The Visual Power of American Civil War Correspondence: Looking through the lens of the Benjamin L. Askue, Jr. Civil War Letters

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Devhra Bennettjones

benjamin l. askue, jr. during the American Civil Way, circa 1860s — Benjamin L. Askue, Jr. during the American Civil War, circa 1860s

Frontline accounts of military conflicts provide a glimpse into the world of the war. The historical record reflects numerous descriptions of soldier’s and military doctor’s accounts of the bloodiest war ever engaged on American soil – the Civil War. The Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions announces the launch of the narratives of the 23^rd Regiment Ohio Volunteers Infantry doctor, the Benjamin L. Askue, Jr. Civil War Letters Benjamin L. Askue, Jr. Civil War Letters on JSTOR.

Askue was born in November 1833 to Benjamin and Rowena Cordelia Askue in Ashtabula, Ohio. In 1853, he married his cousin Flavia Pritchard. The letters he wrote to Flavia during the American Civil War demonstrate that they had a happy marriage. The couple had five children together.

During the 19^th century and early 20^th century, physicians often received their training through apprenticeships. Askue followed this path becoming a homeopathic doctor. In 1861 he joined the 23^rd Regiment Ohio Volunteers Infantry, Company B in the Union Army. Askue served as a cook, nurse, hospital steward, and in the 23^rd Regiment’s infantry. He left the Union Army In July 1865. Askue returned to Ashtabula to farm and practice homeopathic medicine. He died in 1906.

Askue’s archives and artifacts were donated to the Winkler Center. While his archives hold numerous documents and artifacts, the highlight of the collection consists of letters written to Flavia beginning in June 1861 and concluding in July 1865. He described the 23^rd Regiment’s travels, battles, camp life, politics, family in Ashtabula, Ohio and Askue engaged in philosophical analysis of the era.

mid-19th century doctor's traveling medicine kit — Mid-19^th century doctor’s traveling medicine kit

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Striker Lecture 2025: History of Pharmacy Education in the Queen City

Posted on November 19, 2025 by Devhra Bennettjones

The University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy’s 175th anniversary was featured in the 2025 Cecil B. Striker annual lecture series on October 14^th. The lecture series is an annual program of the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions. Esteemed pharmacy historian, Dennis B. Worthen gave a standing ovation lecture entitled Pharmacy Education In The Queen City: 1850—2025. Pharmacy Education in the Queen City: 1850-2025 – UC Libraries MediaSpace. Worthen traced the origins of pharmacy education in Cincinnati, beginning with Peter Smith’s Indian Doctor Dispensatory (1810), the first medical book published in Ohio, through today’s College of Pharmacy, which boasts PharmD joint degrees, online master’s and interdisciplinary degrees, graduates from the United States and over 23 countries. Worthen’s narrative of the 175^th anniversary of the College of Pharmacy is honored with a year-long exhibition in the Stanley Lucas Boardroom, Health Sciences Library.

Dennis B. Worthen, Ph.D., served as an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy where he taught the history of pharmacy courses from 1999-2017. He was also affiliated with the Lloyd Library and Museum in Cincinnati, OH as executive director and then the Lloyd Scholar from 1999 to 2013. He retired from Procter & Gamble Health Care as the director of pharmacy affairs in 1999. Dr. Worthen completed his undergraduate education at the University of Michigan and received his graduate degrees from Case Western Reserve University.

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Illustrating War: Announcing the Daniel S. Young Archives of Medical Illustrations digital collection

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Devhra Bennettjones

Medical illustrations and drawings are a reflection of the state of medical practice at a specific moment in time providing a visual record of science, technology, and anatomical knowledge.

The artwork of Daniel S. Young highlights the artistic and medical contributions of an American Civil War era medical illustrator in a military context. Daniel S. Young: American Civil War Medical Illustrations on JSTOR. His artistry paints a portrayal of how medical illustration informed medical professionals during the 19th century. Young’s Civil War medical illustrations were crucial in educating doctors on surgical procedures and about previously unseen wounds. While medical illustrations such as Dr. Daniel Young’s served to educate doctors they were also important in aiding veterans in their pension claims and showing how the war impacted the soldiers’ health.

Cuts along the upper arm and elbow. Stone's River, Tennessee. — Cuts along the upper arm and elbow. Stone’s River, Tennessee.

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UC Graduate a notable leader in the United States anti-smoking movement

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Devhra Bennettjones

Ahron Leichtman (February 21, 1943 – October 12, 2018) was a national and regional leader in the quest to ban public smoking in the United States. He graduated in 1964 from the University of Cincinnati, with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and earned a creative writing certificate from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1971.

