Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine

The Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine was established in 1976 to promote to the scholarly community the rich historical resources of the College's historical library and the Mütter Museum. The Institute sponsors conferences, occasional seminars, and short-term travel grants to researchers who require the resources of the museum and library. According to the History of Science Society, “the Wood Institute is the historical programming arm of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and serves to promote use of the collections of the College Library and the Mutter Museum,” (History of Science Society). One of the many programs of the Francis Clark Wood Institute for the History of Medicine includes the F.C. Wood Institute Short Term Fellowships which offer travel grants to “bona fide researchers who wish to study any component of the College’s collections, ” (America Association for the History of Medicine). While recipients of the grant may work within the library, other options include texts, specimens, images, and artifacts. Other programs include seminars, lectures, and conferences.

Today, “the Wood Institute for the History of Medicine embraces all collections at the College and fosters a scholarly and public dialogue on medical history,” (Philadelphia Area Center for the History of Science).

Bibliography: American Association for the History of Medicine (accessed February 1, 2010). http://www.histmed.org/fellowships.htm

College of Physicians of Philadelphia (accessed February 1, 2010). http://www.collphyphil.org/library_wood_institute.htm

History of Science Society (accessed February 1, 2010). http://www.hssonline.org/guide/institution_detail.lasso?-Search=Action&-Table=Institutions%20web&-Database=hssguides&-KeyValue=76

Philadelphia Area Center for the History of Science (accessed February 1, 2010). http://www.pachs.net/members/archive/college_of_physicians_of_philadelphia/