The Waring Historical Library – Charleston, South Carolina - Atlas Obscura
Help us give a voice to the lesser-known stories and places around the world. Become a Member

The Waring Historical Library

Charleston, South Carolina

Dedicated to the history of the health sciences. 

The Waring Historical Library. (Press Photo) http://waring.library.musc.edu/ (http://waring.library.musc.edu/)
Artifacts and portrait of Dr. Simon Baruch on the second floor of the Waring. (Press Photo) http://waring.library.musc.edu/ (http://waring.library.musc.edu/)
Books and ladder at the Waring. (Press Photo) http://waring.library.musc.edu/ (http://waring.library.musc.edu/)
52
163
Top Places in Charleston
The Macaulay Museum of Dental History
Macaulay Museum of Dental History
Charleston, South Carolina
Drayton Hall
Charleston, South Carolina
Unitarian Church Cemetery
Charleston, South Carolina
 See All

The Waring Historical Library is the special collections and rare book library for the Medical University of South Carolina.

Named for Joseph I. Waring, Jr., the first director of the Historical Library, the library houses books, journals, manuscript items and museum artifacts deal with the history of the health sciences.

Though dry in name, the library contains some fascinating medical objects that are anything but boring, including amputation saws, a box of artificial eyes, bone scrapers, and whatever horrific items the “Artificial Urethral Sphincter” and “Bermingham Nasal Douche” are.

Although materials do not circulate, researchers are welcome and encouraged to make appointments for research, and stop-in visitors are also welcome. The Waring includes the Macaulay Museum of Dental History, the MUSC University Archives, and the MEDICA digital library.

Know Before You Go

The Waring Historical Library is located at 175 Ashley Ave. adjacent to St. Luke's Chapel. There is no available parking, but street parking is available at metered spots along Ashley Ave. and Bee St. The nearest parking garage is Rutledge Tower, with entrances on Rutledge Ave. and Ashley Ave.

medical libraries rare books medical museums libraries museums and collections
Nearby
Macaulay Museum of Dental History
0.03 miles
Old Charleston City Jail
0.78 miles
Unitarian Church Cemetery
0.90 miles
Near This Place
Charleston, South Carolina

Macaulay Museum of Dental History

Dental instruments from the illustrious history of American dentistry.
Charleston, South Carolina

Old Charleston City Jail

Charleston's historic city jail once held everyone from pirates to Civil War POWs.
Charleston, South Carolina

Unitarian Church Cemetery

Paths are maintained, but trees have taken over plots.
Charleston, South Carolina

Fireproof Building and South Carolina Historical Society

Once the most flame resistant building in the country, the South Carolina Historical Society building was almost burnt down in a fire.
Related Places
Paris, France

Doctor Charcot's Library

The personal library of the founder of modern neurology is open to visitors.
Lviv, Ukraine

Under the Black Eagle Pharmacy Museum

Ukraine's oldest operating pharmacy now offers guests a fascinating walk through apothecary history.
London, England

Royal London Hospital Museum

This small museum in a former church crypt contains artifacts of the Elephant Man, Jack the Ripper and Florence Nightingale.
New York, New York

New York Academy of Medicine Rare Book Library

This hidden library of physiological ephemera contains centuries worth of knowledge on the vim and viscera of the human body.