Entry No. 3 — the Raleigh file — filed under: medical history
Josiah Charles Trent History of Medicine Collections
Housed within Duke University's Rubenstein Library, this specialized medical history archive holds North America's largest collection of 17th- and 18th-century ivory anatomical manikins. The collection also includes Renaissance surgical flap-books, medical copperplate engravings, and early obstetrical instruments.
The story
Inside Duke University’s Rubenstein Library sits a quiet archive holding North America's largest collection of 17th- and 18th-century ivory anatomical manikins. These aren't mass-produced plastic skeletons; they are delicate, hand-carved figures equipped with removable chest plates and layered internal organs, crafted centuries ago so early medical instructors could demonstrate human anatomy without opening a corpse.
The collection—named after Dr. Josiah Charles Trent—stretches past the ivory figures into the surreal mechanics of early medical publishing. You'll find Renaissance surgical flap-books featuring paper illustrations meant to be lifted layer by layer to reveal inner tissue, alongside precise medical copperplate engravings and brutal early obstetrical instruments that look like wrought-iron workshop tools.
What it's like
Head to 411 Chapel Drive on Duke's West Campus to reach the Rubenstein Library exhibit space. The room is hushed, climate-controlled, and scholarly, so you'll be leaning right up against display glass in silence to inspect the tiny, carved details of the manikins. Because this archive lives inside an active university library, access depends on academic schedules—verify exhibit room opening hours online before you set out.
The move: Examine intricately carved ivory anatomical figures with removable organs in the library exhibit room before taking a romantic stroll through Duke Gardens.
- 📍 Durham
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 411 Chapel Dr, Durham, NC 27708
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Satellite Park at Duke Arts Annex — Follow up a quiet dive into medical archives with an outdoor walk around giant, repainted 1990s satellite dishes elsewhere on Duke's grounds.
- Arcana Durham — Trade 17th-century anatomical curiosities and iron medical tools for subterranean tarot readings and craft cocktails in downtown Durham.
- Gene Dillard's Fantasyland (The Mosaic House) — Pivot from fine-grained ivory carvings to an entire residential property encased in mirror and ceramic mosaics.
Good to know
What is the centerpiece of the Trent collection?
It holds North America's largest collection of 17th- and 18th-century ivory anatomical manikins with removable organs.
What other artifacts are on display?
You can see Renaissance surgical flap-books with interactive paper layers, early obstetrical instruments, and medical copperplate engravings.
Where is the collection located?
It is housed within Duke University's Rubenstein Library at 411 Chapel Drive in Durham.
Should I check hours before going?
Yes, visitor access and exhibit room hours fluctuate with Duke's academic calendar, so confirm current opening times before visiting.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: library.duke.edu
last checked: 2026-07-21