February 16, 2007

New website chronicles history
of the MGH

Medical and amateur historians now can easily delve into the MGH's treasure trove of medical artifacts, paintings, photographs and sculptures thanks to a new website showcasing the hospital's rich history. Launched in December, the site contains extensive information about the hospital's nearly 200-year history. It can be accessed at www2.massgeneral.org/history.

The website features many invaluable resources for history buffs, including virtual tours; a timeline of MGH medical milestones; online exhibits featuring several oral histories; and an ongoing inventory of the many portraits, sculptures and artifacts located throughout the hospital. The site is the brainchild of the MGH History Program, a group of employees, senior physicians, volunteers and members of the Ladies Visiting Committee (LVC) dedicated to recording the rich history of the MGH. The MGH History Committee is chaired by Paul Russell, MD, and the LVC's involvement in the project is led by Patricia R. Austen and Eleanor Hackett. Along with the MGH Archives, the website will be an important element of both the MGH History Program and MGH museum, which is slated to open in 2011.

Although much progress has been made in adding content to the site, help still is needed to make it the most comprehensive record of the MGH possible. All MGHers who have general information of historical relevance to the hospital are invited to submit it to Michelle Marcella at mmarcella@partners.org or (617) 724-2755 or Jeff Mifflin at jmifflin@partners.org or (617) 726-3180. To submit information specifically about arts and antiquities at the MGH, contact Patricia R. Austen at pausten@partners.org. For more information about the MGH History Program or history website, contact Marcella or Robert Seger at rseger@partners.org or (617) 726-8477.