Coming this fall Laupus Library will host the brand new traveling exhibition, Pick Your Poison: Intoxicating Pleasures and Medical Prescriptions. The six-banner traveling exhibition explores the factors that have shaped the changing definitions of some of our most potent drugs, from medical miracle to social menace.
Mind-altering dr
ugs have been used throughout the history of America. While some remain socially acceptable, others are outlawed because of their toxic, and intoxicating, characteristics. The transformation of a particular drug, from an acceptable indulgence to a bad habit, or vice versa, is closely tied to the intentions of those endorsing its use, and their status in society. These classifications have shifted at different times in history, and will continue to change.
The exhibit will be on display from September 21 through October 31 in the Evelyn Fike Laupus exhibit gallery located on the 4th floor of Laupus Library.
A “Digital Gallery” offering a selection of digitized, historical texts from the History of Medicine Division’s diverse collections can be found as part of the online version of the exhibition. These images provide viewers with new avenues to explore beyond the exhibition. Educators will also find expanded resources online for middle school and college level classroom use.
Pick Your Poison: Intoxicating Pleasures and Medical Prescriptions was produced by the National Library of Medicine, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and began traveling around the United States in April 2015.
For more information, contact nlmtravelingexhibts@nlm.nih.gov or visit us on the web at: www.nlm.nih.gov/pickyourpoison