About Becker Archives and Rare Books

The Archives and Rare Books Division is located on the 7th floor of Bernard Becker Medical Library and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  All students, scholars, researchers, and employees of the Washington University Medical Center interested in using our collections either in-person or remotely are encouraged to review our procedures for accessing rare books and archival collections.  All users must create a Becker Library Aeon Account prior to visiting the Archives and Rare Books Reading Room.

Archival Collections

The Becker Archives serve as the historical repository for the Washington University School of Medicine and the affiliated hospitals at the medical center. The archival collections document the history of the School of Medicine including its faculty and students, as well as the institutional history of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Visit the Archival Collections page

Rare Book Collections

For over a century, Becker Library has maintained a collection of rare medical texts devoted to scholarship and teaching.  The Rare Book Collections include over 23,000 volumes illuminating the history of medicine, with particular collection strengths in ophthalmology, neurology, anatomy, otolaryngology, dentistry, and obstetrics.

Visit the Rare Books page

Contact Becker Archives and Rare Books

Please call or email (314-362-7080 / arb@wusm.wustl.edu) with any questions you have regarding searching our collections, scheduling a class or group visit, or using the Archives and Rare Books Reading Room.

Archives and Rare Books Staff Directory