The collection is focused on the history of Minneapolis' Public Hospital, founded in 1887 as Minneapolis City Hospital, and includes photographs, archival materials, oral histories, medical equipment, and uniforms and other textiles. Historical materials document the diversity of life and work in a busy urban hospital, from the laundry to the operating room. Collections are particularly strong in the history of emergency services, particularly emergency nursing, the history of polio (Minneapolis General Hospital supported Sister Kenny), nursing history, the history of renal transplantation and dialysis, and the planning, development, and building of the 1976 new hospital building. We provide photocopying and reference service in person and via phone, mail and email. Materials may not be removed from the museum. A portion of our photographic collection is available online through the Minnesota Digital Library at: http://reflections.mndigital.org. building of a new hospital building in 1976, shared services with an adjacent private hospital system, and progress towards the current Hennepin Healthcare system.

Collection is focused on archival, photographic, and artifact holdings from 1887 to the present.