Harvard University made headlines when it announced that it had removed a gruesome book from its library. The book, titled Des destinées de l’âme, was published in the 1880s and was bound with human skin. The university revealed that the owner of the book, Dr. Ludovic Bouland, had used the skin of a deceased woman without her consent. Bouland, who was born in France in 1839, worked at a hospital where the woman died, but her identity and the year of her death remain unknown. Harvard is currently conducting research to learn more about the patient and Bouland, with the intention of giving a respectful disposition to the remains.
Harvard Library had the book in its collection since 1934, a year after Bouland’s death, and had made it available to anyone who requested it. The library acknowledged that its stewardship practices had failed to meet ethical standards and admitted to using the book as a novelty in the past. It was revealed that students were hazed by being asked to retrieve the book without being informed that it contained human remains. Additionally, the library had previously published blog posts that sensationalized and made light of the book’s binding with human skin, further compromising the dignity of the deceased woman.
The practice of binding books with human skin, known as anthropodermic bibliopegy, is rare but not unheard of. Most surviving books with human skin covers were published in the 19th century. Harvard Library’s mishandling of the book containing human skin led to past failures in the stewardship of the remains, which it acknowledged and apologized for. The university expressed regret for the adverse effects of their actions and pledged to rectify the situation by conducting further research into the woman whose skin was used for the book’s binding.
In 2014, following scientific analysis confirming the use of human skin in the book’s binding, Harvard Library published posts on its blog that contributed to international media coverage by using a sensationalistic and morbid tone. The library’s acknowledgment of past failures reflects a commitment to upholding ethical standards in the stewardship of its collections. Harvard University’s response to the situation includes efforts to restore dignity to the deceased woman whose skin was used for the book. The library has vowed to ensure a respectful disposition of the remains, emphasizing the importance of treating the situation with sensitivity and reverence.
While Harvard University did not provide a response to media inquiries, the removal of the book bound with human skin from its library highlights the importance of ethical stewardship in the preservation and handling of historical artifacts. The university’s acknowledgment of past mistakes and commitment to rectifying the situation demonstrate a dedication to upholding ethical standards and treating the deceased woman’s remains with dignity. As the research into the identity of the woman and Dr. Ludovic Bouland continues, Harvard’s actions in response to this unsettling discovery serve as a reminder of the responsibility institutions have in preserving history while respecting the dignity of those whose remains are involved.
