Books and People: The Founding of the Montpellier School of Medicine Library
Exhibition organized by the Historical Library of Medicine
Reopening as part of the events marking the 800th anniversary of the Montpellier School of Medicine:
Thursday, October 22 through Saturday, October 31, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Dates: September 21–November 9, 2019
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 1:00 PM–5:30 PM
Guided tours on Saturdays at 3:30 PM starting September 28
Location: Exhibition halls of the Faculty of Medicine, historic building
Poster
Catalog
Books and People: The Founding of the Montpellier School of Medicine Library. Exhibition catalog (2019), 56 pp. €10
Did you know? The Montpellier School of Medicine has an encyclopedic library, which is quite unique in France.
In 2020, the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine is celebrating the 800th anniversary of its founding. To mark the occasion, the historic university medical library is pulling out all the stops and unveiling some of its most precious books to the public.
These volumes were assembled over the course of a few decades at the turn ofthe 19th centurythanks to the decisive efforts of enlightened men (Haguenot, Prunelle, Chaptal, Barthez, and others), who made it possible to dramatically expand the library’s collections.
The result is a heritage collection of exceptional richness: medieval and modern manuscripts, incunabula, and other early printed works come together in a collection that is remarkable for its diversity and scholarly value. Unique in its encyclopedic scope, it embodies a humanistic vision of medical education and the “art of healing.”
As you explore this exhibition, you will discover the history of the library, from its humble beginnings—marked by the 1767 bequest of the personal library of Henri Haguenot, a physician and professor of medicine—to its significant expansion across numerous fields of knowledge following the French Revolution, spearheaded by Gabriel Prunelle.
Two presentations provided further insight:
- Pierre-Yves Lacour: “Collections and Provincial Museums Around 1800: From a Heritage Perspective to an Educational Perspective.” Thursday, October 10, at 6:00 p.m.
- Thierry Lavabre-Bertrand: “The Educational Program of the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine inthe 19th Century.” Tuesday, October 22, at 6:00 p.m., in the Macabies Room, the Faculty of Medicine’s historic building.
Photo credits: University of Montpellier / SCDI Montpellier – Photography Department