The Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library is devoted to preserving the heritage of osteopathic medicine and to preserve the history of the UNTHSC through its Special Collections. Special Collections houses rare, valuable, and fragile materials in several historical collections.

The Rare Book Room houses over 2,900 volumes providing historical continuity to the center’s research and instructional programs. A major focus is a comprehensive collection on osteopathic medicine, containing the complete works of its founder, Andrew Taylor Still and early pioneers of the profession as well as contemporary professional and popular works written by osteopathic physicians worldwide. Related works on orthopedic manipulation, manual medicine, and bone setting document the historical development of manipulation as a therapeutic modality. Historical perspective is provided through representative late 19th and early 20th century texts of American medicine, including examples of the many alternative medical theories and therapies that arose during that period, such as chiropractic, eclecticism, herbalism, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, mental healing, and naturopathy. Included are early medical imprints, reprints and facsimiles of classic early works, and biographies.

The Archives documents the history of the UNTHSC and the osteopathic profession in Texas. Materials include institutional records, reports, publications, correspondence, photographs, slides, realia and the personal and professional papers of faculty, administrators, and alumni. The Oral History Collection preserves the memoirs of over 70 individuals important to the institution and to osteopathic medicine in Texas. In addition, the Archives houses three notable collections:

• The William G. Sutherland Collection is a unique collection of the books private papers, publications, lectures, and memorabilia of William Garner Sutherland, DO (1983-1954), the discoverer of cranial osteopathy, and the correspondence, study guides, photographs and official records relating to the Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation.

• The Texas Osteopathic Medicine Association Archives documents the history of the osteopathic profession in Texas from its founding in 1900 and contains meeting minutes, records, correspondence, membership directories and copies of the association’s journal from 1927 to 1989.

• The Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas (OMCT) Collection contains selected records, photographs, and memorabilia from TCOM’s primary teaching facility and the largest osteopathic hospital in Texas. Materials date from its founding in 1946 until its closing in 2004.

A Medical Memorabilia Collection includes portraits, diplomas, awards, and other personal artifacts of significant individuals, a 19th century patent medicine case, an early family doctor's black bag with its contents, and medical instruments, including several 19th and 20th century microscopes.

SERVICES: Reference services provided by mail, telephone, and email. Materials must be used in the Library. Photocopies or scanned images of primary materials are provided depending on their condition. Secondary materials and photocopied or scanned primary materials are available on interlibrary loan.

HOURS: Located on the third floor of the Library, materials are available by appointment or upon request, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Closed on university and library holidays.

Approximately 3,000 volumes, including 490 volumes from the 17th to the 19th century, 325 serial volumes, 960 theses and dissertations, over 5,000 photographs, and 268 linear feet of institutional archives and organizational records. All books, theses, and serials are searchable through the library online catalog and entered in OCLC.