The International Society for the History of Pharmacy was founded 1926.
ishp2026.com
Congress Tickets & Fees
Early Bird Registration – available until 31 March 2026!
Take advantage of our Early Bird rates and secure your participation at the 47th International Congress for the History of Pharmacy at a reduced fee. Early registration is strongly recommended, as places are limited.
ishp2026.com
Willkommen zum 47. Internationalen Kongress für Geschichte der Pharmazie in Innsbruck. Feiern Sie mit uns das 100-jährige Bestehen der ISHP. Registrieren Sie sich jetzt für den Kongress und buchen ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Pharmacy Heritage in Print – Albums by a Lithuanian Collector
Petras Kaminskas, a passionate collector from Šiauliai, Lithuania, has brought pharmacy history to life through beautifully crafted albums.
Over the years, he has published 46 albums on various cultural heritage themes – from candy wrappers and vintage postcards to community book exchange shelves. Among them are four albums dedicated to pharmacy heritage: one showcasing historical pharmacy interiors and exteriors, and three featuring medicine label signatures.
Two of these signature albums were released this year, featuring not only treasures from private collections but also rare items from the Museum of the History of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy.
Each album is printed in 30 copies and is fully funded by Petras Kaminskas himself – a remarkable example of how personal dedication can preserve and share the pharmacy’s cultural heritage with the world.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
100 Years of the “Vilties” Pharmacy in the Heart of Kaunas
On July 8, 2025, the “Vilties” Pharmacy, located at Laisvės Alėja 100 in Kaunas, Lithuania, celebrates its 100th anniversary. Originally opened in 1925 at Laisvės Alėja 80 as the “Central Pharmacy,” it was renamed Pharmacy No. 63 after the Soviet occupation and the nationalization of private property. Since 1980, it has been known as the “Pharmacy of Hope” (Vilties vaistinė).
This pharmacy stands out not only for its longevity but also for the remarkable mural that adorns its walls—a 1983 fresco created by renowned Lithuanian artist Antanas Kmieliauskas.
The fresco depicts an allegorical Goddess of Hope, offering strength, comfort, and trust in the healing power of medicine. Classical healing symbols such as plants, a snake, and a chalice surround her, rendered in a flowing Renaissance-inspired style. Not without reason is Kmieliauskas often called the “Michelangelo of Lithuania.” He is also the artist behind the famous frescoes created for Vilnius University’s 400th anniversary.
How did this distinguished artist, known for his works in churches and universities, come to create a fresco in a pharmacy? In the 1970s–1980s, pharmacy design in Lithuania flourished. Prominent architects competed to design the most beautiful pharmacy interiors, while pharmacy heads took pride in creating the most aesthetically impressive spaces.
Interestingly, Kmieliauskas worked on the fresco only on weekends, traveling from Vilnius and sleeping on a folding bed in the still-under-renovation pharmacy. He was cared for by Arūnas Šiaučiulis, then deputy manager of the pharmacy, now its owner, who fondly recalls the artist’s humility and warmth.
Today, located just steps from Kaunas City Municipality, the “Vilties” Pharmacy stands as a living monument to the city’s rich cultural and pharmaceutical heritage, resilient through political change.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook