The History of Cancer Collection includes over 750 rare books, treatises, pamphlets, and journals on neoplasia, or cancer, dating back to the 16th century, with an emphasis on 19th and early 20th century European and American imprints.  Noteworthy are texts by Benoit Textor, Giambattista Morgagni, Johannes Muller, Rudolf Virchow, James Ewing, William Osler, Theodor Billroth, James Paget, and William Halsted.  This collection also features contemporary works authored by faculty and staff, or published by M. D. Anderson.

The HRC is the official archival repository for the institutional records, in all formats, that were created or received in the course of business, and retained permanently due to their continuing or enduring value for legal, administrative, financial, or historical research purposes.  Of special interest are the records of Dr. Ernst W. Bertner, the first acting director (1942-1946); Dr. R. Lee Clark, director and surgeon-in-chief, 1946-1968, president, 1968-1978, and president emeritus (1978-1985); and Dr. Charles A. LeMaistre, president, 1978-1996.  This voluminous record group—consisting of more than 8600 microfiche and over 50 linear feet of textual material—includes extensive correspondence, memoranda, reports, budgets and other financial documents, committee minutes, newspaper and journal articles, construction and architectural plans and drawings, and memorabilia.  As institutional records are processed, finding aids are prepared and will be available on the collaborative site TARO, Texas Archival Resources Online, and on the HRC web page.

• President’s Office Records, 1941-1998

- Director's Office Records: Ernst Bertner and R. Lee Clark, 1941-1979
- President's Office Records: R. Lee Clark, 1941-1982
- President's Office National and International Records: R. Lee Clark, 1968-1979
- President's Office Records: Charles A. LeMaistre, 1969-1998

• James Arly Nelson Collection of Howard Earle Skipper Manuscripts and Other Materials, 1962-1993
• Women Faculty and Administrators Organization (WFAO) Records, 1989-1997

The ongoing Making Cancer History^© Voices Oral History Project features interviews with physicians, scientists, staff, and others with first-hand knowledge of MD Anderson’s history and development.

Click here for a full listing of available interviews.

Special Collections includes the personal papers or manuscript collections of faculty, staff, and others who have had an active role in MD Anderson’s development.  Major collections include the T. C. Hsu Papers; the Leonard Grimmett Papers; the Gilbert Fletcher Papers; the Renilda Hilkemeyer Collection on Oncology Nursing; the Jordan Gutterman Papers on Interferon; and the Thomas Anderson Papers.  Other holdings include the Medical Photography Collection of historical photographs, the Historical Videotapes Collection of special interviews recorded by Don Macon, Grand Rounds and other faculty and staff presentations, special events, visiting scientist lectures; conferences; and training materials.