Since 1857, the collection of books, anatomical ephemera, manuscripts, pamphlets, and more at the New York Academy of Medicine Library has grown to encompass more than 32,000 items. You can go can explore the highlights of this fascinating collection on an upcoming lunchtime visit. On this special visit to the Rare Book Room, guests will see milestone anatomical illustrations, surgical texts, historical artifacts, and books on a range of topics, including alchemy, cookery, botany, natural history, and New York city history. Guests will learn about each of artifacts on display inside the historic library from Arlene Shaner, the Historical Collections Librarian at the New York Academy of Medicine. Some pieces in the collection date back to as early as the 15th century! You can join this event is you are Untapped New York Insider. Not an Insider yet? Become a member today to gain access to free behind-the-scenes tours and special events all year long. Check out photos from our first visit to the Rare Book Room in the gallery above!
Capacity: 18 Guests, Spots allocated on a first come first serve basis
Meeting Location: The New York Academy of Medicine 1216 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029 Enter at 103rd Street. The closest subway is the 4,5,6 at 103rd Street
The Academy Library began with only a three-volume set in January 1847 and was originally intended only for the use of the Medical College of the University of New York City Fellows. By the time the Library opened its doors to the general public in October 1878, the collection had grown to over 6,000 volumes. Over the centuries, the library has continued to grow thanks to personal and institutional gifts, including contributions from the collections of the Medical Journal Association, the Society of the New York Hospital, and the medical books of the New York Public Library. There are now around 32,000 rare books dating mostly from the 15th through the 18th centuries, as well as manuscripts, archives, pamphlets, ephemera, visual materials, and secondary references about the history of medicine and the history of books and printing in the library’s collection.
Nicole Saraniero is the Insider-in-Chief at Untapped New York, leading our Untapped New York Insiders membership program. Nicole graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Science in Televis
