Secondary Sources

The History of Health and Medicine collection in the Health Sciences Library includes a great variety of books and periodicals that might help you in your research. In general these are the histories of subjects, biographies, personal narratives, indexes and periodicals in the history of health and medicine.

 

How can I find secondary sources in the library catalogue on the history of health and medicine?

Search using keywords such as:

• History of Medicine 19th cent history
• History of Nursing history
• Obstetrics history Canada
• Surgery history United States
• Military Nursing history England
• Osler, William
• Nightingale, Florence

How can I find secondary sources in the library catalogue on the history of health and medicine specific to Hamilton, Ontario?

Try using the following keywords:

• History of Medicine 19th cent Ontario Hamilton
• History of Medicine, 20th cent Ontario Hamilton
• History of Nursing Ontario Hamilton
• Hospitals : Hospitals history Ontario Hamilton
• Hospitals, General history Ontario Hamilton
• Hospitals, Special history Ontario Hamilton
• Hospitals, Psychiatric history Ontario Hamilton
• Physicians: Physicians Ontario Hamilton biography
• Physicians Ontario Hamilton personal narratives
• Nurses: Nurses Ontario Hamilton biography
• Nurses Ontario Hamilton personal narratives
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary history Ontario Hamilton
• Influenza history Ontario Hamilton

Books About Hamilton Physicians

• Campbell, Marjorie Freeman. Holbrook of the San.Toronto, Ont. Ryerson Press,1953.
• Stott, R. M. Hamilton’s doctors, 1863-1935: guardians of the city’s health. Hamilton Academy of Medicine, 1995.
• Smith, Edward A.W. Hamilton’s doctors, 1932-1982. Ambrose McGuie Museum, 2004
• Smith, Edward A.W.  Healers and healing in the Dundas valley. Dundas Museum and Archives,  2009.
• Roland, Charles. Noted surgeon, fine citizen: the life of Archibald E. Malloch, M.D. 1844-1919. McGill University, 2008.

Books About Hamilton Hospitals

• Zeidler, Eberhard. Healing the hospital: McMaster Health Sciences Centre, its conceptioin and evolution. Zeidler Partnership, 1974.
• Hamilton Mountain Heritage Society. Mountain memories: a pictorial history of Hamilton mountain. History Ontario Hamilton, 2000 (Henderson, Mount Hamilton Hospitals)
• Burkholder, Mabel. Barton on the mountain. Mabel Burkholder, 1956. (Henderson, Mount Hamilton Hospitals)
• McGregor Clinic. McGregor Clinic bulletin: fortieth anniversary edition. Ambrose McGuie Clinic. 1962.
• Williamson, Robert (editor) Chedoke: more than a sanatorium. Hamilton Health Sciences, 2006.

Books About Nursing in Hamilton

• Campbell, Marjorie Freeman. The Hamilton General Hospital School of Nursing, 1890-1955.Toronto, Ont. : Ryerson Press,1956.
• Savage, Peggy. To serve with honour :the story of St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, 1890-1990. Toronto : Dundurn Press, 1990.

Books About Tuberculosis in Hamilton

• Grygier, Pat. Long way from home: tuberculosis among the Inuit. Montreal, Que.: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1994.
• Herring, D. Ann (editor) Before the ‘san’ tuberculosis in Hamilton at the turn of the century. Hamilton, Ont. :Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University,2007.
• Williamson, Robert (editor) Chedoke: more than a sanatorium. Hamilton Health Sciences, 2006.

Primary Sources

Primary sources are records and publications contemporary to the period you are researching. For example: magazines,  newspapers, books about some aspect of health care, brochures, photographs, correspondence, reports, posters and even artifacts are primary resources. Autobiographies and oral histories are also primary sources. These sources are usually located in archives and research collections. Appointments must be made with the archivists to use these collections.

McMaster's Archives and Research Collections

• Archives of Hamilton Health Sciences and the Faculty of Health Sciences
  Location: Health Sciences Library, Rm. 1B31. On lower lever in the library.
  Ph: 905-525-9240 x 22928.
  Email: mckeage@mcmaster.ca
  

  The collections cover administrative records of all the Hospitals under the aegis of Hamilton Health Sciences, Chedoke, Henderson, General, St. Peter’s, Juravinski Cancer Centre and  the Mountain Sanatorium, 1906-1960. They also cover the foundation of McMaster University Medical school, the School of Nursing, School of Rehabilitation, Midwifery, and Physician Assistant programs.

• History of Health and Medicine Collection, Health Sciences Library
  Location: Health Sciences Library, Rm. 1B31. On lower level of the library.
  Ph: 905-525-9240 x 22928.
  Email: mckeage@mcmaster.ca
  

  The collection includes Canadian medical periodicals from the 19th century on microfiche which are a wonderful primary resource in health care.  Physicians wrote articles about interesting cases, controversial topics. Its also a good source for obituaries. Contemporary printed material on all aspects of health care is available for use by searchers. A collection of medical ephemera includes public health brochures, isolation posters, and advertisements for patent medicines. A collection of 19th century annual reports of insane asylums from Canada, United States and Great Britain and Ireland provide administrative reports, case reports and statistics. A collection of annual reports by the Provincial Board of Health for Ontario, 1882-1918.  The annual reports for the Board of Health for Ontario Dept of Public Health for Ontario, 1927-1952 provide administrative reports, case reports and statistics.

