Body of Knowledge
"Body of Knowledge: A History of Anatomy (in 3 Parts)" explored the act of anatomizing not as a process of mapping a finite arrangement of bodily structures, but as a complex social and cultural activity. By means of a diachronic perspective, the exhibit narrative cut through the multiplicity of anatomical practices, presenting three important moments in the history of anatomy: sixteenth century dissections and anatomical drawings, nineteenth century anatomical practices, and contemporary use of both cadavers and digital technology for anatomic education. "Body of Knowledge" attempted to capture the complexity of the many people, places, and meanings involved in human dissection.
Awarded the
British Society for the History of Science
Great Exhibitions 2014 Prize for Small Exhibitions
Body of Knowledge Digital Gallery Guide
Online Image Gallery for "Body of Knowledge..."
BODY OF KNOWLEDGE-RELATED ONLINE MATERIAL
- A complimentary exhibit, "The Nature of Every Member: an Anatomy of Dissection," was featured at the Center for the History of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. For additional information, contact the Center at chm@hms.harvard.edu.
- Submissions for "Body of Knowledge..." from the Center of the History of Medicine.
- View an annotated digital volume of the 'De Humani Corporis Fabrica' by Andreas Vesalius online.
- Read a contemporary account of the Tewksbury Almshouse Scandal.
Prepared with the Special Collaboration of
The Center for the History of Medicine
Countway Medical Library
Harvard Medical School Program in Medical Education
Sponsored by
The David P. Wheatland Charitable Trust
The Ackerman Program on Medicine & Culture
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
March 6 through December 5, 2014