The University of Iowa Libraries is pleased to make available this web based version of Heirs of Hippocrates. Now in its third edition (1991), Heirs… is recognized by librarians, medical historians, and book collectors, as a source of authority that has rightly taken its place as one of the premier reference books on the history of medicine and medical bibliography.

It should be noted that the digital version is not intended to and cannot replace the print edition, which will continue to be available for purchase. This new version can, however, provide access to the contents in new ways.  Not only is the entire text searchable but the interface is designed to accommodate complex search queries on specific fields.  In addition, since the medium is electronic, entries on additional works can be added to the database as they are acquired. 

Like its print counterpart, the arrangement of the electronic catalog is chronological by year of birth of the authors whose works are included.  This has been accomplished by placing browsing links following each entry to allow users to “leaf” through the pages as they would the printed edition. 

Please note that, with the exception of the featured image on the home page, no illustrations are available here.  Instead, the reader is referred to the print version which includes several hundred black & white and color reproductions taken from the over 2000 books described. 

Many individuals were involved in the making of this work (acknowledgements for the printed volume are included in the introduction and preface to the Third edition.).  Naturally, continued thanks must be given to the late Dr. John Martin who assembled and donated his magnificent collection to the University of Iowa Libraries.  It was also Dr. Martin who originally proposed assembling a book catalog based on the collection, gave the book its name, and helped compile, edit, and annotate many of the entries in the first three editions.  Special mention must also go Richard Eimas, former Curator of the John Martin Rare Book Room and compiler and editor of the third edition, who had the foresight in the late 1980’s to transcribe the entries into a database while the work was being edited.  His efforts were continued by James Duncan (see below) who with Will Kalkhoff (a former UI graduate student), successfully mapped and exported the database to Access.

Primary recognition for the production of the electronic version must be given to Linda Roth, Hardin Library Web Producer, who oversaw the importation of the records into FileMaker Pro, migrated the database to a web server, designed the layout and searching interface, supervised the proofing and corrections of the entries, administered the testing and saw the work through to completion. This project would not have been possible without her considerable talents and energy.

Additional acknowledgement is owed to Academic Technologies and ITS' Systems & Platform Administration, especially Andrew Rinner, for hosting the database and providing excellent FileMaker Pro support.

Special thanks are also due to the following Hardin Library staff members:
Jean Sayre, Director
James Duncan, Assistant Director, Technology Services
Edwin Holtum, Assistant Director, Administrative Services & Special Collections
Deanna Redlinger, Secretary
Cassie Reed-Thureson, Public Services Assistant
Michelle Dralle, Circulation Supervisor
Student Reference Assistants Sara Doyle, Mark Onken, Eric Jennings, & Alyssa Wright

Comments and suggestions regarding this project are welcome and should be directed to:

edwin-holtum@uiowa.edu