Archives Reading Room Now Open by Appointment Only

The Duke University Medical Center Archives has been closed to the public since March 13, 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic. While we have been able to consult with patrons remotely and provide digital surrogates of materials, we are pleased to announce that our Archives reading room is now re-opened for Duke researchers by appointment only. In order to limit the number of people in our building, we have designated Tuesdays and Thursdays as research days. Please contact us to schedule a visit.

In addition to our normal reading room regulations, we will also be following the protocols put in place by Duke to reduce risk of the spread of COVID-19. You can find full details at Duke United. Protocols include wearing a mask, washing your hands, maintaining physical distance, and symptom monitoring.

Staff are available for remote consultation (M-F) via our online request form. We are happy to assist you in locating digital materials for your research and make digital reference copies when possible.

We’d also encourage you to check out the following digital resources options as an alternative to in-person research. 


Options for Digital Research

MEDSpace – If you’re looking for historic images, our digital repository, MEDSpace, is an excellent place to start. MEDSpace contains nearly 700 photographs documenting the history of Duke Medicine. You can also find early publications, medical illustrations and artwork, and medical artifacts.
Historical Images Documenting Duke Health
Duke Health Historical Collections
Duke Medical Center Publications

Digitized Intercom – The Intercom, Duke Medicine’s primary news publication from 1953 to 1986, featured information about campus events and construction, faculty and staff news, and articles on medical research and innovations at Duke. The first 25 years of this publication have been digitized, making more than 500 issues available online.

Digital Exhibits – The Archives has several digital exhibits about key figures and events in the history of the Medical Center. Some of the topics include the Duke Poison Control Center, Dr. Wilburt C. Davison’s correspondence with Sir William Osler, and women in medicine at Duke.

DUMC Archives Blog and Instagram – Updated regularly, our blog and Instagram are the places to go for Archives news, to see materials from our collections, and discover stories about the Medical Center’s history.