The Vesalius Trust Collection of Art Serving Science and Medicine

Guidelines for the Donation

Medical illustration is a form of scientific illustration that interprets, records, and disseminates medical, anatomical, surgical, veterinary, pharmaceutical and related knowledge to students, medical and scientific professionals, and the general public. The Vesalius Trust and the Lloyd Library and Museum, through a 2010 Memorandum of Understanding, mutually support this archived collection of original medical illustrations, and promote research and education related to medical illustration, the history of  techniques and practices, and history of illustrated biomedical sciences in the 20th century in North America. 

Work that will be considered for acceptance into the Trust Collection

Original biomedical, anatomical, surgical, pharmaceutical, or veterinary artwork

  • Finished original work, sketches, color comps, storyboards, etc., including student work, in traditional media (pencil, paint pen & ink, carbon dust, pastel, etc.).
  • Accompanying tear sheets, scientific journal, photographic prints of artwork to demonstrate how the original was reproduced or used.
  • Transparencies of traditionally created artwork if it is the only representation, and the original no longer exists, or is unavailable for donation.
  • Created by professional medical illustrator/s active or published in North America. Criteria include either of the following:
    • Education or apprenticeship in medical illustration
    • Practice in the field of medical illustration

Medical or scientific books:

  • Containing substantial work by illustrator in the Collection (one chapter or more)
  • Rare or historic illustrated, general anatomy or general surgery book
  • Books will be considered as a separate donation from artwork. If accepted, the published works will be catalogued and added to the Lloyd Library’s book collection. The donor will be reflected in the library catalog record. The items will be identified with the Vesalius Trust Collection, but will not be stored with the donor’s art collection.

Three-dimensional, and other work:

  • Sculpture and models accepted on a space available basis only. Photographs or publication tear sheets would be an acceptable substitute.
  • Medical legal exhibits that are hand painted, accepted on a space available basis only.
  • Video/audio media that contain substantial work by illustrator in the Collection, and conforms with platforms available at the Lloyd Library

Papers/letters/documentation:

  • Curriculum vitae or biography, personal photograph
  • Communication to or from an illustrator in the collection related to their work in the collection
  • Critical job files related to work in the collection, such as contracts, etc. (on a space available basis only)
  • AMI Salon or other awards related to work in the collection can be noted in the collection database, physical award not to be part of the collection (other papers related to the Association of Medical Illustrators could be directed to the AMI archive)
  • Written description, published or unpublished, of work or techniques of work in the collection

Work that will not be accepted:

  • Fine art
  • Medical illustration that was only created digitally
  • Medical prostheses, as created by an anaplastologist trained as a medical illustrator. Prosthetics serve a clinical purpose rather than an educational purpose.
  • Portraits, unless of distinguished medical/anatomical practitioner, medical/anatomical researcher, or medical illustrator
  • Personal or professional memorabilia of an artist in the collection that is not directly related to their artwork. Example: AMI certificates, GNSI certificates, sketchbooks unrelated to medical illustration, greeting cards unrelated to medical illustration
  • Significant amount of botanical, or other natural science illustration unrelated to medicine or pharmacy. A few pieces as part of an illustrator’s body of work are acceptable on a space available basis.
  • Artwork that cannot be attributed to an artist/illustrator

In addition, the Lloyd Library and Museum does not accept:

  • Contaminated materials with mold or other hazardous agents
  • Electronic media, including but not limited to CD ROMS, DVDs, flash drives, portable hard drives, websites
  • Films, videos, audiotapes except as noted under 3-dimensional work
  • Photocopies

Note regarding copyright transfer  

The purpose of the Collection is for archival preservation, museum display, and scholarly research, not for commercial exploitation. In order for the Lloyd Library to protect the work and oversee appropriate use, the default language of the Deed of Gift is to transfer all intellectual property rights that the artist/donor owns to the Lloyd. The Lloyd Library is happy to work with the artist/donor to craft the appropriate language if there are any restrictions that would apply to particular works.

Steps to Donating Materials to the Trust Collection at the Lloyd Library

  • Potential donor selects materials that they consider appropriate for the Collection per the above guidelines.
  • Donors contact the Lloyd Library at (513) 721-3707 or at https://lloydlibrary.org/contact/, and provide a description, approximate number/volume of materials, and date range of anticipated donation.
  • After receiving approval of the donation by the Lloyd Library in consultation with the Vesalius Trust, donor will fill out and sign the Trust Collection Deed of Gift PDF (see link at the bottom of this page), and send to the Lloyd Library. The Lloyd will have the Deed signed by the Executive Directors of both the Lloyd Library and the Vesalius Trust, and return a copy to the donor for their records.
  • Once the Deed is fully signed, Lloyd Library and donor arrange for delivery and acceptance of donation. For each piece of art, information should be included as to title, artist, year of creation, medium, client, first publication, and ownership of copyright or any other specifics related to full or partial transfer of copyrights. 

Important Contacts 

The Vesalius Trust for Visual Communication in the Health Sciences
800 S. Washington St., Apt. B208
Alexandria, VA 22314
(904) 878-7801, (904) TRUST-01
vt@vesaliustrust.org

The Lloyd Library and Museum
917 Plum Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 721-3707
www.lloydlibrary.org

Museum Specialist: Erin Campbell
ecampbell@lloydlibrary.org

Project Coordinator and Consultant to the Lloyd Library
Marcia Hartsock, MA, CMI
Studio (513) 221-3868
marciahartsock@gmail.com

Download Deed of Gift