Well over half the material held at the American Philosophical Society's Library & Museum documents the history of science. These collections include manuscripts, printed materials, images and photographs, as well as oral history interviews and other audio-visual records.
In terms of subject-area, the APS’s history of science collections run the gamut from A to Z—from astronomy to zoology—with particular strengths in genetics, evolutionary biology, and the life sciences. Other areas of note include eighteenth- and nineteenth-century natural history, physics, and the early history of computing.
Explore the collections through the general Collections Search, or visit the History of Science Collections page to view some highlights from our holdings.
Subject Guides
The APS's Library & Museum hosts several subject guides and newsletters providing access to its history of science materials. Explore the subject areas below to learn more.
Images & Digital Galleries
The APS’s Digital Library hosts hundreds of images representing materials in the history of science. Notable projects in this area include digital galleries visualizing the connections among women scientists in the APS's collections, as well as web exhibits highlighting the lives and achievements of biophysicist Britton Chance and of Nobel Prize-winning physician Baruch Blumberg, whose papers are housed at the APS.