The Business of Medicine Exhibition

Brand New Exhibition Hits the Thackray Museum!

One of Leeds' best loved attractions is opening it's brand new temporay exhibition "The Business of Medicine". Ever wondered where the drugs and surgical instruments used to treat us come from? Our Brand new exhibition will make you think more about the treatments we receive in our hospitals and surgeries.

The exhibition looks at how doctors and surgeons have worked with industrialists to develop and market medical products in unusual and exciting ways. The exhibition takes the Thackray Museum back to it's roots in the international medical supply trade, with the company Chas. F. Thackray LTD, Which operated in Leeds from 1902 - 1990. Fascinating materials from Thackray's business archive will be on display, including an original pattern book showing the drawings from which medical instruments were hand forged by skilled craftsmen.

"The Business of  Medicine" is a chance to find out more about how entrepreneurs in history have developed businesses based on medical knowledge and innovation.

The exhibition is based on the research of PhD student Claire Jones. Talking about the exhibition, Claire said "People rarely think about where the drugs and surgical instruments used to treat them come from, and hopefully this exhibition will get the public interested in the topic".

The exhibition is a result of the Collaborative Awards Scheme, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, between the Thackray Museum and the University of Leeds. Claire said that "The Thackray Museum is the best place to put on such an exhibition because of its rich collection of trade catalogues, especially the beatifully designed European catalogues from the late 19th Century which we have on display in the exhibition"

The exhibition will run until Sunday 28th June 2009.