In September 2007, SWON Libraries member, the Lloyd Library and Museum lost a beloved friend, donor, and board member of 40 years, George Rieveschl, Jr. Developer of the first prescription antihistamine, Rieveschl passed away at age 91. He developed Benadryl while working at the University of Cincinnati (UC) as a researcher and professor of chemical engineering. After Rieveschl left teaching, he became senior vice president at Parke-Davis. In 1970, he returned to Cincinnati and UC as vice president of research. Soon after, in 1977, Rieveschl was elected to the Lloyd Library Board of Directors—a position he held until his death.
Early in 2008, the Lloyd received over $230,000 to establish the George Rieveschl, Jr., Book Fund. It was his last gift over a period of 40 years of service and gift giving to the library. In 2004, he agreed to donate his papers and books to the Lloyd and began preparing small portions of his collections for pickup throughout the intervening years. The library had still been working with him to obtain the remainder of the materials when he passed away. The process is now continuing with the assistance of his widow, Ellen Rieveschl. When the entire collection is in the library, we will widely publicize the news, make it a priority for processing, and open the Rieveschl Historical Collection to the many researchers who are interested in his life, his work, and his significant scientific contributions. Recently, Ellen Rieveschl donated the desk, chair, and lamp Rieveschl used in his office, and will add an exhibit case for his books, awards, photographs, and other memorabilia. These items will be placed in a special section of the Lloyd’s Reading Room designated the George Rieveschl, Jr., Research Center as a visible acknowledgement of his many generous donations of time, funding, and research materials to the library.
The Lloyd Library and Museum, located at 917 Plum Street, downtown Cincinnati, is a local and regional treasure. The library was developed in the nineteenth century by the Lloyd brothers—John Uri, Curtis Gates, and Nelson Ashley to provide reference sources for Lloyd Brothers Pharmacists, Inc., one of the leading pharmaceutical companies of the period. Today the library is recognized worldwide by the scientific community as a vital research center. The library holds, acquires, and provides access to both historic and current materials on the subjects of pharmacy, botany, horticulture, herbal and alternative medicine, pharmacognosy, and related topics. Although our collections have a scientific focus, they also have relevance to humanities topics, such as visual arts and foreign languages through resources that feature botanical and natural history illustrations, original artworks, and travel literature, thereby revealing the convergence of science and art. The Lloyd is open to anyone with an interest in these topics. Free parking is available for patrons and visitors behind the library building.
News Items