William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences

05/27/2026

Lorilla Frances Bullard, a graduate of the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, served as an assistant physician at the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane from 1896 to 1901.

Check out our new temporary exhibit, “Lorilla F. Bullard: Female Physician at the WV Hospital for the Insane,” which highlights a collection of Bullard’s papers and clothing from her time at the hospital.

You'll also find materials from the West Virginia & Regional History Center on display, including letters of recommendation for her hospital position, research papers, and photographs of the hospital dating to her years there.

Visit the exhibit in the Health Sciences Center Pylons Commons or learn more about the exhibit.➡️ nealmuseum.wvu.edu/

05/07/2026

New artifacts and stories are now on display in the Neal Museum, highlighting two important chapters in West Virginia healthcare history.

The museum’s new exhibit, “Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing,” explores the legacy of Wheeling City Hospital and its Training School for Nurses, founded in 1890 as the first nursing school in West Virginia. Thanks to a donation from the Ohio County Public Library, the exhibit now includes an original Wheeling City Hospital nurse’s cap and pin, connecting visitors directly to the generations of nurses trained there.

Also newly on exhibit are materials related to WVU’s transition to a full four-year School of Medicine in 1960. Donated by H. Dale Sponaugle, the collection includes a 1957 Medical Center Student Handbook and a class photograph from 1959, the final WVU medical class that completed part of its education out of state.

To celebrate the opening of the nursing exhibit, the Neal Museum will host a screening of “Beacon Light: A History of Ohio Valley General Hospital and Ohio Valley Medical Center” this Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Patteson Auditorium of Health Sciences Center North. We hope to see you there! ➡️wvu.libcal.com/calendar/events/beacon-light

04/29/2026

Welcome, Dean Paris!

We are excited to welcome Mark Paris as Dean of WVU Libraries and Press!

As Dean, Paris serves as the chief administrator and strategic leader of WVU Libraries, the West Virginia & Regional History Center, the William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences, the WVU Humanities Center, and the West Virginia University Press.

Throughout his career, Paris has focused on positioning libraries and their allied units as strategic partners in advancing research excellence, student success, and the public mission of higher education.

We look forward to the future and continued growth of WVU Libraries! 💙💛

Read more about Dean Paris: exlibris.lib.wvu.edu/news/2026/04/27/wvu-libraries-welcomes-dean-mark-paris

04/15/2026

We are excited to share that we have recently acquired a ceremonial shovel from the groundbreaking ceremony of WVU's Medical Center on December 9, 1952!

This shovel was owned by Dr. Carl Lemley Kennedy of Montgomery, West Virginia who was a leader in dentistry and influential in the WVU Medical Center and establishment of WVU School of Dentistry.

The shovel was donated by his son, Dr. Carl L. Kennedy who still runs the family dental practice in Montgomery. Visit the Neal Museum located at the WVU Health Sciences Center, next to the iconic pylons, to see this important piece of WVU history in person.

03/26/2026

Thank you to all who supported the Neal Museum during the 2026 . Your support is essential to the work of the museum.

We look forward to a year filled with new exhibits and programs, and many opportunities to fulfill our purpose of connecting history and healthcare to foster healthier communities.

03/25/2026

Can't make a donation for ? You can still help us out by participating in the WVU Gear Challenge!

Post a picture of yourself, your kids, and/or your pets in WVU gear. The most creative will make the cut!

Make sure to include and tag WVU Libraries, West Virginia & Regional History Center, William A. Neal Museum of the Health Sciences, WVU Humanities Center or West Virginia University Press.

Mary F. Shipper Library - WVU Potomac State College
WVU Tech Library

03/25/2026

is here! For the next 24 hours, you can support the Neal Museum and make a real impact. Use code 2W1211 when donating.

⏰ Want to make your gift go even further? Donate during these challenge hours:

12–1 p.m.: Help us win for most first-time donors
1–2 p.m.: Help us win for most total gifts
All Day: WVU Gear Photo Challenge - Share a photo of yourself, your kids, and/or your pets in WVU gear using and tag us!

is here! For the next 24 hours, you can support WVU Libraries and make a real impact.

⏰ Want to make your gift go even further? Donate during these challenge hours:

12–1 p.m.: Help us win for most first-time donors
1–2 p.m.: Help us win for most total gifts
All Day: WVU Gear Photo Challenge - Share a photo of yourself, your kids, and/or your pets in WVU gear using and tag us!

You can even double your impact by giving to these special opportunities:
• Ann Stewart Plein Memorial Student Enrichment Fund (2W2170) to honor her legacy in rare books with student opportunities
• Give to Women Making History—the first 20 gifts to any of our women's history funds (2W1553, 2W2162, 3V1230) will unlock an extra $10,000 for women’s history collections

Ready to give or learn more? Visit: dayofgiving.wvu.edu/libraries

01/23/2026

Reminder! The deadline to submit your ideas for the 2026–2027 exhibit, "Mountaineers Go First- 250 Years of Medical Innovation in WV," is on Friday, January 30.

As we continue to prepare for the 250th anniversary of the United States, we are still seeking ideas and information from anyone who has examples where West Virginia or West Virginians led the way in medical innovation or the development of a medical field.

Ideas must be submitted by January 30, 2026 using the submission form: wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81B2JF2ztzpbmQe

12/09/2025

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Neal Museum is looking forward to highlighting how West Virginians have paved the way for innovations in medicine and healthcare. Recognizing that the history of medicine and healthcare in the state is vast, we invite historians, healthcare professionals, and the public to share their knowledge and ideas to ensure a broad representation of West Virginia’s leaders in medicine.

In preparation for this 2026–2027 exhibition, the museum invites submissions of people, events, institutions, or other ideas for inclusion. These submissions should focus on examples where West Virginia or West Virginians led the way in medical innovation or the development of a medical field. Submissions can be related to any medical field and cover any period, from colonial America to the present.

Submitted ideas will be further researched and curated into a final exhibition narrative. While all submitted ideas will be considered, not all may be included in the final exhibit. In the submission form, please provide as much information about the person, event, or idea as possible, including any potential research resources you are aware of.

Ideas must be submitted by January 30, 2026 using the submission form: wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81B2JF2ztzpbmQe