Harvard University announced Wednesday that it has removed the human skin binding from a gruesome book in its library.
a book called Destinées de l’âmewas published in the 1880s by French writer Arsène Houssay. The name means “destiny of the soul” in English.
The university said the book’s owner, Dr. Ludovic Bouland, bound the book with the skin of a deceased woman. She died at the hospital where he worked, but she did not consent to being detained.
Bouland was born in France in 1839. The identity of the woman and the year she died are unknown. Harvard University is currently investigating the patient and Bouland for more information and promises:[give] respectful attitude [to the remains] The aim is to restore dignity to women whose skin has been exploited. ”
Harvard University Submits More than 1,500 Documents to House Committee in Anti-Semitism Investigation
Harvard University has removed the human skin binding from 19th century books, the university’s library announced Wednesday. (Getty Images)
The Harvard University Library has owned this book since 1934, the year after Bouland’s death. The library said the book had previously been available “to anyone who requested it.”
“During the review process, the Library identified several areas in which administrative practices did not meet the level of ethical standards to which the Library adheres,” a statement from Harvard University Libraries said. It is being
“Library lore has it that decades ago, students hired to page the collection at the Houghton archives were asked to retrieve books without even being told they contained human remains, and were embarrassed. It is said that he was doing so.”
Harvard University also admitted that it had previously used the book as a novelty of sorts.
Head of Harvard University’s Special Committee on Anti-Semitism skips panel on anti-Semitism: ‘Not appropriate at this time’
A copy of the 1880s book “Fate des Fates” by author Arsène Houssay (left) has been donated to the Harvard University Library. (Getty Images)
“In 2014, following scientific analysis that confirmed the book was bound in human skin, the library published a post on Horton’s blog that utilized a sensational, morbid, and humorous tone. “It incited similar international media coverage,” the statement continued.
“Harvard Libraries acknowledges past failures in its stewardship of books that further objectify and violate the dignity of the human beings whose bodies were used in binding,” the library added. “We apologize to those who have been negatively impacted by these actions.”
Binding a book in human skin is highly unusual, but not unheard of. This practice is called anthropological bibliography, and most of the extant books with these covers were published in his 19th century.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
According to Harvard University, the woman whose skin was used to bind the book did not consent. (Harvard Library, via Reuters)
Harvard University did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
