Skull of Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832)

Dublin Core

Title

Skull of Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832)

Subject

Spurzheim, J. G. (Johann Gaspar), 1776-1832
skull
human remains

Description

These are images of Johann Gaspar Spurzheim's skull. This human specimen is one of the artifacts held in the Warren Anatomical Museum. Spurzheim's skull had originally belonged to the Boston Phrenological Society (BPS) collection, an organization created after his death on his birthday in remembrance of his contributions to phrenology. BSP membership declined, which led to a collection loan to John Collins Warren. This included Spurzheim's crania and brain along with Dr. Roberton's crania, a friend who requested his skull to reside next to Spurzheim. Warren eventually donated Spurzheim's crania, in addition, to the BPS collection to Harvard Medical College once it became apparent that BPS would no longer operate as an organization. Spurzheim's skull is one of the artifacts on display for the Warren Anatomical Museum, but it is temporarily deinstalled due to building renovations to the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Abstract

The skull of Johann Gaspar Spurzheim.

Rights

The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all the materials in the collection. For use information, contact the Warren Anatomical Museum Curator at chm@hms.harvard.edu

Access Rights

Accessing collections in the Warren Anatomical Museum and the Warren Anatomical Museum archive requires advanced notice. Please submit a request to Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu to access the displayed item

Is Referenced By

Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. "Article II. Anatomical Report on the Skull of Spurzheim, read before the Boston Phrenological Society." Annals of Phrenology 2 (1835): 72-78.

Format

object

Extent

2 photographs (1 crania)

Type

physical object

Identifier

Warren Anatomical Museum Catalog Number: TEMP00487

Files

TEMP00487_v2_50reduced3.jpg
TEMP00487_v1.jpg

Citation

“Skull of Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832),” OnView, accessed March 28, 2024, https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/26402.