Antall József szerk.: Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 5. (Budapest, 1972)

The Organization and Collections of the Semmelweis Medical Historical Museum, Library and Archives

1903. One of the chief organizers was dr. Gyula Orient. The material of the Hungarian Pharmaceutical Museum at Kolozsvár was arranged in 8 collections, its stock exceeding 1000 pieces. Attempts for establishing a pharmaceutical museum in Budapest resulted in the foundation of the "József Ernyey" Pharmaceutical Museum in 1948. Its material derived from the collection of the Pharmaceutical Institute and that of the National Museum. It ceased its activity in 1963. Most of the material was taken over by the Semmelweis Medical Historical Museum being under organization. A smaller part was left in the keeping of the Institute of Pharmacognosy at the Medical University in Budapest where it is used for demonstrating the lectures on pharmaceutical history. The preparation of the Semmelweis Medical Historical Museum started in the 1950's. In 1958 a preparatory committee was formed and statutory provisions appeared concerning the announcement of museum pieces. In 1962 the Budapest Municipal Council conveyed the birthplace of Ignác Semmelweis to the Ministry of Health. After restorations of the building the institute moved in the new home and the registration and description of the accumulated material could now start. The bases of the present collection are the objects of the Medical Historical Museum of the Association of Physicians (1905), the Pharmaceutical Museum of the Association of Pharmacists (1906) later transformed into the "József Ernyey" Pharmaceutical Museum (1948) and the material collected by the Medical Historical Library (old apothecary jars, spa glasses, the wellknown numismatic collection of Faludi etc.). The material is completed by material received from all parts of the country and presented by other institutions. A new decision in 1966 placed the baroque pharmacy of the Castle district (I. Tárnok u. 18.) under the aere of the Museum. The preparations are under way, the scientific research completed, and soon the pharmacy to the "Arany Sas" (Golden Eagle) can be opened as a pharmaceutical historical museum. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SEMMELWEIS MEDICAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM, LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES Our institution - despite its wide-ranging collection and activity - belongs to the smaller institutes. The institute is headed by the general director and the deputy general director. Next to the board of directors is the Scientific Council in advisory role. Its members are appointed by the minister of health from among the professors of the medical universities of the country, ministeries and specialists concerned. The deputy general director is the director of the Library and Archives and editor of the scientific periodical of the institute entitled Orvostörténeti Közlemények (Communicationes de História Ar is