Untruth in Advertising: A Nineteenth Century Patent Medicine Trade Card Collection

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Melissa Nasea (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Objectives: To increase awareness about methods used to inform the public about health and drugs in 19th century America through the use of objects from the History Collections of the Laupus Health Sciences Library at East Carolina University. Methods: The Library purchased a collection of late nineteenth century patent medicine trade cards.The cards were arranged alphabetically by the proprietary drug company name and then by drug name.They were digitized by the University’s academic library, Joyner. Metadata added included drug name, company name and location, a description of the card’s picture, the diseases the drug purported to cure, the other company drugs listed, and appropriate MeSH and LCSH subject headings. The trade cards also provide a view of advertising, art, and popular culture in late nineteenth century America. Results: The trade cards are frequently viewed. Some have been used in class papers in this and other universities. Several requests have been received to use them in publications. Conclusions: The trade cards are visually striking; students who have seen a few of the actual cards want to see more. They illustrate the importance of truth in advertising. The Library will continue to collect in this and related areas (e.g. ink blotter advertisements) and has already received a donation from someone who saw the collection online. Poster presented at the meeting of the Medical Library Association, Austin, Texas

Additional Information

Publication

Other

Nasea, Melissa. (2015, May). Untruth in Advertising: A Nineteenth Century Patent Medicine Trade Card Collection. Poster presented at the meeting of the Medical Library Association, Austin, Texas.

Language: English

Date: 2015

Keywords

nonprescription drugs history of medicine

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