At the heart of the collections are the original holdings acquired by Joseph II for the institution’s founding—foremost among them the world-famous collection of anatomical wax models. Additional holdings include medical instruments and models, archival materials, images, estates, teaching aids, that have emerged from the faculty’s diverse activities in science, teaching, research, and healthcare, thus representing its development in many ways.

The Josephinum is home to the cultural heritage of the Vienna Medical School, whose global reputation came to an abrupt end in 1938. It made a significant contribution to the development of modern medicine. A large portion of these holdings consists of images (photographs, prints, drawings, paintings, etc.)—including individual and group portraits as well as scenes from clinical life—which are important documents of Austria’s medical and cultural history.

The portrait collection includes numerous depictions of prominent physicians and scientists, as well as figures from related fields such as chemistry, biology, and other natural sciences. In addition to individual portraits, group photographs from congresses, events, and scenes from professional and clinical settings are of particular interest. Complementing the collection’s focus on individuals are two extensive image archives: one dedicated to the Josephinum itself, and the other to the General Hospital and the New Clinics.

Estates represent a significant source of photographs and visual materials within the Josephinum’s collection. As a result, the portrait collection also includes many images not necessarily related to the professional lives of the individuals depicted. In addition to travel photography, private and family photographs are also part of the collection.