We welcome today five new member institutions. The Consortium, which was founded by 11 Philadelphia institutions in 2007, now has 24 members from across the United States and Canada. Joining the Consortium this year are:
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Cold Spring Harbor, NY, has played a central role in the development of molecular genetics and molecular biology and pursues research programs focusing on cancer, neuroscience, plant genetics, genomics and quantitative biology.
The History of Science Society is the world’s largest society dedicated to understanding science, technology, medicine and their interactions with society in historical context.
The Newberry Library in Chicago, IL, holds abundant sources for primary research with large collections of scientific almanacs from the 16th century on, as well as materials on the history of printing and the book arts, sources for the study of biology, botany, zoology, geology, agriculture, horticulture and other natural and earth sciences, with a particular concentration on the Midwest and the American West.
Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR, holds collections with particular strengths in the life sciences, environmental sciences, and nuclear issues, including the Ava Helen and Linus Pauling collection spanning the history of chemistry, biomedical research, radiation effects, and peace activism. Twentieth century strengths are balanced by a diverse collection of early modern, 18th, and 19th century works with concentrations in herbals and botany, early chemistry, electricity, and science education for children.
The Rockefeller Archive Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY, is a repository of historic documents in a wide variety of media and a research center dedicated to the study of philanthropy and the diverse domains shaped by philanthropy. It is also a major repository for the personal papers of leaders of the philanthropic community, Nobel Prize laureates, and world-renowned investigators in science and medicine.
The synergies of this consortium reflect the vibrant diversity and energy in our field. The world-class collections allied together are astonishing and fascinating. New scholarship growing out of our collaborations is guiding critical new interpretations and insights into the history of science, technology and medicine. By any metric, the consortium is a stunning success and we are delighted to welcome our new partners.
-M. Susan Lindee, Board Chair, Consortium for History of Science, Technology and Medicine