Celebrate the marvels of medicine with the Grand Rapids Public Museum at the 2022 Collections & Cocktails fundraiser on Wednesday, May 11.
Collections & Cocktails focuses on the stories, preservation and education efforts of the artifacts within the GRPM collections and is one of the GRPM’s two major annual fundraisers.
The medical collection includes thousands of artifacts from West Michigan and all over the world that have been used throughout history to help people lead healthier lives, as well as examples of new techniques and materials pioneered right here in West Michigan. From simple physicians’ tools to life-saving innovations such as the Iron Lung, and modern miracles such as artificial joints, the GRPM’s medical collections tell a story of innovation and progress.
Grand Rapids medical professionals had an important part to play in this history, including the development of a whooping cough vaccine by Drs. Pearl Kendrick and Grace Eldering in the 1930s, and the creation of new types of artificial joint implants by Dr. Alfred Swanson in the 1960s. Artifacts in this collection include tools and instruments used in general human medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology and veterinary medicine, as well as a large collection of historical pharmaceuticals.
Along with pieces from the GRPM medical collection, local health care partners will curate immersive displays of historic to modern medical artifacts, which will be available to view at the Grand Rapids Public Museum from April 27 through May 22.
Support the GRPM by attending the event on May 11 or making a contribution today. Learn more at grpm.org/2022collections-cocktails.
