Explore Exhibits
Displaying exhibits 1 - 10 of 28 in total
Operation Saving Lives
Current surgery northwestern military medicine world war ii Aug 13, 2019 - PresentNorthwestern as the 12th General Hospital during World War II Location: Second Floor Study Area
During World War II, Northwestern physicians banded with Chicago-area nurses, enlisted men, and Red Cross civilians to form the 12th General Hospital Unit, treating nearly 30,000 patients in the North African and Mediterranean theaters.
Pathways in Medicine
Current northwestern biography 19th century Apr 1, 2021 - PresentVignettes of Notable Faculty and Alumni/ae Location: Second Floor Window Display
Features four early graduates of the medical school, highlighting their backgrounds and cultural identities, which were especially underrepresented in mid- to late 19th century American medicine, their accomplishments, and the different directions their medical careers took them.
The Stormy Petrel & the Bull Moose
Current northwestern american history 20th century surgery political history chicago Jul 18, 2023 - PresentJ.B. Murphy & the Attempted Assassination of Theodore Roosevelt Location: Eisenberg Gallery
In October 1912, a would-be assassin's bullet brought former president Theodore Roosevelt into the path of renowned Chicago surgeon John Benjamin Murphy. This exhibit tells the story of the chance encounter between these larger-than-life figures in American history, exploring Murphy’s colorful career as well as the aftermath of Roosevelt’s shooting.
Visualizing a Century of Public Health
Current public health 20th century art Feb 13, 2025 - PresentA Graphic Art Retrospective Location: Galter Library Mezzanine
Visit the library's Mezzanine to explore these striking, high-quality reproductions of historic public health posters, curated from the National Library of Medicine Digital Collections, the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, and other repositories. Whether you’re interested in medical history, design, or public health communication, this collection offers a fascinating glimpse into the past—and a reflection on how we continue to tell stories of health and wellness today.
In Pursuit of a Grand Cause
Current women's history northwestern biography 19th century Mar 12, 2020 - PresentHighlighting exceptional students and faculty of the Northwestern University Woman's Medical School Location: Second Floor Hallway
Created in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Northwestern University Woman's Medical School, formerly Woman's Hospital Medical College of Chicago, this exhibit presents a brief history of the school and focuses on the lives of four women who were either graduates and faculty members of the school.
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back
Current public health american history mental health psychiatry Feb 5, 2026 - Jul 31, 2026The Continued Struggle to Treat Mental Illness in America Location: Eckenhoff Reading Room
Like a path through a maze, medical and societal responses to mental illness in America have seen shifts and turns of imperfect progress.
Care & Custody
Current traveling exhibit public health mental health american history Feb 5, 2026 - Mar 21, 2026Past Responses to Mental Health Location: Library Atrium
Over the past 200 years, a tension has existed between care and custody as responses to people with mental health conditions.
Galter in Bloom
botany art Oct 7, 2025 - Feb 5, 2026500 Years of Botanical Illustration Location: Eckenhoff Reading Room
Step into a bibliographic garden of flowers, fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs and admire a selection of illustrations spanning centuries and printing techniques, all curated from the library's collection of botanical books. Examine how visual imagery can be affected by color, size, technique, purpose, and more.
From the South Side to Streeterville
northwestern chicago 20th century medical education May 1, 2025 - Oct 6, 2025The Creation of the Chicago Campus Location: Eckenhoff Reading Room
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the groundbreaking of the Feinberg School of Medicine’s Ward building (May 8, 1925), this exhibit explores the story of the medical school’s move to Streeterville, including its former locations, the decision to move, the world of medical education and progress in the early 20th century, and the financial campaigns that raised millions to create the Chicago Campus.
Reviving the Body
science 19th century 18th century literature Oct 7, 2024 - Apr 29, 2025Science, Frankenstein, and the "Spark of Life" Location: Eckenhoff Reading Room
Discover the scientific theories that inspired the animation of Frankenstein’s monster in Mary Shelley’s classic gothic horror novel, Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus. Researchers argued that galvanism, a sort of electricity they believed was the life force in all animals, could be used to resuscitate people, or possibly even reanimate a corpse. “How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge (Ch. 4),” especially when a spark can generate life?