Erin McLeary, PhD, Senior Director of Collections and Research, and Sara Ray, PhD, Senior Director of Interpretation and Engagement, and co-leaders of the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia discussed the history and ongoing mission of the fabled institution. We discussed medical education in the 18 and 19th centuries, its reliance on personal notebooks and specimens, and the museum’s founding, when the collections of Dr. Thomas Mutter and Jefferson’s medical school were combined and donated to the College of Physicians. 

Drs McLeary and Ray spoke about the display of human specimens, putting them into context of the medical profession of their time, and giving them identities as individuals. Today the exhibits are part of a collection of over a half-million specimens, instruments, notebooks and other reference materials available for medical scholars. They also discussed the museum’s public programming, the permanent collection and pop-up exhibits such as ‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’ showing us the medical and scientific influences on the titular doctor, and ‘Marketing 

Medicine’ that explores medical advertising. 

We also discussed ‘Meet and Geek.’ – monthly in-depth looks at topics of fun interests.  

They revealed their 2026 exhibit, ‘Philly Killer,’ exploring the mysterious 1976 killer, ‘Legionnaires Disease.’

Finally, they invite us to party like it’s 1518 at Choremania, a dance party inspired by the odd dance mania that swept villages in the Middle Ages.  Wear a costume and enjoy an evening of dance at the museum October 30.  

Choremania tickets, information about the collection, pop-ups and Meet & Geek events, as well as museum hours are available at muttermuseum.org.