruth Lilly Medical Library

Please join us on Monday, October 26 at 6pm (EST) for a virtual book event featuring librarian and author Megan Rosenbloom as she discusses her new book, Dark Archives: A Librarian’s Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin.

Event Registration

This event has already taken place.

About the Book

In Dark Archives, Megan Rosenbloom seeks out the historic and scientific truths behind anthropodermic bibliopegy, or books bound in human skin. She exhumes their origins and brings to life the doctors, murderers, women, and indigents whose lives are bound together in this rare, scattered, and disquieting collection. She also tells the story of the scientists, curators, and librarians who—interested in the full complicated histories behind these dark artifacts of nineteenth-century medicine—are developing tests to identify these books, while also sorting through the ethics of their custodianship.

While supplies last, pre-order signed copies of the book (featuring an original bookplate designed by Landis Blair) can be purchased online from Skylight Books Los Angeles. Unsigned pre-order copies are also available from Bookshop, IndieBound, and the publisher.

About the Author

Megan Rosenbloom is the Collection Strategies Librarian at the UCLA Library in Los Angeles. Previously, she worked as medical librarian for many years, where she developed an interest in the history of medicine and rare books. Megan is Obituary Editor for the Journal of the Medical Library Association, President of the Southern California Society for the History of Medicine, and is actively involved in the Medical Library Association and other professional organizations. In 2016, she received the Library Journal’s Mover & Shaker Award. Megan is also the co-founder and director of Death Salon, the event arm of The Order of the Good Death, and a leader in the “Death Positive” movement. In a former life, she was a journalist in Philadelphia and continues to write for both academic and non-academic publications.

This event is cosponsored by the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Ruth Lilly Medical Library and the Indiana Medical History Museum.

 

Recognizing Indiana University School of Medicine’s First African American Graduate: Clarence A. Lucas, Sr. MD

Posted on by Ruth Lilly Medical Library

Event: Culture and Conversation: “On the Walls” Project
Date:  Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Time:  Noon – 1pm
Location:  Zoom (link provided during registration)
Presenters: Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD; Sydney Rucker, Paul Mullins, and Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD

Please join the Indiana University School of Medicine community as we learn about the “On the Walls” Project, and unveil the portrait of Clarence Lucas, Sr. MD, the first African American graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine. In addition to the portrait unveiling, attendees will learn about the life of Clarence Lucas, Sr. MD and hear from the artist who created his portrait, as well as Dr. Lucas’s granddaughter, Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, JD.

This event is presented by the American Medical Women Association Student Interest Group, the Women Advisory Council, and the office of Diversity Affairs.

Please register in advance for this event: https://faculty.medicine.iu.edu/event-registration/?scheduleid=72787631-94eb-64bb-f21f-42565a18904e

About the Project

Representational diversity is one of the core pillars of the IU School of Medicine’s diversity framework. The “On the Walls” Project, led by Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, FACP, FAMWA, focuses on diversifying the walls of IU School of Medicine to reflect the rich diversity of our community, both past and present. Join us as students and faculty highlight the “On the Walls” Project and discuss the progress the school is making in recognizing women and people of color who have contributed to the IU School of Medicine legacy.

About Clarence A. Lucas, Sr. MD

Clarence Augustus Lucas was born on November 23, 1884 in Huntington, West Virginia and was raised by his grandparents on their farm in Piketon, Ohio, a village east of Cincinnati. In 1903, he left Piketon to seek employment (including work in hotels and on Pullman cars and riverboats) that would allow him to attend medical school. In 1908, Lucas became the first African American to graduate from Indiana University School of Medicine and went on to complete his post-graduate internship at the City Hospital of Indianapolis. He also completed extensive post-graduate training at the New York Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital (1916), abroad in London, England (1920, and at Harvard Medical School (1926).

Dr. Lucas served as a physician in the Indianapolis area for 59 years. He was a charter member and former president of the Aesculapian Medical Society, and served on the society’s committee in charge of promoting African American Health during “National Negro Health Week,” established by Booker T. Washington in 1915 in response to findings by the Tuskegee Institute identifying poor health conditions for African Americans. As president of the Aesculapian Medical Society in 1940, Dr. Lucas along with sixteen other African American physicians, successfully lobbied the mayor of Indianapolis (Reginald H. Sullivan) and hospital superintendent (Dr. Charles Myers) to establish training facilities for African American doctors and nurses at the Indianapolis City Hospital. In 1961, Dr. Lucas famously visited the medical missionary and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, at his hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon. Dr. Lucas died in 1967, survived by his wife, Carrie H. Lucas, daughter Dr. Carolyn L. Dickson, son Dr. Clarence A. Lucas, Jr., and four grandchildren.

Dr. Lucas’s important contributions to medicine in Indianapolis and beyond were acknowledged by Dr. George H. Rawls (Indiana University Clinical Professor Emeritus of Surgery and founding director of the Master of Science in Medical Science program at IU School of Medicine) in his book, History of the Black Physician in Indianapolis, 1870-2000 (Indianapolis, 1984).

