The Osler Library of the History of Medicine was opened in 1929 at
McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Sir William Osler (1849-1919), arguably
McGill’s and Canada’s most famous doctor at the time, had bequeathed his magnificent
library of almost 8,000 historical works in medicine and, to a lesser extent,
science and literature to the university. Under the 30-year reign of its first librarian,
Dr.W.W. Francis, the Osler Library became famous for its rare books and for
its connection with Sir William.
