Archives & Special Collections
About Our Collections
The UNT Health Archives & Special Collections encompasses archival materials, digital collections, and 2,500+ volumes in the rare and historical books collection. We assess, acquire, describe, preserve and make available primary and secondary source materials with lasting institutional significance. Subjects include early osteopathic medicine, the history of osteopathy in Texas, historical medical collections and institutional records.
Detailed guides, known as finding aids, have been specifically compiled to describe the arrangement and contents of a collection, and to facilitate searches of this content. These finding aids can be accessed in the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library institutional repository, Scholar@UNT Health.
Digital Collections
Explore Our Historical Photographs
The University Archives Digital Collections encompasses materials from our historical medical collections and institutional records and endeavors to make these important materials available to all through ongoing digitization and description efforts
Hear Our Stories
Oral history serves to collect and preserve historical information while it is still available by recording interviews with selected individuals. This is especially important for preserving the otherwise perishable information that exists only in the memories of individuals.
Through the generosity of Dan Saylak, D.O., the TOMA Archives Committee digitized the entire collection of oral histories ensuring their preservation and allowing them to be shared electronically.
Oral history interviews can be accessed in the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library institutional repository, the Scholar@UNT Health.
Physical Collections
Rare and Historical Books
The historical books collection contains rare books and fragile volumes requiring special treatment or protection to ensure long-term preservation. Containing over 2,500 volumes, the book collection seeks to document the founding, growth and intellectual development of osteopathic medicine and to provide historical continuity to the research and instructional activities of UNT Health Fort Worth. The collection is particularly strong in the areas of 19th century American medicine, osteopathic medicine, orthopedic manipulation, bone setting, and manual medicine.
Finding Aids
Detailed guides compiled specifically to describe the arrangement and contents of a collection and to aid in its research are called finding aids.
Collection Highlights
UNT Health Fort Worth & Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine History Collection, 1969-Present
The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine accepted its first students in 1970 and come under the umbrella of North Texas State University, which later evolved into the UNT System, in 1975. This collection documents the history of UNT Health Fort Worth from its establishment to now.
UNT Health Fort Worth & TCOM History Collection Finding AidTexas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA), 1900 – 2003
The Texas Osteopathic Medicine Association collection documents the history of the osteopathic profession in Texas from 1930 as the Texas Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons and as the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association from September 14, 1970 until 2003.
TOMA Finding AidVirginia P. Ellis, D.O. Collection, 1972-1985
Virginia P. Ellis, D.O. was a 1936 graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and was a practicing pediatrician in Fort Worth for a number of years before joining the faculty at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1972 where she taught the history of medicine. The Virginia Ellis, D.O. Collection consists of papers, memorabilia, and committee reports.
Virginia P. Ellis, D.O. Collection Finding AidUniversity Archives
The University Archives serve as the institutional memory of UNT Health and plays a vital role in the management of the institution’s evidentiary documents and resources in all formats. A strong archive is an integral component of, and an active partner to any thriving and accountable institution of higher learning. Archives’ staff identify, acquire, and maintain records of enduring value that chronicle the development of the institution and ensure its continued existence. The archives document the process of institutional evolution by retaining both the evidence which shapes decisions and the decisions themselves.
