As part of its mission to document the history of the health sciences both generally and at Columbia University, Archives & Special Collections actively collects the personal papers of those men and women who have had distinguished careers in medicine, nursing, dentistry or public health. In addition, we may acquire records of health care organizations in the New York City area and individual manuscripts, such as letters, student notebooks, or physician's casebooks, if they have some connection with Columbia University, the Presbyterian Hospital, or New York.
Personal papers and manuscripts date from the 16th century to the present with the bulk being from the last century. Included are the papers of Nobel Laureates André Cournand and Dickinson Richards; plastic surgery pioneer and historian of medicine Jerome P. Webster; community psychiatrist and social activist Viola Bernard; biochemist and dental education reformer William Gies; early dyslexia researchers Samuel and June Lyday Orton; and AIDS activist Mathilde Krim, among many others.
Organizational records include those of the Maternity Center Association, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, and Gilda's Club.
Records of most manuscript collections are included in CLIO, the library's catalog.