Discover medical history by examining glass bottles produced for various medicinal purposes.

Driven by fear of illness, high medical costs, and an unregulated market, 19th- and early 20th-century patent medicines thrived through bold advertising claims and unique glassware. Before federal labeling laws passed in 1906 and 1912, manufacturers could conceal ingredients and make untested health claims.

Assembled by former Brown University Medical Dean Dr. David S. Greer, this collection features over 200 mid-1800s to early 1900s medicine bottles—most molded with product names—alongside historical sales artifacts. The exhibit mirrors modern over-the-counter medicine complexities through the lens of early healthcare, marketing, and culture.

This exhibit is a reprisal of a 1975 Brown Library exhibition.

Dates: September 8, 2026 – June 4, 2027
Time: John Hay Library Hours
Location: Willis Reading Room, John Hay Library, 20 Prospect Street, Providence