In special circumstances, the History of Medicine loans its materials for external exhibitions. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis and depends on the type of event and the materials that are requested for the exhibit.

If you are planning an exhibit, you should contact the curator as far in advance as possible. We recommend at least 9 to 12 months in advance for planning an exhibition and making arrangements for the loan of items from our collection. You will need to contact the curator at (919) 660-1144 for an application to request the loan of history materials.

Not all materials in the History of Medicine collections are available for loan due to their fragile nature. Materials may also be restricted due to the demand for their use to support Duke University programs.

Loans are not made for traveling exhibits except in very special circumstances.

When making decisions about loaning materials, the curator will consider the following criteria:

• Exhibition conditions – light exposure, temperature and humidity control, security, and the devices used to hold and display the materials
• Length of the loan – usually not longer than 6 months away from the History collection, though loans of manuscripts and works of art may be shorter
• Intended impact of exhibit – audience, focus, exhibition catalog, and visibility
• Transportation method to and from the exhibition site, the amount of time in transit, and packing methods
• Insurance coverage, including a copy of the certificate of insurance in advance of the loan.