During the 1980s and 1990s he founded multiple organizations to carry out anti-smoking initiatives. He established and led Citizens Against Tobacco Smoke (CATS), which was later renamed Citizens for a Tobacco-Free Society (CATS). Leichtman organized a coalition of over 90 nonsmoker’s rights, anti-smoking and environmental health groups to provide tireless grassroots support for the national campaign to ban airline smoking.

He created the Smoke-free Skies Campaign that led to the ban of smoking on all U.S. airline flights. Leichtman developed promotional materials to encourage the news media to cover the health, safety, legal and economic issues involved with airline smoking. He participated in numerous television network, nationally syndicated and radio interview programs about airline smoking, serving as the primary advocate for a total smoking ban on commercial airline flights.

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The Winkler Center Archive’s reach is well beyond Cincinnati

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Devhra Bennettjones

While the primary focus of the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions collection is chronicling the history of health sciences in the Cincinnati area, the physicians, researchers and scientists in the archive made an impact world-wide. One such individual was Albert Sabin, researcher and scientist best known for his discovery of the live polio vaccine. Correspondence from his collection housed in the Winkler Center was recently used in a new publication, Italo Archetti (Peschiera Maraglio (BS), 1913 – Rome, 1998) In Vol. 2, No. 2 Scientia, December 2024 ISSN: 2974-9433 by Giacomo Simoncelli. Issue – Editrice Bibliografica Journals.

The book’s author, Giacomo Simoncelli, is a PhD candidate in history, philosophy, religions at the Sapienza Universita Di Roma in Italy and is a Visiting Fellow at Oxford Brookes University–Oxford, United Kingdom. In the publication, he chronicles the significant role of scientist Italo Archetti in his research on influenza, polio and his contribution to the establishment of the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità). Archetti was a friend, colleague and correspondent with Dr. Albert Sabin and his wife Heloisa Sabin.

The Winkler Center Archive’s reach is well beyond Cincinnati

Simoncelli utilized correspondence between the Sabins and Archetti held by the Winkler Center and publicly available on the University of Cincinnati’s Digital Resource Commons https://drc.libraries.uc.edu/items/85a7fad8-7f7d-4fee-81d6-ced447989173. The letter demonstrates their professional respect and close friendship.

Donated by his wife Heloisa in 1993, the Sabin archives occupy nearly 400 linear feet and consist of correspondence, laboratory notebooks, manuscripts and other research papers generated by Sabin during his long and active medical career. This extensive collection also contains his honors, awards, medals and other memorabilia, as well as research materials such as microscope and lantern slides. In addition, there are hundreds of photographs, and many video recordings and audiotapes. The collection spans the years 1930 to 1993, with the bulk of material being from Sabin’s tenure in Cincinnati from 1939 to 1969. Other online Sabin resources include the digital collection and finding aid addendum.

Mary Maciel: Visionary in Medical Illustration

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Devhra Bennettjones

Founder of the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, School of Medical Illustration (1930-1972)

By Devhra BennettJones

Mary Maciel: Visionary in Medical Illustration

Penetrating trauma surgery

Abdominal Blood Vessels

The Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions is pleased to announce online access to the archives of esteemed medical illustrator, professor and artist, Mary Maciel. Mary Maciel: Visionary in Medical Illustration on JSTOR. Maciel’s career at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, began in 1930 in the Department of Surgery and continued through 1972 when she retired from the School of Medical Illustration. She trained with the world renowned “father” of medical illustration, Max Broedel at Johns Hopkins University. By 1947 the University of Cincinnati Board of Directors authorized a new course in medical illustration taught by 25-year-old Mary Maciel.

Mary Maciel Instructing Medical Illustration Students

Her artistic talent and academic administrative skills led the field world-wide. She set the standard that applicants to the UC School of Medical Illustration must possess at least four, and preferably five years of course work in general art and training in science. She only allowed the admission of a maximum of two students annually. In 1948 Maciel organized a school of medical illustration in Portugal. In 1951 she established a school of medical illustration at the University of Lyons, France. By the 1950s the University of Cincinnati School of Medical Illustration was one of four North American universities with programs in medical illustration along with Johns Hopkins University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Toronto.

Liver Surgery

Maciel’s expertise was recognized around the globe. She often spent the summer months abroad working in the field. In 1957 she taught students of medical illustration in Finland and was awarded a four-month Fulbright professorship at the University of Strasbourg. In 1958 Mary Maciel presented lectures and medical illustration demonstrations at the University of Helsinki. She served as a consultant at medical centers in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. In 1963 Maciel visited medical schools in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. She was a visiting professor at the University of Rio de Janeiro and the University of Buenos Aires. In 1968 Maciel was invited to work with the esteemed Dr. Christiaan Barnard, who performed the first human-to-human heart transplant. By the late 1960s Maciel is credited with having created more than 7,000 medical illustrations for textbooks, journals, movie animation and scientific articles.

