601 West Lombard Street
Baltimore MD 21201-1512
Reference: 410-706-7996
Circulation: 410-706-7928
Mother’s Day, graduation, and Father’s Day are right around the corner. Consider giving your favorite people flowers that will last.
The HSHSL offers a four-pack of high-quality botanical stickers for $5, available through the HSHSL Online Store. Orders must be picked up at the library. Shipping is not available.
The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) has added a new feature to support equitable access to library resources for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community, advancing its broader commitment to inclusive, accessible services.
Beginning this week, UMB users submitting interlibrary loan (ILL) requests for journal articles and book chapters will see a new option on the request form. This option allows users to indicate whether they need materials in an accessible format.
The feature makes it easier for students, faculty and staff to request accessibility accommodations. When selected, the request moves through a dedicated workflow so staff can review and address accessibility needs as part of the ILL process.
HSHSL staff remain available to assist with questions or additional support needs. For help with interlibrary loan services or accessibility support, contact HSHSL Resource Sharing or visit the interlibrary loan page for more information.
Need a quick study tool or device accessory? The HSHSL offers a range of items to help you stay focused, organized and connected. Whether you are settling in for a long study session or just need a quick fix, these tools are easy to access and ready when you are.
Pick these up from the bins at the front desk to use in the HSHSL. No checkout needed.
Staff will check these out for you.
Just ask. We are here to help you find what you need to work comfortably and effectively.
The HSHSL has renewed access to JoVE, a video-based resource that brings research and clinical techniques to life.
JoVE features short, peer-reviewed videos that demonstrate laboratory methods, clinical skills, and research processes step by step. It is a helpful tool for anyone who learns best by seeing how something is done.
With JoVE, you can:
Whether you are new to a technique or want a refresher, JoVE offers a clear, visual way to build confidence and understanding.
The connecting door between the library and the Campus Center is temporarily closed following a sprinkler incident in the Campus Center.
For safety reasons, this entrance is not currently accessible, including for card access.
What this means
Early access Tuesday, April 14
We will share updates as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience.
Two reasons to stop by the SMC Campus Center next Tuesday:
The campus Office of Communication and Public Affairs will be filming for this year’s graduation video, and the Campus Wellness Fair will be happening at the same time.
Tuesday, April 14
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SMC Campus Center, First Floor (Fireplace Lounge)
Graduating students are invited to take part in the video, which will be shown at commencement, featured on UMB social media, and included in President Bruce Jarrell’s graduation message.
While you’re there, stop by the HSHSL table at the Wellness Fair. We’ll have swag and ideas for supporting your well-being, including quiet spaces, leisure reading, and movement-friendly workstations.
Whether you’re celebrating, taking a break, or just passing through, we hope to see you there.
The HSHSL, in partnership with the University Student Government Association (USGA), is pleased to announce the availability of free period products for students at the HSHSL.
Funding for this initiative is shared between HSHSL and USGA, reflecting a collaborative commitment to advancing student wellness and campus inclusion. Beginning this month, period products will be available at no cost in the following locations:
The initiative was developed through conversations and a commitment between student leaders and HSHSL administration to address a basic need that directly impacts student success. By removing financial and access barriers to essential products, HSHSL and USGA aim to foster a more inclusive and supportive campus environment.
HSHSL and USGA are proud to collaborate on initiatives that advance access, wellness, and student-centered support across UMB.
Blog post researched and written by Spring 2026 University of Kentucky School of Information Sciences Alternative Spring Break Intern, Tessa Mills. During her week-long internship, Tessa worked with the 1843 volume of the Early School of Medicine Dissertation adding metadata to an internal spreadsheet which will be made accessible for users to more easily use the collection online.
The Health Sciences and Human Services Library Historical Collections’ strives to provide broad access to our diverse collections both in person and digitally. Materials in our collections appear as they originally were published or created and may contain offensive or inappropriate language or images and may be offensive to users. The University of Maryland, Baltimore does not endorse the views expressed in these materials. Materials should be viewed in the context in which they were created.
The dangers of nineteenth-century sea travel extended far beyond storms and shipwrecks. For many sailors, the greatest threat was disease, particularly scurvy, a condition that could quietly devastate crews during long voyages. Weakness, bleeding gums, and eventual death were all too common abroad ships that lacked access to fresh food. Although widely recognized, the causes of scurvy were still debated well into the mid-1800s, making it a subject of ongoing medical inquiry.
One such inquiry can be found in the 1843 medical dissertation collection held by the University of Maryland, Baltimore. This volume, now digitized and available through the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL), contains a range of student theses reflecting the medical knowledge and concerns of the time. Among them is a dissertation titled Scurvy, written by Augustus J. Bowie.
Augustus Jesse Bowie (1815-1887) received his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1843. At the time of his dissertation, he was already serving as an Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy, an experience that likely shaped his interest in diseases associated with maritime life. Naval surgeons occupied a critical role in the nineteenth century, observing and treating illnesses under challenging conditions, often far from established medical institutions. For Bowie, Scurvy would not have been an abstract topic, but a very real threat encountered in the course of his service.
Bowie’s dissertation reflects a moment in medical history when scurvy was well known but not yet fully understood. While the effectiveness of citrus fruits in preventing the disease had been observed decades earlier, the underlying cause (vitamin C deficiency) would not be identified until much later. In the early nineteenth century, physicians still debated competing theories, attributing scurvy to environmental conditions, diet, or imbalances within the body. Treatments varied widely, and medical consensus remained elusive.
The inclusion of Bowie’s work in the 1843 dissertation collection offer valuable insight into how emerging physicians engaged with these uncertainties. His thesis represents not only a requirement for earning a medical degree, but also a contribution to a broader effort to understand and manage a persistent and deadly condition.
Following his early career in the Navy, Bowie later settled in San Francisco, where he became an established and respected physician. His professional contributions were significant enough to be recognized in a published memorial after his death, indicating the lasting impact of his medical career. Seen in this light, his dissertation on scurvy marks the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to the practice of medicine.
Today, the digitization of these early dissertations allows researchers, students, and the public to revisit these historical perspectives. What was once a bound volume accessible only in person is now searchable and available online, opening new opportunities for discovery and interpretation. Bowie’s thesis, like many others in the collection, serves as a reminder that medical knowledge is continually evolving; shaped by observation, experience, and the gradual accumulation of understanding.
By preserving and sharing these works, the HSHSL digital collections not only safeguard the past but also invite new conversations about the history of medicine and the individuals who contributed to it.
Check out more historical resources and UMB research go to the UMB Digital archive.
Our April Hidden Sasquatch Hunt wrapped up faster than we expected. All three Bigfoots were found within two days!
Thank you to everyone who joined the hunt. We loved seeing how quickly the clues were solved and how much enthusiasm this brought to the library.
Congratulations to our winners who each took home their very own Sasquatch.
Still want to solve the clues? You can follow the trail to each original hiding spot, now marked to reveal where the Sasquatches were discovered.
The HSHSL building will be closed on Sunday, April 5, for the Easter holiday.
While our physical spaces will be unavailable, you can still access databases, journals, and guides through the library website.