About the collections
The Allard Pierson manages extensive collections on medical topics. The book collection covers a wide range of subjects, from anatomical and surgical works to pharmacopoeias and materia medica (pharmacology), dating from the fifteenth to the early twentieth century. In addition to over 10,000 printed works before 1800, there are around 1,000 manuscripts and 800 letters.
One of the most significant loans is that of the Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG), which includes an important collection of writings by and about Herman Boerhaave (1668–1738), manuscripts and drawings by Petrus Camper (1722–1789), and numerous works on midwifery and gynaecology.
There is also a variety of archival material in the field of medicine, ranging from lecture notes (1720–circa 1970) and professor’s archives to the collection of the Vereniging tegen de Kwakzalverij (Society Against Quackery) and the archive of the Mavors Medicator student union. Notable collections are the Social Medicine collection and the Hygiene and Tropical Medicine collection. In addition, the Allard Pierson holds a significant collection of photographs from the former Binnengasthuis, the Wilhelmina Gasthuis, and the AMC (Amsterdam Medical Center).
Priority areas / highlights
- Royal Dutch Society for the Advancement of Medicine (KNMG)
- Gynaecology
- Genootschap ter Bevordering van Natuur-, Genees- en Heelkunde (Association for advancement of natural science, medicine and surgery)
- Anatomical atlases
- Professors' archives
- Petrus Camper
Searching the collections
Various collections can be found through Collection descriptions. There are three printed catalogues of the KNMG collection (1930, 1949, 1980). All titles of the early printed books and related literature can be accessed through the online Catalogue.
More information about content, acquisition, and provenance of specific collections can be found in ArchivesSpace. The reference library in the Research Room houses journals, reference works, bibliographies and printed catalogues of manuscripts and printed books.
Contact persons
- Myriam van der Hoek
Curator of the History of Science
Send an email: m.vanderhoek@uva.nl
UvA Staff page: Myriam van der Hoek - Esther Boeles
Curator of University History
Send an email: e.boeles@uva.nl
UvA Staff page: Esther Boeles
Support the Allard Pierson
Your contribution makes it possible to acquire, expand and restore collections, to undertake research into the collections, develop educational programmes and present them to tens of thousands of visitors a year. Can we count you in?
