UNMC Offers Digital Exploration of the ACS’s Orr Rare Books Collection

The ACS Archives is a unique repository for the study of the history of medicine in North America in the 20th century, offering members a look back into the formative years of the College and its first Fellows. A significant element of the Archives is its collected papers and resources, including the rare books collection of H. Winnett Orr, MD, FACS, which he donated to the College in the 1930s. Today, through modern digital technology, surgeon historians and any interested member can view selections from this collection online.

Dr. Orr spent most of his career practicing and teaching in Nebraska, so in 1974, his collection was transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, on permanent loan, to be cared for properly and  for UNMC students’ and the general public’s use in research. The collection is housed in two high-security rooms in the library, and books are regularly displayed in exhibits.

The UNMC opened the Wigton Heritage Center in 2021 as a welcome center to the UNMC campus. In honor of its 1-year anniversary, the UNMC McGoogan Health Science Library launched a new online exhibit portal. The portal features digital exploration of current in-person exhibits, as well as background on the collections of the library.

The new online exhibit portal features the Orr Collection, with details on Dr. Orr, the collection itself, and rotating digital images of the books on display. The exhibit featuring the collection can be viewed on the UNMC website.

In addition, ACS members can read A Catalogue of The H. Winnett Orr Historical Collection and Other Rare Books in the Library of the American College of Surgeons for a complete overview of the collection as it existed in 1960.