MUSEUM BLOG
The Story of Queen Victoria and Canadian Public Health
Today would have been Queen Victoria’s 203rd birthday! Victoria Day was established as a holiday in the Province of Canada in 1845, and now is celebrated on the last Monday before May 25th every year in her honour. Queen Victoria impacted Canadian health care practices and the history of Kingston in a number of surprising and fascinating ways!
The Story of Dr. Frank Mellow and his Electrostatic Generator
The name Dr. Frank Ernest Mellow is attached to forty-three different artefacts here at the Museum of Health Care, not the least of which is the massive electrostatic generator currently on display in our “Electricity and the Invisible Ray” gallery!
The Story of Orlando S. Strange and the City of Kingston
Orlando Strange was known as a leading physician and surgeon of the City of Kingston. He was even Kingston's mayor in 1859!
The Story of Robertson Davies and Fletcher's Castoria
What could Robertson Davies, a Canadian author, have to do with patent medicine Fletcher's Castoria?
The Story of Marjorie Winslow and her Medical Moulages
In the collections of the Museum of Health Care, there are 136 artefacts in the “Dr. Robertson/Marjorie Winslow Collection.” The majority of these are medical moulages-- wax models of the ways different diseases and pathological conditions affect the human body. They were some of the very first artefacts to be added to the museum’s collections, and at first, the artist’s identity was a mystery. After connecting with people who had known Dr. Robertson, who had used the moulages for teaching at Queen’s University, Marjorie Winslow’s name could be confidently affixed to her art.
"Sick City" Outdoor Guided Tour Tickets Now on Sale
Walk in the footsteps of some of Kingston’s earliest residents and arrivals as they engage in a quest for health care in the Limestone City. The story of establishment of one of Canada’s oldest public hospitals, Kingston General Hospital, is one full of success and sacrifice, triumph and tragedy. Join us for a fascinating look into the lives of those that lived, arrived and died here, as we unlock the secrets of Kingston’s medical history.
Creating an Outdoor Walking Tour
This summer, I had the opportunity to complete a thorough revamp of the Outdoor Tour program that the Museum has offered for many years. It was a long and tedious but ultimately rewarding process. With this in mind, I thought it might be helpful or interesting to others to explain how I went about the project to transform a few abstract ideas into a polished Museum product, ready for the public to enjoy for years to come.
Dr. Guilford B. Reed: The Influenza Vaccine That (sort of) Worked
Born in Port George, Nova Scotia in 1887, Dr. Guilford Bevil Reed grew up on the East coast as the son of the prominent ship builder and architect, William Reed. While living in the Annapolis Valley, Guilford developed a deep love of the natural world. He spent his days surrounded by five siblings and endless apple orchards, and maintained a curiosity that propelled him throughout his life.
The Reality of the Flu: Kingston's United Effort Against the Spanish Influenza
“Scores of citizens are not in accord and want something done. It is difficult for the layman to get rid of the old idea that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
Medicine in the Mushkegowuk: A Connection Between North and South
Residents of Kingston will be aware of the positive impact that the local hospitals have on our city’s overall health, but what many of us might not know is that they have a much wider reach than just Kingston and its neighbouring communities; in fact, Kingston General Hospital, Hotel Dieu and Providence Care have been intimately linked with a hospital in a remote area of northern Ontario for the past fifty years.