Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter’s World

“The National Library of Medicine (NLM) produced Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter’s World and was guest curated by Elizabeth J. Bland and public historian and educator Mark A. Waddell, PhD (Michigan State University). The traveling banner exhibition and companion website explore the plants, animals, and magic featured in the Harry Potter book series, which were influenced by Renaissance thinkers and traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science. Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter's World explores the intersection of these worlds in the NLM’s History of Medicine collection. Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine include an education component with a university module and a digital gallery that features a curated selection of fully digitized items from the historical collections of the NLM, which are also available in their entirety in NLM Digital Collections. The National Library of Medicine produced this exhibition and companion website.”

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will close on March 14, 2026.