Photograph and additional biographical information provided by Dr. Lucas’s granddaughter, Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, JD.

In Memory of Gloria Yancey

Posted on by Ruth Lilly Medical Library

One of our dear friends and coworkers, Gloria Yancey, passed away unexpectedly on August 5, 2020. Gloria worked at the Ruth Lilly Medical Library for almost 13 years and was a member of our Content Management team. Her accomplishments were many, and we will always remember her fondly.

At a staff gathering following her passing, we remembered her for her professionalism and enthusiasm for her work in the library. Many remembered seeing her and her husband, Kevin, as they came and went from work together or met for their weekly lunch date. She had a sense of humor that made work more fun and those who came after her remembered how she made them feel welcome when they first started working here.

We all knew that Gloria was proud of her family and that they were the most important thing to her. She loved to talk about them and the awesome vacations they took. She was a legend for her amazing Christmas sweater and her distaste for long meetings. Whenever a meeting ended early, Gloria would break into a big smile. She was anxious to get back to work.

Gloria had recently begun a new role keeping the library’s research guides up to date with the latest editions of important medical texts and writing descriptions of them for library users. Her tireless efforts freed us to take on other tasks and contributed to improved resources for our students, faculty, and staff. The work she did will be valuable to us for a long time and we’ll remember her often as we use the products of that work to serve our users.

We will miss Gloria’s smile, her kindness, her sense of humor and her enthusiasm.  We feel fortunate to have worked with her.

That was Gloria

By Terri Bennett

If you have used FindIt,

That was Gloria.

If you have requested an article or book from ILLiad,

That was Gloria.

If you have used a Research Guide to get a textbook or journal,

That was Gloria.

If you have used the Database webpage,

That was Gloria.

Gloria helped so many IUSM faculty, researchers, staff and students but they didn’t realize it,

That was Gloria.

Gloria didn’t want recognition, she was happy knowing she did a job well done,

That was Gloria.

Gloria came to work every day and gave her best,

That was Gloria.

Reliable, dependable, kind, courteous, but mostly, she was everyone’s friend,

That was Gloria.

Gloria leaves behind people who loved her, a desire to be more like her and so many happy memories,

That was Gloria.

PoCUS Practice Room Open for Faculty and Students

Posted on by Ruth Lilly Medical Library

The Point of care Ultrasound or the (PoCUS) practice room is now open for faculty and students at IU School of Medicine. The PoCUS practice room is located on the second floor of the Ruth Lilly Medical Library. You can reserve the PoCUS room 204 online (see: https://library.mednet.iu.edu/reserve-rooms/) An account will need to be established. It may take up to 24 hours for your account creation confirmation. Once confirmed, you may reserve the equipment and room.

Important Forms:

Important Reminders:

  • Show your reservation confirmation to the circulation desk at the time of your reservation.
  • You will receive one Lumify device and one Butterfly PoCUS device.
  • Please return the devices to the circulation desk promptly at the end of your reservation time so others using the room will have access.
  • Masks must be worn at all times in the library and the practice room.
  • Circulation desk personnel will provide gloves and disinfectant wipes when the equipment is picked up.

Instructions for account creation, policies and an FAQ are located on the student mednet site.

We are Reopening our Physical Space

Posted on by Ruth Lilly Medical Library

Ruth Lilly Medical Library is reopening our physical space with careful consideration of the health and safety of our employees and all of our visitors. We will continue to offer resources and services online (such as 3D printing, research consults, and classes). Details regarding services available in-person and COVID-19 protocols are listed below.

The 24 hour study area will become available at 7am on July 27. The rest of the library will reopen on August 3. See our “Hours and Location” page for additional information. Hours may change based on changing circumstances related to the pandemic and university operations.

Services available in-person
(all other services and resources are available online)

​COVID-19 Protocols  

  • The RLML will adhere to the recommendations of Indiana University Return to Campus: The COVID-19 Guide for Departments ­­­­­
  • ​​Please follow instructions and guidance on signs in the library.
  • Masks will be required to enter the library.
  • Stay at least 6 feet apart from another individual
  • Avoid large gatherings​
  • Please disinfect the space you occupy before and/or after use
  • Campus provided hand sanitization will be accessible in multiple public locations throughout each floor of the building
  • Public microwave users will be asked to self-monitor microwave cleaning with Library/Campus provided cleaning supplies. ​
  • Stairwells, Elevators, Hallways
    • Recommend 1 person per time in elevators
    • Please maintain distance while going up and down the stairs.
  • Library Service Desk
    • Please stand on the X’s when waiting to speak to someone at our service desk
  • Study rooms
    • All study rooms are available on a first come first served basis.
    • It is recommended that only one person or household use the study rooms at a time.
  • Meeting rooms
Skip to toolbar