FOR RELEASE: Call it vintage, call it antique, call it historic… whatever you call it, there’s no denying that medical tools used in the late 1800s to early 1900s could sometimes be considered creepy. On Wednesday, July 26, the Greeley History Museum, located at 714 8th St., opens a new exhibit in its lower level called “Creepy Medicine in Early Weld.”
Organized by Curator of Collections Sarah Saxe, the exhibit offers a fascinating glimpse into early medical, dental and vision doctors who practiced locally. The exhibit also includes enlarged photographs and various medical tools stored by the museum.
“I’m hoping visitors will learn about the transitional period of medicine in the early 20th Century,” says Saxe. “Hopefully visitors will get a sense of the dangers and uncertainty of pre-modern medicine and learn about the new ideas and new inventions that paved the way for vastly improved healthcare in the 20th Century.”
Saxe’s primary responsibility is supervising the Hazel E. Johnson Research Center and storage of the museum’s vast collections, so she has the opportunity to view and research objects on a regular basis. According to Saxe, the most striking object in this particular collection is a medical vibrator from 1901.
“The application of this device was thought to cure aliments like pain, venereal diseases, alcoholism, drug addiction and female hysteria,” said Saxe. “In addition to providing insight on Victorians’ understanding of medicine and the human body, it also reflects the social climate and gender biases at the time.”
“Creepy Medicine in Early Weld” runs through October 29 and is one of many exhibits on display. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m. For a description of current exhibits, visit GreeleyMuseums.com/locations/Greeley-History-Museum.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Nicole Famiglietti, Exhibits Curator
970-336-4184
[email protected]