Witnessing the witnesses: Potentials and pitfalls of the witness seminar in the history of twentieth-century medicine

The History of Twentieth Century Medicine Group, home to the long-running “Witness Seminars,” was established in 1990 by the British medical research charity, the Wellcome Trust. Its goals include promoting the historical study of recent medicine and medical science, creating and strengthening synergistic links between professional medical historians and members of the biomedical research community, and emphasizing the potentials of working jointly.2 A Programme Committee of historians, biomedical scientists, and practitioners oversees the Group’s activities.3