2021 Open House: The Mütter Museum's "Shawarma" Collection

CCAHA
CCAHA
11,084
0
Published 2022-02-09
CCAHA Senior Paper Conservator Heather Hendry and Mütter Museum Acting Co-Director Anna Dhody discuss a pilot project to treat and digitize one of dozens of recently discovered spindles of pharmacy receipts from the 1920s-40s. The aged spindles are referred to as "shawarmas" for their uncanny resemblance to the rotisserie meat of the same name. Each full spindle represents months of receipts from a neighborhood pharmacy and could provide a rare snapshot of public health in Philadelphia.

Join the discussion! bit.ly/2XZw0wo
Submit questions at the link above for our live Zoom Q&A on Thursday, November 18th, 2021.
All Comments (8)
  • @annehoskins1702
    Anyone who cares about the Mütter needs to speak up now, as the administration is actively in the process of dismantling it. The educational opportunities that the Mütter provides are invaluable, and already rapidly disappearing. If you’d like to see the collection preserved and available to the public, SPEAK UP NOW.
  • @RockinGrandma
    Loved the Mutter as a kid...part of why I went into medicine. As a pharmacist from before electronic prescription days...those are great to see.
  • @Lisa_MS64
    I'm so thankful that someone at the pharmacy recognized the value of this information. How many similar troves are still out there and how many ended up in the landfill?
  • @Sharonmxg
    how do I get hired to be one of the humans transcribing the handwritten prescriptions? I read medical records for a living as a coder, but using my working knowledge to decipher these antique prescriptions would be deeply satisfying.
  • @jrberwick897
    That's amazing Ms Anna 🌹❤️‍🔥🕯️🪔
  • @johndemeen5575
    You get paid for this? Who’s money? What part of government? St.Paul,Minnesota.