Medical Sciences Film Collection
name: label: Creator
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Medical Sciences
label: Creator
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Medical Sciences
topic: label: Topic
content: Dentistry
label: Topic
content: Medical sciences
label: Topic
content: Public health
label: Topic
content: Child care
label: Topic
content: Childbirth -- 1930-1960
label: Topic
content: Pharmacology
label: Topic
content: Medical education
label: Topic
content: Surgery
label: Topic
content: Medical Equipment
creator: label: Creator
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Medical Sciences
label: Creator
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Medical Sciences
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medical Sciences Film Collection
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 36 Cubic feet (81 Films, 16mm)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1938-1974
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Medical Sciences (now Division of Medicine and Science), June 1986.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0222
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Motion pictures (visual works)
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Divided into 5 series.

Series 1: Technical Medical films

Series 2: Dental Films

Series 3: Public Health and Nursing Films

Series 4: Pharmaceutical Films

Series 5: Advertisements
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Elizabeth Hollands, 1991.

In general, the film descriptions in this guide record only the data presented in the films themselves. And in most cases this is quite sketchy. Additional research has been conducted on only a few items.

Except for two items with non-accession numbers, no acquisition records came with the films. A number of the prints appear to have come from the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Health Departments; others probably from a variety of individuals and companies.

A "Film Directory, Medical Sciences Division, NMAH" lists some of these titles with some additional information, which is too sketchy and unexplained to use here. This directory/inventory also includes additional material (in other media) not transferred to the Archives Center and Adventures in Science. which is a separate collection in the Archives Center.

The Collection also includes many titles not on the inventory, many of which appear on Carol Dreyfus's "Medical Sciences Film Catalogue." A CD memo (7/86) in the Control File refers to her handwritten list of additional films brought down. These may be the basis of her "Catalogue."

The series organization probably was made in the Archives Center, and that organization has been retained in the guide for its informational value. However, the 16mm reels (cans, really; a few cans contain more than one roll) have been assigned item numbers, which result in a different organization on the shelves. Each title entry includes its item number. A card file (Films/Shelf Locations) lists all titles, with item numbers, in one alphabetical sequence. The card file also has a Shelflist with all items in numerical order.

Except for material described under Genetic Studies of Infant Behavior. all films have been numbered with a reference print designation. All appear to be release prints, and many are worn. However, no research has been done on the rarity of these prints, so all should be used with caution. Some, no doubt, should be duplicated and retired from use. Any film found worthy of preservation or special protection should be moved to the OF designation.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Motion pictures (visual works)
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Films vary in subject, production source, and intended audience. Includes both silent and sound black-and-white, and color films with sound.