American Institute of the History of Pharmacy

American Institute of the History of Pharmacy The AIHP serves as American Pharmacy's historical society! Visit www.aihp.org

🕰️ Throwback Thursday: Humphreys' SpecificsImagine walking into a pharmacy over 100 years ago. Instead of asking for a m...
06/25/2026

🕰️ Throwback Thursday: Humphreys' Specifics

Imagine walking into a pharmacy over 100 years ago. Instead of asking for a medication by name, you might simply request "No. 77" for influenza or "No. 21" for asthma.

This Humphreys' Specifics display advertised dozens of numbered homeopathic remedies, each marketed for a different ailment-from coughs and earaches to rheumatism and teething. Once a common sight behind the pharmacy counter, displays like this offered customers a quick guide to the products available.

Today, it serves as a fascinating reminder of how pharmacy practice-and medicine itself-has evolved over the last century.

Which remedy number catches your eye?

🗺️ More Than 2,500 Stories. One Atlas. Endless Discoveries.Celebrate America250 by exploring the AIHP Atlas of Pharmacy ...
06/23/2026

🗺️ More Than 2,500 Stories. One Atlas. Endless Discoveries.

Celebrate America250 by exploring the AIHP Atlas of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical History! Search, zoom, and uncover fascinating connections between pharmacy, science, culture, and everyday life.

From Revolutionary War apothecaries to jazz, absinthe, and the invention of the Jeep, there's something for everyone to discover.

🔗 Check the link in the comments to start exploring!

Staff Picks Friday: A Closer Look at a Favorite ArtifactKristen's picks this week showcase a vibrant trio of copper comp...
06/19/2026

Staff Picks Friday: A Closer Look at a Favorite Artifact

Kristen's picks this week showcase a vibrant trio of copper compounds used as teaching specimens by the University of Wisconsin Department of Pharmacy between 1883 and 1892.

🩵Sulphate of Copper (CuSO₄ + 5H₂O) dazzles with bright blue crystals.
💙Ammoniated Copper (CuSO₄ + 4NH₃ + H₂O) appears as deep sapphire-colored crystals.
💚Carbonate of Copper stands out with its striking turquoise powder.

Sealed with glass stoppers, paper covers, and hand-written labels, these bottles remind us that chemistry isn't just science, it's colorful. More than 130 years later, these specimens remain as captivating as ever.

Explore the collection and find your favorite linked in the comments!

Which shade is your favorite?

🎉 Early Birthday Celebration for George Urdang 🎉This June 13th, George Urdang would have celebrated his 144th birthday! ...
06/12/2026

🎉 Early Birthday Celebration for George Urdang 🎉

This June 13th, George Urdang would have celebrated his 144th birthday! As an early tribute, we're sharing a glimpse into the remarkable legacy of one of pharmacy history's most influential figures.

These heartfelt birthday telegrams and dinner invitations, preserved in the George Urdang Collection, date back to the 1950s and reflect the admiration, respect, and friendship Urdang inspired throughout his life. From warm birthday wishes sent across the country to elegant dinner programs held in his honor, these artifacts tell a story of a scholar deeply valued by his colleagues and community.

One of our favorite details? A reservation for his 75th birthday dinner cost just $2.50 per person!

To continue the tradition, AIHP staff, board members, and friends recently gathered to celebrate Urdang's birthday. The final photo features AIHP Board President Cynthia Boyle and Executive Director Lucas Richert cutting the birthday cake alongside staff and board members! 🎂

These materials are part of the George Urdang Collection, currently being processed and organized by our summer iSchool practicum student. A complete finding aid and inventory will be available later this summer, making it easier than ever to explore the life and legacy of this pioneering historian of pharmacy.

🎂 Happy (early) 144th Birthday, George Urdang! Your impact on the history of pharmacy continues to inspire generations.

Staff Picks: A Closer Look at a Favorite Artifact ⚖️This week's staff pick is one of the strangest items in the AIHP col...
06/11/2026

Staff Picks: A Closer Look at a Favorite Artifact ⚖️

This week's staff pick is one of the strangest items in the AIHP collection: a jar labeled "Millipedes" from 1901.

The catch? We're not entirely convinced they're actually millipedes-they look more like pill bugs or roly-polies!

Historically, creatures like these occasionally appeared in folk remedies, and modern researchers have even explored compounds from millipede defensive glands for potential medical uses. But the purpose of this particular jar remains a mystery.

What makes it so fascinating is both its size (seriously, that's a lot of bugs!) and how little we know about its connection to pharmacy, despite its ties to the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy and Lehn & Fink, an early pharmaceutical company.

🪲 What do you think this jar was used for?

New Acquisitions on Display!This display case features some of the materials the American Institute of the History of Ph...
06/10/2026

New Acquisitions on Display!

This display case features some of the materials the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy has acquired within the last six months.

Highlights include:
- A collection of handwritten prescriptions from the 1920s and 1950s
- A fallout shelter medicine kit from 1963
- Two books on Chinese pharmacy and materia medica
- A new addition to our Psychoactive Substances Collection

Interested in donating materials to AIHP? We'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected] to discuss potential acquisitions.

As a reminder, we lost access to our email for a time and if you sent a previous inquiry or donation request prior to February, we encourage you to reach out again at [email protected].

Staff Picks: A Closer Look at a Favorite Artifact ⚖️Before the metric system, pharmacists used specialized weight measur...
06/05/2026

Staff Picks: A Closer Look at a Favorite Artifact ⚖️

Before the metric system, pharmacists used specialized weight measurements like scruples and drachmas to prepare medications. This antique apothecary balance helped pharmacists carefully measure ingredients by hand - although not always with perfect precision. Over time, pharmacy shifted toward the metric system we still use today.
Fun fact: 1 scruple = 20 grains 1 drachma = 3 scruples

At AIHP, we’re excited to introduce our Archives Assistant, Anna!Anna is currently pursuing her Master’s in Library and ...
06/03/2026

At AIHP, we’re excited to introduce our Archives Assistant, Anna!

Anna is currently pursuing her Master’s in Library and Information Science at UW-Madison. She joined AIHP as a practicum student at the beginning of 2026 and transitioned into her current role in May. As Archives Assistant, Anna helps process and digitize archival collections, create finding aids, and develop exhibits that showcase the rich history preserved within our collections.

A Madison native, Anna previously spent several years outside Wisconsin earning degrees in Anthropology and World Heritage Studies before returning to Madison to continue her studies. We’re thrilled to have her on the AIHP team!😁

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