FLY members met over their lunch hours at the Cushing Library, at 333 Cedar Street on the Medical School side of campus, for a tour of the library and collections. They were treated to an informative and entertaining tour with Terry Dagradi, the Cushing Center Coordinator. She talked about the founding of the library, its historic collections, and most interestingly gave members a guided tour of the private collection of the Library’s namesake, Dr. Harvey Cushing. This collection is know as the Cushing Tumor Registry, and it represents the work of Cushing from 1900 to 1933. It is comprised of hundreds of preserved brains in jars, which represent some of the earliest specimens of brain tumors. The collection also includes over 10,000 photographic plates of Cushing’s patients, which depict brain surgery scars, birth defects, and other diseases.
The Cushing Collection can be accessed by anyone with a valid Yale ID, as well as accompanied guests. More information about visiting the Collection, as well as additional tour dates, can be found on their website.