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Country Doctor Museum

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The Country Doctor Museum is a place to visit to learn about the history of rural health care in the United States from the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The museum has over 5,000 artifacts acquired since 1967 when the museum was founded in Bailey.


Images

This is a part of the museum that is placed beside where one of the doctors lived. There are different rooms in here that show different ways doctors used things.

This is a part of the museum that is placed beside where one of the doctors lived. There are different rooms in here that show different ways doctors used things.

This is the sign that is outside of the museum, just beside the road.

This is the sign that is outside of the museum, just beside the road.

American Red Cross nurses participated in the care of servicemen during the war. These are the dresses that they would wear.

American Red Cross nurses participated in the care of servicemen during the war. These are the dresses that they would wear.

Inside the case shows what the doctors would use to roll out and cut pills, and then different types of medicines that would "cure you or kill you."

Inside the case shows what the doctors would use to roll out and cut pills, and then different types of medicines that would "cure you or kill you."

The doctors would use leeches to help draw the blood to the surface. It also shows other instruments they would use to open the skin to release blood.

The doctors would use leeches to help draw the blood to the surface. It also shows other instruments they would use to open the skin to release blood.

Here is a case full of different thing that the doctors would put in their medicines they were creating.

Here is a case full of different thing that the doctors would put in their medicines they were creating.

Here features Emma Sandberg Vico's Midwifery set.

Here features Emma Sandberg Vico's Midwifery set.

This is the Ivory Handle Dentistry Case. It shows different instruments that the dentist would use.

This is the Ivory Handle Dentistry Case. It shows different instruments that the dentist would use.

This is an example of what a family would ride in during these times. They took these everywhere.

This is an example of what a family would ride in during these times. They took these everywhere.

This is called the Iron Lung. If you encountered Polio you would have to live in this until your lungs were strong enough to function on their own. Some lived here all of their lives.

This is called the Iron Lung. If you encountered Polio you would have to live in this until your lungs were strong enough to function on their own. Some lived here all of their lives.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Country Doctor Museum campus is made up of three buildings. Hour long guided tours take guests through each building. The Farmer Annex is the start of the tour with the Gift Shop and Library. Exhibits are changed periodically in the library including some of the Nursing collection.

The original museum building, the Freeman-Brantley building, is made up of 2 doctor's offices that were moved to Bailey in 1967. This building contains 3 rooms of artifacts related to pharmacy, medical school training, surgery, and 'sick room' care of the early 1900's. The medicinal herb garden is located behind this building and contains over 50 herbs and plants historically used in medicine.

The Carriage House contains the transportation collection including Model T Fords and buggies, a variety of medicine bags, and a Polio exhibit.

Since 2003 the museum has been managed by East Carolina University and is part of the Laupus Health Science Library.

Additional Information