• The William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections, McMaster University
  Location: basement of Mills Library, McMaster University.
  

  The collections cover many aspects of the history of health care in Canada. Search the library catalogue. Talk to an archivist.

Archives and Research Collections of Canada, Ontario and Hamilton

• The Archives of Ontario
  

  Located at York University, Toronto, Ontario collects records in all aspects of the history of Ontario.

• National Archives of Canada
  

  Located in Ottawa, Ontario collects records in all aspects of the history of Canada.

• Canadian Archival Information Network - ArchivesCanada.ca
  

  A database of holdings in archives across Canada.

• Hamilton Historical Board
  

  This organization is interested in all aspects of Hamilton history. It has published widely in Hamilton history. Its website is worth a look. The links for other organizations interested in the history of Hamilton are extensive.

• Vintage Postcards of Hamilton, Ontario An online collection of 1500 postcards indexed by subject so you can find what you're interested in. A very interesting resource.
• Hamilton Public Library's Local History and Archives Department
  Location: Central Library, Hamilton Public Library.
  55 York Boulevard Ontario, L8N 4E4
  Ph: 905- 546-3408.
  Email: AskHPL@hpl.ca
  

  The collections include many records related to the history of health care in Hamilton and surrounding communities. Talk to the archivist.

• Hamilton Spectator (Articles and Photographs)
  

  The Hamilton Spectator has published continuously since 1846. It’s a great source for all aspects of Hamilton history. The paper is available on microfilm at Mills Library. Photographs of the Hamilton Spectator are stored at the Hamilton Public Library's Local History and Archives.

  The digitized archive of the Hamilton Spectator goes back to 1991. It is intended for the use by Spectator staff. However the public can search the database and get copies of articles for a fee. Hamilton Spectator Archive
  Ph: 905-526-3315
  E-mail:  tdanciu@thespec.com

• Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton Archives
  Location: Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton, Box 155, L.C.D. #1, Hamilton Ontario, L8L 7V7
  Ph: 905-528-0138
  Fax: 905-528-8883
  Email: csjcomm@csjhamilton.org
  

  All the archival records for St. Joseph's Hospital, 1890- are located here.

• Vernor's Directory of the City of Hamilton, 1922 This directory has been digitized and is textword searchable. Find names and addresses.
• Victorian Order of Nurses. VON Hamilton
  Location: 414 Victoria Avenue North, Ste. M2, Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 5G8
  Phone: (905) 529-0700
  Fax: (905) 667-0563 (admin)
  Email:Irene.Pasel@von.ca
  

  The headquarters of the Hamilton chapter contains a  collection of nursing equipment artifacts relating to the Victorian Order of Nurses in Hamilton. This a private collection and permission must be to view the collection must be requested from the Executive Director.

Hamilton Museum Archival Collections

• Ambrose McGhie Medical Museum
  Location:The Hamilton Academy of Medicine, 1 Young Street, Suite 206, Hamilton, Ontario.
  Ph: 905-528-1640
  Email: maryann@hamiltondoctors.ca   

  The Hamilton Academy of Medicine owns and administrates the Ambrose McGhie Medical Museum. The musuem has archival holdings pretaining the practice of medicine and health care in Hamilton and the surrounding communities. They also have an extensive collection of historical medical equipment donated over the years by their membership. it is a private institution and permission to use the collections must be requested of the Board of Directors.

• Dundas Museum and Archives
  Location: 139 Park Street West, Dundas, Ontario L9H 1X8
  Ph: 905-627-7412. Fax 905- 627-4872
  E-Mail: mail@dundasmuseum.ca

  This is a privately funded museum dedicated to the history of Dundas, Ontario. It has both archival records and historical artifacts. The public are welcome to visit but in order to use the collections you will need permission. Talk to the archivist and/or the collections director about your research and for permission.

• Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital Museum
  Ph: Diane Crawley at (905) 679-5183
  Email: lee1234x@aol.com.

  This facility is now administered by St. Joseph Health Care. Because Hamilton Psychiatric was a provincially funded facility, its historical records, 1876-1976,are stored at the Archives of Ontario.  On site is a small museum containing artifacts from the old institution. Staffed by volunteers and open a few hours per week.

Books of Historical Records

• Directory of Medical Archives  in Ontario / compiled by Margaret Dunn. Hannah Institute, 1983. 

  Lists all the archives in Ontario that hold medical records  beginning with the Public Archives of Canada, the Archives of Ontario , then educational institutions, county and municipal archives, professional and other associations and councils, hospitals, religious communities and churches. The records that exist for Hamilton hospitals as of 1983 are all listed by the name of the hospital.

• Historical records of the city of Hamilton, 1847-1973 / compiled by Carolyn Gray. 1986.

  Lists the records created by the city of Hamilton between 1847-1973. Record Series 12 covers the Health Dept, 1884-1968. Record Series 13 covers Hamilton’s hospitals, 1896-1957.  The records are accessible through the Hamilton Public Library, Local History and Archives. Ph.: 905- 546-3408