An exhibit to commemorate the endowment of the Historical Library Position though the Bequest of John Robinson Bumstead (1925-2003)

Historical Library, 1941. Photograph by Samuel Kravitz

The Historical Library, which houses one of the country’s finest historical medical collections, was part of the original design of the Yale Medical Library (now the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library), built in 1940 and dedicated in 1941. It was the vision of Harvey Cushing, who joined with his two friends and fellow bibliophiles, Arnold C. Klebs and John F. Fulton, in what they called -- with many inventive synonyms -- their “Trinitarian plan,” to donate their superb book collections to Yale if Yale would build a place to house them. As the plan matured it became wedded to the idea of creating a new medical library for the Yale University School of Medicine. Cushing was the driving force persuading Yale officials to realize his vision. He wanted the medical library to be the heart of the medical school and therefore specified that it be located on the main floor and that the old and new collections be equally accessible. After much delay, it was decided to build the library as a wing to the Sterling Hall of Medicine, using funds from the Sterling bequest. Cushing was informed of the University’s approval of the final plans on the day before his death in October 1939. The Yale Medical Library (now the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library) was built through 1940 and officially dedicated in 1941.

This exhibit, on display in the rotunda from June-October, 2004, commemorates the recent generous bequest of John Robinson Bumstead (1925-2003) which has been used to endow the position of Historical LIbrarian, now renamed the John Robinson Bumstead Librarian for Medical History. It honors Cushing, Fulton, and Klebs as well as several other early physician/scientist collectors and donors: Edward C. Streeter, donor of the Streeter Collection of Weights and Measures, Clements C. Fry, founder of the Fry Print Collection, Samuel Harvey, George Milton Smith, and Gertrude van Wagenen.