The Titus Harris Collection of the History of Psychiatry, one of the largest and most comprehensive accumulations of works on the history of the subject, contains over 4,500 volumes. It is named in memory of UTMB’s first Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Titus Harris. The collection contains the earliest works on mental illness including a first edition of Robert Burton's (1577-1640) Anatomy of Melancholy (London, 1642), which was considered to be the most important medical book ever published by a layperson. Also included in the collection is the first American work on the subject, Benjamin Rush's (1745-1813) Medical Inquiries and Observations, Upon the Diseases of the Mind (Philadelphia, 1812) in addition to all of Sigmund Freud's (1856-1939) first editions in their original German. The collection is also noted for its significant holdings on witchcraft and mesmerism.
Rare books on display include:
- Anatomy of Melancholy Robert Burton 1624
- Thesis on the Discovery of Animal Magnetism Franz Mesmer 1779
- Medical Inquiries and Observations Upon the Diseases of the Mind Benjamin Rush 1812
- Interpretation of Dreams Sigmund Freud 1900
- Psychodiagnostics with inkblots Hermann Rorschach 1942
You can visit the exhibit in the Truman G. Blocker, Jr. History of Medicine Collections on the third floor of the Library, Monday-Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.
Academic Resources | Blocker History of Medicine Collections