Photos: Pickled Human Brains in Jars

Posted Jul 06, 2012

By phvizdak

The Cushing Center, a collection of preserved brains and tumors for research from operations performed by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing on display at the Sterling Hall of Medicine at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. The brains and tumors, packed in formaldehyde, were used in research by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), a leading innovator of neurosurgery and brain surgery. 6/29/12. Photography by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register

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Signatures of students of The Yale Medical School Brain Society, an unofficial group of Yalies who would sneak into a room in the basement of the Harkness Dormitory filled with preserved brains and tumors. Stored for decades, they were used in research by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), a leading innovator of neurosurgery and brain surgery. Now, the collection is restored and open for research as the Cushing Center at the Sterling Hall of Medicine at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. 6/29/12. Photo by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register
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A small part of the collection of preserved brains and tumors in the Cushing Center at the Sterling Hall of Medicine at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. The collection was used in research by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), a leading innovator of neurosurgery and brain surgery. 6/29/12. Photo by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register
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A portrait of Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing with a patient photographed by Doris Ulmann in the 1920's that is on display along with a collection of preserved brains and tumors in the Cushing Center at the Sterling Hall of Medicine at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. The collection was used in research by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), a leading innovator of neurosurgery and brain surgery. 6/29/12. Photo by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register
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Surrounded by preserved brains and tumors, Jean Soule, a custodian at the Yale Medical School, does her daily cleaning in the Cushing Center, a collection of preserved brains, tumors and artifacts belonging to Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing on display at the Sterling Hall of Medicine at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. The brains and tumors, packed in formaldehyde, were used in research by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), a leading innovator of neurosurgery and brain surgery. 6/29/12. Photo by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register
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John Gallagher, Associate Director of the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library at the Yale School of Medicine stands inside the Cushing Center, a collection of preserved brains, tumors and artifacts belonging to Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing on display at the Sterling Hall of Medicine at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. The brains and tumors, packed in formaldehyde, were used in research by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), a leading innovator of neurosurgery and brain surgery. 6/29/12. Photo by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register
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The Cushing Center, a collection of preserved brains, tumors and artifacts belonging to Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing on display at the Sterling Hall of Medicine at Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut. The brains and tumors, packed in formaldehyde, were used in research by Dr. Harvey Williams Cushing (1869-1939), a leading innovator of neurosurgery and brain surgery. 6/29/12. Photo by Peter Hvizdak / New Haven Register