Discover the world of health sciences through rare books. Hiram Winnett Orr, MD, FACS, spent his career practicing medicine in Nebraska. He was influential in orthopedic surgery, helping to establish it in the state and promoting its military medical applications during World War I.
An avid rare book collector, he donated his extensive collection to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in the 1930s. The ACS gave the collection to McGoogan Library as a permanent loan in 1974. For 50 years, McGoogan Library has stewarded the collection, making the volumes accessible to researchers and all interested in how knowledge of the health sciences has changed over time.
The Orthopedics and Beyond: The H. Winnett Orr Rare Book Collection at a Half-Century exhibition runs through June 9, 2025. Each month, library staff will rotate the books on display to highlight a new topic of interest in the collection. The entire exhibition can be viewed by visiting Level 8 in McGoogan Library (located in Wittson Hall) or through an online format. Please note that the library is 24/7 badge access only. Guests need to be accompanied by library or university staff.
Exhibition schedule:
- October 10–November 7: American Civil War
- November 7–December 5: World War I
- December 5–January 9: The Works of Charles Dickens
- January 9–February 6: Orthopedics
- February 6–March 6: The Works of William Shakespeare
- March 6–April 3: Female Perspectives on Life and Medicine
- April 3–May 1: Joseph Lister
- May 1–June 9: Taking Time Off: Physicians on Holiday
Learn more about the library’s special collections and archives.