Evelyn S. Field Library Blog

Oddities and Treasures of the Archive

I recently began working on filing and organizing the college archive located in the Evelyn S. Field Library. 

Wait, what? There's an archive on campus?

You betcha.

It's full of typical items like yearbooks, meeting minutes, photographs, college publications, et cetera. But, BUT! What's been really interesting to me is coming across artifacts that don't quite fit the mold and warrant a second look.

The first oddity / treasure that I came across in the archive is an interactive volvelle (wheel chart with working parts, an early version of a paper analog computer) of the human body titled Bodyscope. It goes into exquisite detail the workings of human anatomy and systems. The volume is quite large, roughly 1.5'x2' when closed. Opening the volume reveals four volvelle pages on two leaves. All inner workings are sound and in excellent working condition. 

The Crystal Bridges Library describes Bodyscope: 

Bodyscope, 1935 by Ralph and Theodore Segal, is an interactive volvelle teaching chart with moving discs of different anatomical parts and descriptions of the human body and organ systems. The large 20 1/2 by 16 inch bound boards allow cut away views of the torso that rotate, providing different perspectives of the internal organs of both male and female figures. Although scientific with anatomically correct imagery, the chart is embellished with period fonts, art deco borders, spandrels holding portraits of historical medical figures like Leonardo DaVinci and Charles Darwin, and period social and moral epigrams written by Ralph H. Segal. The first epigram reads:

God conceived our body with its life; dedicating its care and use to our keeping. Thus, it becomes man’s bounden duty to seek comprehension of the bodily processes so that with proper knowledge he can foster and maintain its health thru life’s mortal span.

On the shelf along with Bodyscope there lies a small leather folded wallet. Unclasp the wallet's single button and inside you'll find what appears to be a small stainless steel medical tool kit. 

Papers found inside indicate that the donor of Bodyscope (and presumably the medical tools as well), a practicing nurse, intended for the volume to be used as a teaching device for nursing students at RVCC.

The Archive at the Evelyn S. Field Library is open to members of the community, faculty, staff, and students. To access the archive, please make an appointment by contacting Megan Dempsey, Library Chair.