These illustrations of laryngoscopic instruments and views of the throat come from Die erste Ausrottung eines Polypen in der Kehlkopfshöhle (1862), by Victor von Bruns.On October 26, 2010, the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library received 125 rare and historical books related to the history of otolaryngology. The donation included important works by Casserio from 1601, Capivaccio from 1603, Aetius of Amida from 1549, and Conrad Schneider from 1664, as well as valuable works on the anatomy and diseases of the ear, nose and throat from the 18th and 19th centuries. This material, collected by Dr. Dennis G. Pappas, was formerly at the American Academy of Otolaryngology in Alexandria, Virginia, but has now come to Historical Collections at UAB for inclusion as a specially designated “Dennis G. Pappas Otolaryngology Collection” in the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library. This large acquisition of rare materials augmented books already donated by Dr. Pappas in this specialty, and he has continued to add to the collection since then.

Click here to view Dr. Pappas's annotated bibliography of the collection. As the collection continues to grow, check back periodically to see if any new titles have been added. For additional information regarding the collection's holdings, search OneSearch, the UAB Libraries online catalog.

Also, on December 5, 2012, Dr. Pappas gave a Reynolds-Finley Historical Lecture, titled "The Turckish War of Laryngology: From the Dennis G. Pappas Collection," in which he provides historical background for many of the titles in the collection, as well as a discussion of the collecting process. Read the lecture transcript, or watch a video of the lecture below.