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Photos of Personal Artifacts

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

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

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's parking permit

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's FDA CBER anniversary plaque

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's NASA lapel pin

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's French medallion

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

Dr. Kirschstein's FDA Commissioner's Special Citation


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

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. 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

Caption Credit

Dr. Pittman's reference cards in rolodex

Caption Office of NIH History & Stetten Museum 

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