Neuroanatomical Collections is a repository of research and educational materials in neuroscience established in 1993 with the transfer of the Yakovlev-Haleem Collection to the National Museum of Health & Medicine. The division has since acquired eight more collections and continues to expand. The collections, together with their written documentation and a growing database, are available to qualified researchers, evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Further information for the use of researchers, please refer to the Access Policy to the Collections and Services & Costs.
Yakovlev-Haleem Collection: 1930-present (1,570 specimens)
Normal & pathological anatomy, development of the human brain and comparative mammals.
Primarily whole-brain serial sections mounted on slides; also included are tissue blocks of fetal and neonatal organs. . Each specimen has a case record. In addition to normative controls, specimens include examples of cerebrovascular disease, pathomorphic cerebra, neurosurgery for behavioral diseases, miscellaneous neuropathology and experimental animals.
The collection was built by Dr. Paul Ivan Yakovlev (1894-1983), a neurologist at several hospitals and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Yakovlev began the collection in 1930 at Monson State Hospital. In 1974 he transferred the collection from Harvard to the AFIP, where it was managed by curator Mohamad Haleem until its transfer to the Museum (1993). In 1994 it was renamed the Yakovlev-Haleem Collection. Also associated with the collection is a reference library and computer imaging technology. Recent development has included computer image analysis of the collection.
Blackburn-Neumann Collection: 1884-1982 (15,000 specimens)
Normal & pathological anatomy of the human brain.
Wet tissue brain specimens with autopsy files, microscope slides and paraffin blocks. The cases document pre-antibiotic infectious diseases, schizophrenia and mental disorders treated by electroshock, metrazol, insulin shock and lobotomy.
The collection was started by Dr. Isaac Wright Blackburn at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, a mental institution in Washington D.C., and was transferred to the museum in 1993.
Lindenberg Collection: 1940-1989 (15,000 specimens)
Forensic neuropathology.
Includes clinical and laboratory records, glass slides and paraffin blocks documenting cases of forensic pathology from the Office of the Maryland State Medical Examiner.
The collection was founded by Dr. Richard Lindenberg and transferred to the museum in 1993.
Rubinstein Collection: 1970-1991 (4,000 specimens)
Human brain tumor collection.
Includes slides, paraffin blocks, photographs and records documenting brain tumors.
The collection was founded by Dr. L.J. Rubinstein and transferred to the museum from the University of Virginia in 1991.
Meyer Collection: 1890-1985 (535 specimens)
Comparative mammalian brain collection.
Collection of human, comparative and developmental material, including glass slides and documentation, begun by Dr. Adolph Meyer, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins.
The collection was transferred from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to the museum in 1995.
Lockard Collection: 1950-1995 (29 specimens)
Comparative mammalian brain collection.
Serially sectioned comparative neuroanatomy material. Each specimen is embedded in paraffin, stained and placed on glass slides. The collection consists of 29 boxes of glass slides of fox, ferret and cat.
Dr. Isabel Lockard developed the collection at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy and transferred to the museum in 1995. Otis Historical Archives has the Isabel Lockard reprint collection.
Pubols Collection:
Description coming soon.
Welker Collection: 1950-present (409 specimens)
Comparative mammalian brain collection from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Serially sectioned comparative mammalian brains that are stained and mounted on glass slides, accompanied by documentation.
The collection was created by Dr. Wally Welker at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This collection has been partially transferred to the museum.
Accessible via the Internet at: http://www.neurophys.wisc.edu/brain/
Johnson Collection: 1964-present (156 specimens)
Comparative mammalian brain collection from Michigan State University.
Serially sectioned comparative mammalian brains that are stained and mounted on glass slides accompanied by documentation. This collection has an emphasis on marsupial mammals.
The collection was created by Dr. John I. Johnson of the Department of
Anatomy at Michigan State University and transferred to the museum in 2004.
Accessible via the Internet at: http://www.msu.edu/user/brains/
