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The Epic Story of Prosthetics

  • Fitchburg State University, Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library 160 Pearl Street Fitchburg, MA, 01420 United States (map)

At the age of 27, Virginia Hall, the American spy featured in A Woman of No Importance, had her leg amputated after a hunting accident and had it replaced with a wooden prosthesis, which she nicknamed "Cuthbert." Later, during her career as a secret agent, she was known to the Germans as "The Limping Lady." Undeniably a significant part of gender and military history, Hall is also a part of a long heritage of people with disabilities, including the development of prosthetics. From ancient Egyptians to medieval knights to modern Paralympic athletes, humans have been innovating ways to manage disabilities for centuries. Through archaeological, literary, and medical evidence, both local and global, learn about the epic story of prosthetics!

This talk will be hybrid (in-person and virtual), stay tuned for the virtual link!