Collecting the artificial body: Surveying the material culture of prosthetic artifacts

The twentieth century witnessed remarkable development within the field of prosthetics. This process occurred across many medical disciplines, producing a range of prostheses as dissimilar from each other as artificial organs, hearing assistive devices, and electrically controlled robot limbs. Erich and Elizabeth’s project addresses prosthetics as a singular topic using artifacts from the University of Toronto and affiliated hospitals. These artifacts highlight cross-disciplinary networks, as well as communities of practitioners and patients, that emerged and flourished over the twentieth century.

The main goal of their project is an accessible online record, a catalogue of artifacts containing detailed explanation and interpretation that places each entry within its Canadian and international context. This variety of examples will provide an accessible introduction to important themes such as the evolution of biocompatible materials, the tactile skills required of medical practitioners and prosthetic users, as well as the relationship between local researchers and the commercial development of medical devices.