Heart Transplant Diagram

Heart Transplant Technique

Under her leadership, the UC School of Medical Illustration made a profound impact on the field with numerous prominent graduates. Among them are George Kees in 1950 and George Schwenk in 1952. Kees became the Director of medical illustration for the Departments of Urology and Neurology at Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. Schwenk published in medical journals, books, and popular magazines such as Life, Discover, and Esquire. In July 1972 Mary Maciel retired and subsequently, the UC School of Medical Illustration closed. On March 27, 1990, Mary Maciel, UC College of Medicine professor emerita who organized and led the College of Medicine’s School of Medical Illustration from 1947 until 1972, died at age 83.

Brain Surgery

Parathyroid Adenoma Osseous

The Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions is grateful to James Van Mil, Sidney Gao and Sean Crowe for their expertise in the digitization of the Mary Maciel Archives.

Dr. Wolfgang Ritschel—Scientist, Professor, Painter and Sculptor

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Devhra Bennettjones

As the University of Cincinnati Donald C. Harrison Health Sciences Library welcomes the 2024-25 College of Medicine students and faculty back to the academic calendar, they are greeted by the new installation of MEDSTEPS. The sculpture is the work of renowned artist and scientist Wolfgang Ritschel (1933-2010). It is located on the G-level of the Health Sciences Library.

Dr. Ritschel described MEDSTEPS as:

Stairs may have different purposes and meanings. Essentially, they are a means to reaching different levels, both literally and figuratively speaking. This sculpture uses stairs or, rather steps on a ladder, as a metaphorical form of expression in paying tribute to the development and advancement of medicine from its beginnings at the dawn of time – including Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, and Native American medicine with their symbols as shown in the stained-glass panels – to computerized medicine, along with corresponding “step-by-step” technological progress in diagnosis and therapy. Medicine and the arts were always intertwined, as is suggested by the common expression “medical arts.” In fact, in 15^th-century Europe, physicians, pharmacists and artists all belonged to the same guild, a development which presumably originated with the use of mortar and pestle as a grinding tool for both pharmaceutical substances and pigments. I like to think of this as part of my personal and artistic statement in sculptures with a medical theme.

The sculpture is composed of stainless steel, gold leaf, stained glass, lead, polymer, paint, wood and measures 91” x 51” x 22”.

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15th Annual Cecil Striker Society Lecture examined neurology at the University of Cincinnati

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Devhra Bennettjones

Lecture video now available for viewing.

Anatomical chromographs of the human male and the human female by Gladys McHugh

Among the joys of the spring season at the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions is the annual Cecil Striker Society Lecture. On May 7, 2024 the esteemed Joseph P. Broderick, MD, medical director at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and professor of neurology in the UC College of Medicine addressed the assembly at Kresge Auditorium for the 15^th Striker Lecture.

Dr. Broderick’s Cincinnati Neurology: From Astute Human Observations to Life-changing Therapies chronicled the leadership of the Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine, the vast advances in neurological science and treatments.Through an examination of history and subtle humor, Dr. Broderick took the audience on an epoch journey of brain science discoveries that have transformed neurological science during his esteemed career. He enlightened that in the 1950s and 1960s neurological conditions and diseases most often led to patient death, while today with the advances in neurology there is much hope for patients and their families.

2024 Cecil Striker Society Lecture

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Eula Bingham 1929-2020

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Devhra Bennettjones

Eula Bingham 1929-2020 Staff here at the Winkler Center were saddened to hear of the passing over the weekend of great friend and supporter, Eula Bingham. Her long and illustrious career bespoke a dedication to and undying support of American laborers and their right to work in safe and healthy conditions. In addition, she was steadfast in her commitment to research, students, and the Department of Environmental Health in the College of Medicine here at the University of Cincinnati.

Eula Bingham was born on farm near Covington, Kentucky in 1929. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology at Eastern Kentucky University, she began her career at the University of Cincinnati (UC) as a graduate student in 1955. It was as a graduate student that she worked as a technician at the Kettering Laboratory under her mentor Dr. Robert Kehoe. There she did research in the toxicology division of what later became the Department of Environmental Health in the College of Medicine.

Upon receiving her PhD in Zoology and Physiology from UC with minors in Ecology and Biochemistry in 1958, she was appointed Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine. Her research in toxicology continued with an emphasis in chemical carcinogens. Eventually Dr. Bingham’s pioneering research merged with her growing concern with workplace exposure to cancer causing chemical agents.

