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Photos of Personal Artifacts

Dr. Ruth Kirschstein

Dr. Kirschstein's Book- Anatomy of the Nervous System

Dr. Ruth Kirschstein attended medical school at Tulane University. This was one of her textbooks from her days in Louisiana. The Anatomy of the Nervous System: Its Development and Function (1947) was written by Stephen Walter Ranson. Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's award from Association of Minority Health Professions Schools

A photo of an award with a black plaque on faux wood grain. Presented to Ruth Kirschstein from the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools in 1988

Dr. Ruth Kirschstein was a champion of minorities in the sciences throughout her career. She received this award in 1988 at a ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's Japanese fan

a wooden Japanese fan with mountains, trees, and rivers painted on it

Dr. Ruth Kirschstein collected hand fans. Some were given to her by visitors to the NIH when she was the NIH Deputy Director or the NIH Acting Director. This Japanese fan depicts three men and two horses walking through a mountain pass. Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's parking permit

a green and white striped parking pass shaped like a car that belonged to Ruth Kirschstein and allowed her to park at NIH Bethesda campus

There are some people who live on the NIH campus in Public Health Service housing; Dr. Ruth Kirschstein and her husband Dr. Alan Rabson were lucky to have a walking commute to work. In later years, residents had their own parking permits like this one. Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's FDA CBER anniversary plaque

a photo of a glass rectangular award celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's NASA lapel pin

A brass lapel pin shaped like a NASA rocket that belonged to Ruth Kirschstein

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's French medallion

a gold medallion from France that has Constitution du 4 Octobre 1958 written on it

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's FDA Commissioner's Special Citation

a photo of the FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award which is a gold coin with a wooden stand for it


The FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation presented to the Science Board subcommittee on FDA Research, of which Dr. Kirschstein was a member. The Science Board subcommittee’s role was to provide recommendations to the FDA Science Board on appropriate criteria for determining the quality and mission relevance of FDA-sponsored laboratory investigation.  Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's Geraldine P. Woods Award

a crystal vase that is the Geraldine P. Woods award won by Ruth Kirschstein

The Geraldine P. Woods Award that Dr. Kirschstein received in 2002 at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. She was praised for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to the research training of minorities while at the head of NIGMS and NIH.  Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Margaret Pittman

Dr. Pittman’s Circa- 1925 Mechanical Pencil

Mechanical pencil mounted on a stand in a display


Dr. Margaret Pittman owned this very early mechanical pencil, likely acquired during her graduate studies at the University of Chicago. Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum

Dr. Pittman's reference cards

a photo of handwritten notecards that belonged to Dr. Margaret Pittman and have summaries of scientific papers on them

Dr. Pittman’s Reference Card Files. Her system from her student days through the mid-1970s to keep track of reference papers by subject. Some cards have her summaries of the paper attached. Office of NIH History & Stetten Musuem

Dr. Pittman's reference cards in rolodex

a rolodex of notecards with handwritten summaries of scientific papers, organized by topic, belonging to Margaret Pittman

Dr. Pittman’s Reference Card Files. Her system from her student days through the mid-1970s to keep track of reference papers by subject. Some cards have her summaries of the paper attached. Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

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