Three small wooden boxes with metal handles. One is opened to display a stack of metal printing plates, three of which are propped up in front of the boxes

Printing plates

The Bulfinch is full of hidden gems, and the mysterious boxes that fill this closet are no exception. There have been seven official histories of the MGH, covering the periods of 1811-1872, 1872-1900, 1900-1935, 1935-1955, 1811-1961, 1955-1985, and 1811-2011. These boxes contain excess copies of the 1900-1935 history authored by hospital director Frederic A. Washburn, and these printing plates were used in their creation.