Dr. Philo, senior lecturer in the Department of Cellular and Structural Biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, describes his research on the anatomical drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and his collaboration with Martin Clayton, Deputy Curator of the Print Room at Windsor Castle, England, on the award-winning exhibition catalog, Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Man, published in 2010. Dr. Philo retired from the University in August, 2010.
Digital Archive
Ron Philo, PhD, on the Anatomical Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci
Talks on History and Health
The Project
Over the years, a number of important audio and video interviews, lectures and presentations on the history of medicine and healthcare have been collected in the University Archives of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. This project aims to digitize these talks and make them available for download and online viewing or listening through the Internet Archive, or other channels, at the pages linked below.
The Talks
A Personal History of Bexar County Medicine (February, 1980)
Dr. Perry W. Nadig interviews Dr. Byron Wyatt, a pioneer San Antonio physician.
Historical remembrances of Dr. Mario E. Ramirez, M.D. (2007 and 2011)
Two interviews with the eminent South Texas physician: a video interview from 2011, and an audio interview by Special Collections Librarian Pennie Borchers from October 2007.
Oral History Interview with Mr. Victor Oliveros (November, 2009)
Special Collections Librarian Pennie Borchers interviews City of Laredo epidemiologist and public health advocate Victor Oliveros about public health issues on the Texas-Mexico border.
Ron Philo, PhD, on the Anatomical Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci (July, 2010)
Dr. Philo, senior lecturer in the Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, describes his research and publications on the anatomical drawings of Leonardo da Vinci.
Charleen Moore, PhD: “Anatomists and their Art” (October, 2011)
A presentation by Dr. Moore, Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Health Science Center’s Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, featuring many important works from the P.I. Nixon Medical Historical Library.
The Boehm Birds: An Edward Marshall Boehm Collection
History of the Boehm Collection
The Dolph Briscoe Jr. Library houses a collection of fine porcelain sculptures created by world renowned artist and sculptor Edward Marshall Boehm. The 15 Boehm sculptures were donated to the University of Texas Health Science Center by Mrs. Edward Marshall Boehm on January 26, 1973. A reception honoring Mrs. Boehm on the occasion of the presentation of the gift was held in the Auditorium Foyer on September 7, 1973. The sculptures were originally placed in the President’s suite and in the auditorium, but were moved to the Briscoe Library in 1997 at the suggestion of Dr. Virginia Bowden, Library Director, when one of the birds was damaged in their previous location. The Briscoe Library is fortunate to house and display these sculptures; they can be found in various locations in the library.
Edward Marshall Boehm: Biography of an Artist
Edward Marshall Boehm was born in Baltimore and orphaned at the age of seven. He showed some artistic ability at an early age, but it was not until after World War II that he was drawn to the art of sculpture which would be his vocation. Working in a convalescent home for returning soldiers, he first picked up a ball of clay and realized that this would be his medium. Before the war, he had had some success as a cattle breeder, and it was his familiarity with animals and his eye for their structural composition that contributed to his skill with sculpting animals. He was attracted to the art of porcelain sculpture and, after visiting some porcelain factories in Trenton, New Jersey, became determined to set up his own factory. In the basement of his home, he developed a formula for an excellent porcelain and began producing sculptures. His wife, Helen, became his distributor, sales manager, and public relations voice, but the pervasive prejudice against American-made porcelain which existed at the time was difficult to overcome, and they struggled, their finances dwindling. Their breakthrough came in 1951, when the Curator of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York purchased two statues for the museum’s collection, thus giving an authoritative endorsement of Boehm’s art. Still, it was not until 1955 that Boehm’s company really began to grow. By the time of Edward Marshall Boehm’s death in 1969, he had seen his porcelains placed in the permanent collections of many of the world’s most important museums and galleries. Today one can view Boehm’s sculptures in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Hermitage, the Smithsonian, and the Tokyo National Museum. In 1992, a wing in the Vatican Museum of Art in Rome was named in memory of Edward Marshall Boehm; he was the first American to receive that honor.
Bibliography
- (2009). Retrieved from Boehm Fine American Porcelain: http://www.boehmporcelain.com
- (2009). Retrieved from Wikipedia: Edward Marshall Boehm: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Marshall_Boehm
- Cosentino, F. J. (1960). Boehm’s Birds : The Porcelain Art of Edward Marshall Boehm. New York: Frederick Fell, Inc.
Fine Porcelain Creation
The name “porcelain” was given to translucent vitrified stoneware in China by the explorer Marco Polo in the 13th century. He thought that it resembled a certain seashell named genus porcellana because of its high gloss and translucency. Porcelain is made up of a high temperature (2400° F) fusion of fine white clay and feldspar. To make a sculpture like the Boehm birds, the figure is first modeled in clay or wax. A mold is made from the figure (or many molds in the case of complex figures) and a cast is made by pouring the fine porcelain mixture into it. After the lining of this mold has hardened, the liquid center is poured out, and the mold is removed. At this time if the model was made in sections, the sections are assembled, and fine details are added by hand. The figure is placed in a kiln for twelve to 24 hours, then cooled for three days. At this time it is in its “bisque” state, and may be colored and then glazed, if desired.
Bibliography
- Cosentino, F. J. (1960). Boehm’s Birds : the Porcelain Art of Edward Marshall Boehm. New York: Frederick Fell, Inc.
- Duffy, M. (1971, May-June). Of Clay & Fire : Conservation in Ceramics. Louisiana Conservationist Magazine.
University History
Collection Overview
The University History Collection of the Digital Archive includes audio, video, photographs, and manuscripts that document the university’s growth and development since its establishment in 1959. Additional background on the University’s history is available at A Brief History of UTHSCSA.
Projects
- Founding Faculty Interviews
- A series of video interviews with members of the Health Science Center’s founding faculty, produced by the University Development Office in 2010.
- Medical School Yearbooks
- Digitized copies of the yearbooks produced by the Medical School.
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Banner Image: “Health Seminar”, from the 1972 Medical School yearbook, Curandero.
University Records
Collection Overview
The Briscoe Library has been designated as the UT Health Science Center’s repository for all university records that the state has mandated must be made available to the public, as well as other university records that need to be available for general staff use.
The Digital Archive’s University Records Collection consists of a variety of materials, including student evaluations, affirmative action plans, Higher Education Administrative Accountability Reports, reaccreditation compliance audits, and strategic self-study reports. Other university records can also be made available at the request of departments.
The Records Retention Schedule provides additional information on the records management and evaluation process of the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. For more information on the Record Retention Schedule, and to search for specific types of records, please visit the University Records Management page.
Projects
Boehm Birds
- The 15 Boehm sculptures were donated to the University of Texas Health Science Center by Mrs. Edward Marshall Boehm on January 26, 1973. A reception honoring Mrs. Boehm on the occasion of the presentation of the gift was held in the Auditorium Foyer on September 7, 1973. The sculptures were originally placed in the President’s suite and in the auditorium, but were moved to the Briscoe Library in 1997 at the suggestion of Dr. Virginia Bowden, Director.
- See the Boehm Birds
