Complete 45 print series of "A History of Medicine in Pictures" produced by Parke, Davis & Company.
"A History of Medicine in Pictures" was the second series produced by Parke, Davis & Company. The first series, "Great Moments in Pharmacy," is a 40 oil painting series thought of by George A. Bender, a pharmacist, during the Great Depression. He was inspired by a series of illustrations depicting episodes in the history of surgery sponsored by Davis & Geck, and then another series of prints, "Search and Research," sponsored by Abbott Laboratories. Bender approached Abbott Laboratories about doing a similar series for pharmacy, but was turned down. Close to ten years later, in 1947, Bender joined Parke-Davis as editor of "Modern Pharmacy." In 1949, he wrote and submitted a seven-page proposal to Parke-Davis executives, providing estimated costs for 27 paintings and identified the advantages that such a project would provide to the sponsoring firm. His proposal was approved.
Robert A. Thom was selected as the artist for the series and began working on the 40 most important events in pharmacy's history. All 40 paintings in the pharmacy series were exhibited together for the first time at the 1956 American Pharmaceutical Association Annual Meeting in Detroit.
In 1953, Parke-Davis Vice President Carl Johnson suggested that a similar series should be developed for the history of medicine. Four years later, "A History of Medicine in Pictures" began publication in the January 1957 issue of the Parke-Davis journal "Therapeutic Notes." New prints were released each year until 1964. After 1961, doctors received sets of six prints with illustrated instructions on how to frame and hang them for the best effect. The 45 painting series highlights major developments and the general evolution of medicine beginning in ancient Egypt.
Both series, "Great Moments in Pharmacy" and "A History of Medicine in Pictures," were published in book form in 1966 by Northwood Institute Press.
Complete 45 print series of "A History of Medicine in Pictures" produced by Parke, Davis & Company. The series depicts the development of medicine beginning in ancient Egypt. Other prints depict Hippocrates, Vesalius, Lind, Jenner, and Pasteur. The prints were meant to be framed, and included a description of each that could be attached to the backs of the framed prints.
Donor information unknown
Gift of Nicholas Benson.
Processed by Ashley Williams, 2016. Updated by Layne Carpenter, 2020.
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
English
Great moments in medicine : the stories and paintings in the series. A history of medicine in pictures, The William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Artwork and Prints (CD 01.79), The William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.