Rush University Medical Center Archives

The Rush University Medical Center Archives, Chicago, Ill., is the official archival agency of Rush University Medical Center and Rush University.

The Rush Archives strives to tell the story of Rush and its esteemed history of education, research, patient care, and community leadership in a meaningful way through our collections.

The Rush Archives holds almost 3000 linear feet of material from Rush and its predecessor schools and hospitals going back to the founding of Rush Medical College in 1837, two days before the city of Chicago was incorporated. The Rush Archives also includes the personal papers of many individuals related to those institutions. Photographs, audiovisual material, paintings, artifacts, nursing school uniforms and caps, and digital assets document the history of Rush, also. 

The Rush Archives preserves, identifies, organizes, and provides access to records of long-term historical, evidential, and administrative value to the institution. 

Follow the Rush Archives on Twitter: @RushArchives

Learn more about RU50 events and related history: www.rushu.rush.edu/about/50th-anniversary

We counted down to the 50th Anniversary of Rush University (RU50) throughout 2021! Explore our #RU50 hashtag on Twitter 

The Rush Archives COVID-19 Collection needs you! library.rush.edu/rusharchives/COVIDCollection

-Rush is a proud member of the Chicago Collections Consortium.

Rush Archives Service Hours: 

The Rush Archives offers on-site services one day a week. Often, we can assist researchers using digital resources.

Please explore this webpage and our online resources before contacting the Rush Archives for assistance.

Contact the Archivist: 

Submit Request to Nathalie Wheaton, MSLS, Archivist: Ask the Rush Archives

Note for researchers: Internal reference requests are given precedence. External requests will be addressed as time allows. However, our website will lead you to a number of digital resources from the Rush Archives that may meet your information needs.

Visiting the Rush Archives: In-person visits from researchers must be approved by the archivist ahead of time.

Location: 1700 W. Van Buren Street, Suite 086, Chicago, IL 60612.

Using our Material in your Publication/Exhibit/Presentation: Contact the Archivist for a Permission to Publish form and fee table.

Citing our Collections: Footnotes or captions should indicate the collection or other identifying information from our finding aids. Please contact the Archivist for more information. Basic format for citation:

[Identification of item], in the [Name of Collection] [Collection Number], Rush University Medical Center Archives, Chicago, Ill.

Looking for Medical Records/Patient Records? Visit Rush University Medical Center's Health Information Management Office.

Looking for Student Records/Transcripts? Visit Rush University's Office of the Registrar.

Looking for Verification/Credentials for Residency or Fellowship Programs? Visit Graduate Medical Education.

Looking for Birth, Death or other Vital Records? Visit the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Looking for other Chicago area collections or medical/nursing history resources?

Chicago Collections Consortium Medical History Guide: Resources about Chicago area medical and nursing schools, hospitals, societies, and notable health professionals. These resources include archival collections, books, and online sources. (This guide is updated continuously.)

• Chicago Area Medical Archivists 
• Chicago Area Archivists 
• The Encyclopedia of Chicago
• The Chicago Collections Consortium 
• National Library of Medicine's Directory of History of Medicine Collections
• American Association for the History of Medicine (AAHM)
• American Association for the History of Nursing (AAHN)
• Librarians, Archivists, and Museum Professionals in the History of the Health Sciences (LAMPHHS)
• Midwest Nursing History Research Center at UIC

Here are short-cuts to our online projects. However, all of these projects can be found elsewhere throughout our web pages, where they have been organized for you.