Presented by UMB Council for the Arts & Culture
Stop 15
The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) is located on the southeast end of UMB’s campus. It is situated the farthest east of three connected UMB buildings located between South Greene and Penn streets. HSHSL is the hub for health sciences literature and research support as well as a venue for art exhibits and cultural events.
On the first floor, the Frieda O. Weise Gallery serves as a dynamic exhibition space for rotating art exhibits that explore the intersections of health, science, and the humanities. Named in honor of Weise, a former HSHSL executive director, this gallery provides a platform for local artists including students, staff, and faculty to display works that inspire conversation and reflection, often highlighting themes related to medical history, social movements, and the healing power of art.
Works of art also are on view throughout the library. Part of the UMB HSHSL collection, each piece includes a detailed information tag with QR codes that link to videos that offer deeper insight into the pieces and their creators.
Adjacent to the Gladhill Boardroom on the fifth floor is a curated gallery space featuring a variety of striking paintings, some on loan from the Maryland Art Education Association. These artworks also include QR codes that launch to videos about the pieces. A standout in the collection is “Vesalius,” a powerful painting by renowned artist Joseph Sheppard that is part of UMB’s permanent collection and holds a prominent place in the display.
The fifth floor also serves as an archival repository for UMB, documenting the history and accomplishments of the Schools of Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work. The collection includes school publications, historical photographs, manuscript collections, and selected primary-source documents dating back to the University’s 19th-century origins.