Books and babies: a history of reproduction

A new exhibition is now open at Cambridge University Library, which explores the interactions between communication media and ideas about reproduction throughout history.

The exhibition features the chronological story of the books and objects that have been central to communicating reproduction from ancient times to the present day – from ancient fertility figures and medieval manuscripts to the birth of Louise Brown following in vitro fertilisation in 1978.

The exhibition has been curated by the Generation to Reproduction group – Cambridge historians of medicine and biology who are using a Wellcome Trust strategic award to reassess the long-term history of reproduction. Find out more at www.reproduction.group.cam.ac.uk

Books and Babies: Communicating Reproduction is on display at Cambridge University Library until 23 December 2011 and admission is free. To find out more about the exhibition visit the Cambridge University Library website.