In 2024, while attending the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and PRXchange Competition Showcase in San Diego, Health Sciences Library (HSL) Medical Illustrator Courtney Chenock had the opportunity to share several of Medical Visuals’ projects at the HSL booth, including the Local Luminaries Coloring Book. The book was designed to highlight influential Ohio State figures who have made notable contributions to health sciences scholarship, research and innovation. Featuring original illustrations along with biographical narratives, the coloring book offers an engaging way to honor how these individuals shaped our medical and scientific legacy. Throughout the event, many attendees visited the HSL booth, intrigued not only by the artwork, but also by the concept of using coloring books as impactful educational tools for libraries and their communities.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many conference-goers lingered to flip through the pages, ask questions and share stories of how similar creative resources could support learning and engagement in their own institutions. Among those who expressed particular interest was Kelsey Sweet, director of marketing and communications at Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) in Indiana. She learned about Medical Visuals’ work through the conference and was intrigued by the way illustration and history intersected in the Local Luminaries project.

Several months later, in January 2025, that initial spark of interest turned into a new collaboration. Sweet reached out to Medical Visuals to explore the possibility of creating original illustrations for a HEPL project inspired by the Local Luminaries Coloring Book. Their initiative, fittingly titled Hidden Histories, aimed to spotlight notable historical figures from Hamilton County while providing an interactive, family-friendly activity book for the community.

Medical Visuals was honored to be invited to contribute to this effort. They collaborated closely with HEPL to develop black-and-white line drawings of six historical figures from Hamilton County. These illustrations were designed specifically as coloring pages — clear, engaging and approachable for a wide range of ages. In addition to the artwork, the Hidden Histories activity book features short biographies, word searches, mazes and other hands-on activities that encourage readers to learn through exploration and creativity.

What makes projects like Local Luminaries and Hidden Histories so impactful is how they use art and design to tell stories. Paired with history, these drawings became more than coloring pages; they became a way for communities to explore their past through creativity.

The completed Hidden Histories of Hamilton County, Indiana: A Crossroads Discovery Center Activity Book is now available through HEPL and can be explored online.

Readers interested in seeing the project that inspired this collaboration can also view the original Local Luminaries: Celebrating Leaders in Health Sciences Coloring Book.

“We are grateful to Sweet and the HEPL team for the opportunity to collaborate on this meaningful project,” said Chenock. “Sharing the faces and stories of our collective histories is work we are proud to support, and we look forward to future opportunities to bring histories to life.”