Campus & Community

A 16th-century book still sparks wonder and learning

Vesalius’ groundbreaking work, gifted in 1959, is the crown jewel of Ohio State’s Medical Heritage Center collection.

By Kristin Rodgers ’05
as told to Dave Ghose
Photos by Jodi Miller

December 8, 2025
This photo shows a very thick book spread open. An illustration of a skeleton is on each page. On the left, one rests its head on a hand while leaning on what is perhaps a grave stone pedestal. Its other hand rests on a skull. On the right, the skeleton is seen from behind with it's arms and hands at its head, as if rubbing its eyes.
A smiling woman wears glasses, a beaded necklace and layers of shirts. She appears studious and bohemian and has a friendly smile and chin length hair.
Kristin Rodgers (Illustration by Michael Hoeweler)

Since 2007, I’ve been the collections curator of the Medical Heritage Center at the Ohio State Health Sciences Library. It’s rewarding work. I manage the rare books, archives and medical artifacts. On any given day, I might process a donation, work with a researcher, give a tour or collaborate with volunteers, student employees and our term archivist. I’m always learning something new and sharing new information with others.

If I want to wow a visitor, a surefire bet is Andreas Vesalius’ De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem. This 900-page book, written in Latin, is the oldest item we have. Vesalius, a 16th-century physician, was one of the first practitioners to dissect human corpses. His volume corrected errors in our understanding of the human body, revolutionizing the science of anatomy and how it’s taught. Ohio State’s copy—a 1959 gift from Detroit physician Alfred Whittaker 1917 MD—is from the book’s second printing in 1555.

The book’s more than 200 woodcuts are the most famous series of anatomical illustrations ever created. My favorite is of a skeleton—legs crossed, a hand on a skull, chin resting on the other hand. The fascinating pose speaks to my scientific and artistic sides. As a teen, I considered becoming a physician. Then I studied art history at Ohio State. As a health sciences curator, I get to combine my love of art, medicine and history. It’s the perfect job for me.

The same book is seen wide open again. On the right is apage full of text--Latin. On the left, a human body is shown with arms reached out. Instead of the usual skin and person, the body is only muscles.
The closed book shows a worn leather exterior.
The leather-bound book
A close look at a mini-illustration shows a large letter O and nude cherubs talking with one another while one seems to add a human skull to a pot.
At the start of each chapter, there is a small illustration showing cherubs completing steps to study human anatomy.
An old photograph shows a light-haired young white man in a suit. He's staring piercingly into the camera with a serious expression, as was common in old photos.
The donor of the book, Alfred Whittaker
A chapter-start illustration of cherubs and the letter S

See the book in person

The Medical Heritage Center, on the fifth floor of the Health Sciences Library in Prior Hall, offers tours of its holdings, including the Vesalius volume. To arrange a visit, send a request to mhcmail@osumc.edu.

A smiling man with glasses poses for a photo. He has graying hair and an expression that says he's a good listener.
Author
Dave Ghose

Dave Ghose is the editor of Ohio State Alumni Magazine. He spent nearly 30 years as a journalist in Michigan and Ohio, including 17 at Columbus Monthly magazine, where he served as editor for six years.

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