Groundbreaking for the Medical Arts Building at Caroline and Walker in downtown Houston, TX. Caption reads: “Mrs. T. A. Dickson (center), President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Harris County Medical Society, turned the first spade of earth for the site of the new $1,750,000 Medical Arts Building, Caroline Street and Walker Avenue, From left to right are: DR. John T. Moore, Vice President; Dr. E. H. Lancaster, Director; Dr. Ralph Cooley, Director; Dr. John Foster, Director; Dr. W. G. Priester, Vice President; Don Hall, Contractor; Dr. Munford W. Hoover, Director, and Dr. A. H. Flickwir, Secretary-Treasurer.” [McGovern Historical Center, Framed Oversize].

The McGovern Historical Center (MHC) is the historical and special collections department for The TMC Library. The MHC maintains rare book and archival collections. Artificial collections have been created to provide access to materials without clear provenance in order to increase discoverability. Soon after his arrival in Houston, Dr. McGovern became one of the Library’s most staunch supporters, annually supplying funds for the purchase of rare books and travel support for the librarians to attend meetings of the American Association for the History of Medicine. In 1977, The Library formed a new department with new quarters to collect historical materials and to enhance the rare book collections. In 1982, Dr. McGovern donated his personal collection of rare and historical books to the Library. In 1996 the Library’s Board of Directors named the historical department in his honor.