Library: Art and Artifact Collection Scope

Artifact Scope

The Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library Artifact Collection holds material that documents the origins, history, development, activities, and areas of emphasis in research, education, and clinical care at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and its affiliated hospitals (past and present). Additionally, it holds collections about health sciences in Nebraska that document hospital history and health sciences professional organizations.

Artifact materials are collected to support the information, instruction, and research needs of UNMC students, faculty, staff, visiting researchers, and the public. Materials are also collected with the intent of exhibiting UNMC history in the Wigton Heritage Center.

The collections are composed of rare and unique two- and three-dimensional materials created and accumulated by UNMC and its constituent members, as well as from individuals and organizations external to the medical center throughout Nebraska.

Archives staff continue to build on traditional collection strengths obtained through donations and other opportunities while responding to changes in administrative functions, scholarly or research interests, and university curriculum by developing new collections.  

Archives staff are committed to developing all the following collections by acquiring unique and distinctive items not held by other libraries.

Collection Profiles:

• Artifacts tied to the history of UNMC and affiliate hospitals, partners, or communities (past and present) based on current active collecting areas identified in the larger archive scope.
• Artifacts highlighting the history of health sciences in Nebraska – This focus is secondary and done with the intent of partnering with History Nebraska and other local and regional historical institutions to minimize competition for materials.
• Education and Exhibit collection – This focus is currently under development based on future inventory of artifact holdings; use for programming, exhibit, or handling until degraded.

Material not collected:

• Collections
  • Collections unrelated to the university's academic mission or the library's existing holdings
  • Collections unrelated to the history of health sciences in Nebraska
  • Collections that lack documented and verifiable provenance information
• Materials
  • Duplicates of material already in the artifact collections unless the duplicate copy is in better condition or has more complete provenance.
  • Material in poor physical condition
  • Material containing hazardous materials, mold, insect infestation, or dampness.
  • Plaques, busts, and statuesque awards

Art Scope

The Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library Art Collection holds material focused on the history of health sciences and the adjacent field of medical humanities. The primary emphasis is on materials with significant provenance and use case for health science education and research.

Collection Profile:

• History of health sciences with significant provenance and use case for education and research. Examples include subject matter related to historical moments, health science subject matter or artist, or health science influence or material.
• This is not a current active collecting focus for the library.

Material not collected:

• Plaques, busts, and statuette awards
• Faculty portraiture
• Duplicates of material already in the art collections unless the duplicate copy is in better condition.
• Material in poor physical condition
• Material containing hazardous materials, mold, insect infestation, containing body or biohazard material, or dampness.
• Office décor/kitsch/general interest pieces

Art and artifact donations must have a verifiable history of ownership (provenance).  For legal and ethical reasons, the library does not acquire an object without proof that it was outside its country of origin before 1970 or legally exported. The library does not collect cultural property without provenance, human remains, or objects containing hazardous materials.