Her interest in worker safety and health lead to her participation in numerous national efforts in protecting workers. In the 1970s, union advocates and leaders like Tony Mazzochi sought her expert opinion in legislative issues. Dr. Bingham’s growing reputation led to her inclusion, and leadership appointments, on several Department of Labor, Department of Energy, and other federal committees. As a result, she was asked by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 to lead the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as Assistant Secretary of Labor—the first woman to lead the department. While there, she was instrumental in developing standards and training for workers, unions, and management on workplace hazards.

She returned to the University of Cincinnati as Vice President (VP) of Research and Graduate Studies (1981-1990). During this tenure, she maintained her research interests, continued to publish in the field of industrial health, and was instrumental in petitioning state legislatures to enforce labeling standards on hazardous materials in the workplace. Upon leaving the VP position, she returned to research and authored numerous grants. One of these, was to perform a study at the Oakridge National Laboratory in Tennessee where for almost a half century workers had been exposed to radiation, mercury, and other hazardous and cancer causing materials. Results of the study led to legislation providing for free healthcare, testing, and screenings for workers affected through the years, and the safe removal of contaminants from the facility.

Eula Bingham retired in 2000 as Professor Emerita, Environmental Health, College of Medicine. She maintained an office at UC, and was a frequent visitor to and vigilant supporter of the Winkler Center and its activities. We will miss her livelty spirit and constant spark. In the spring of 2018, Dr. Bingham graciously sat for an oral history conducted by honors students of HST 3097, an honors seminar course titled “Bearcat Legacies.” The project was done in cooperation with the University of Cincinnati Emeriti Faculty History Project. Please follow the video links for parts one and two of the interview for more on her life and work.

: Ever supportive of workers’ rights and health, Dr. Bingham receives an award from the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center in April 2017.

: A frequent supporter of Winkler Center activities, here Dr. Bingham speaks with Archivits/Curator Gino Pasi at a Cecil Striker Lecture, 2017.

: Front page of retailers magazine, 1979.

John McDonough–Reminiscences

Posted on January 9, 2020 by Devhra Bennettjones

Back in late November, the Winkler Center was sad to the share the news of John “Jack” McDonough’s passing. After that post, several friends of the Winkler Center, and current and former advisory board members shared with us some reminiscences of their friend and colleague. With their permission we’ve reprinted a few below.

McDonough with Marianne Ivey

Marianne Ivey: I was very sad to hear of the passing of Dr. Jack McDonough. He was extremely important to the Henry R. Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions in several ways, and I was lucky to experience his leadership, and influence, first hand.

As chair of the Winkler Center Advisory Board, Jack was a passionate fundraiser for the Center. He was very successful in sharing the important mission of the Center with his UC School of Medicine colleagues. Not only did he have ideas, but was also proactive in supporting activities that shared the important legacies of those talented UC colleagues. Jack was adept at involving other members of the UC healthcare community in the Winkler Center. Along with Jane Henney, MD, former Senior Vice President and Provost for Health Affairs, the Profressons of pharmacy, nursing and allied health were invited to be full participants. When Jack left Cincinnati I became chair of the Center. He was very generous in sharing his materials and ideas with me. His example is being emulated still and I think he would be happy with that legacy

L to R, William Camm, Edward Otten, Jack McDonough

William Camm: I’ve known Jack McDonough for at least 45 yrs. I remember when he was a surgical resident when I was a college student working for Dr Altemeier insurgical bacteriology. Jack was then an instructor and teacher in surgery when I was a medical student. His surgical knowledge and technical skills were among the best I have ever seen. He was always so kind and helpful to medical students. He recruited me to join the Winkler Center Advisory Board and I had hoped to interview him as part of our video interviews of past great clinicians. I’ve modeled all my interviews based on reviewing the great one’s Jack did (Drs. Helmsworth, Neale and Martin to name a few). He was the consummate gentleman and the best hand surgeon I’ve ever known. I will certainly miss him.

Dan Lucas: Wholeheartedly agree on the importance of Dr. McDonough. Not only was he a gem of a person, but he kept the Winkler Center alive during a tenuous period when its current location was very much in jeopardy. His passing is a huge loss.

Stephen Marine: Jack’s biggest accomplishment [as chair of the Winkler Center advisory board] was getting the Center named for Henry [Winkler], which he accomplished just a year or two before Henry died. I think when discussing his work for the Winkler Center, you also need to consider his marshaling of the board, at the time, to increase its fund raising role in addition to its advisory duties. He tirelessly worked for increases in gift giving with an emphasis on endowments and leveraged his community contacts to bring greater visibility to the Center. Finally, he brought much needed diversity to the Winkler Center board in just about any way you can imagine. Jack always worked hand in glove with me and others at the Center but never interfered in operational matters.

Henry Winkler and Jack McDonough at the Winkler Centers Dedication, March 25, 2009