The UCSF Archives and Special Collections houses a diverse and growing collection of health sciences artifacts. The objects range from antiquities to modern items, with the bulk of the collection dated 18th-20th century. From microscopes to surgical kits to nursing uniforms, the artifacts demonstrate the development of a wide variety of health sciences tools and techniques.
A detailed inventory of the artifact collection is available in the archives. Please contact us if you would like to research the collection. A small portion of the artifacts have been made digitally available on Calisphere. You can also learn about selected artifacts by reading our blog, Brought to Light, or following @ucsf_archives on Twitter and searching #ArtifactFriday.
We accept donations of health sciences artifacts. Learn more about donating material.
Search Calisphere to see digitized materials.