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University of Virginia Hospital Children's Health Museum records

 Collection
Identifier: MS-31

Scope and Contents

The Children's Health Museum records include statistics for 1980 through 2001, photographs of the museum, newspaper clippings, newsletters, board meeting minutes from 2000, a poster, a print-out of the website, a guide to the exhibits, and a floor plan.

Dates

  • Creation: 1980 - 2003

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions.

Biographical / Historical

The Children's Museum opened in July 1980 and served a little over 1400 children its first year under Director Katya Gothie. Designed for children from ages 3 to 6 and located in the Primary Care Center, it was a project of the University League which in 1981 became the Junior League of Charlottesville. In May 1985 the Junior League donated the Museum to the University to be funded by the hospital and private donations. The Director in 1985, Linda Seaman, described the hands-on museum as more of a discovery room than a museum. Marge Sidebottom was the Director in 1988. In January 1989 she was followed by Ellen Vaughan who remained Director until the Museum was closed. It reached its peak in terms of numbers served in 1993-94 when more than 15,000 children benefited from the Museum's programs and then hovered slightly above 10,000 in the following years. Sometime in the mid 1990s the name was changed from the Children's Museum to the Children's Health Museum. Most of the child visitors were "walk-ins" who were patients themselves or accompanied by patients or visitors of patients. Others came on educational field trips from schools or were in-patients. The Director also taught health-related educational programs in area schools and community activities. The Museum was designed to teach children about various aspects of health including nutrition, organ systems, and growth, as well as ease children's fears about hospitals, doctors, and medical procedures.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet

Arrangement

The folders which include items grouped by either subject or by the physical type of item are arranged by date of the earliest material within each folder.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was transferred to the Health Sciences Library by the Children's Health Museum when it closed.

Physical Description

The collection consists of 1 Hollinger box, 5" x 10.5" x 15.5," 5" linear inches, 8 folders, 46 items

General

Processed by:
Historical Collections Staff
Title
A Guide to the University of Virginia Hospital Children's Health Museum Records
Subtitle
MS-31
Author
Claude Moore Health Sciences Library
Date
2009
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library Repository

Contact:
Claude Moore Health Sciences Library
1300 Jefferson Park Avenue
P.O. Box 800722
Charlottesville Virginia 22908-0722 United States