The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (OBOC 2017-2018)
One Book, One College 2017-2018
Henrietta's Story
A good summary of Henrietta Lacks's story can be found in the article "Henrietta's Dance." Rebecca Skloot wrote this article for Johns Hopkins Magazine in 2000, ten years before the publication of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Newspaper Articles
- After 60 Years of Anonymity, Henrietta Lacks Has a HeadstoneHenrietta Lacks was originally buried in an unmarked grave. Soon after the release of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Dr. Roland Pattillo and his wife donated headstones for Henrietta and her daughter Elsie.
Magazine and Journal Articles
- The Double-Edged HelixRolling Stone published this article in March of 1976. Rebecca Skloot says that the reporter who wrote this article was the first reporter to contact the Lacks family.
- The Miracle of HeLaSimilar to the Jet article, this article from Ebony magazine was published about three months after the Rolling Stone article.
- Henrietta Lacks' 'Immortal' CellsA Q&A with Rebecca Skloot that covers the basics of Henrietta Lacks's story.
- Record of the First Physician to See Henrietta Lacks at the Johns Hopkins HospitalIn 1951, Dr. Howard W. Jones Jr. examined Henrietta Lacks at Johns Hopkins Hospital. 47 years later, he recorded his memories of the examination in this article from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Video & Audio
- Cancer Cell Research: The Way of All FleshThis is the BBC documentary about Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cells produced by Adam Curtis in London. This film is mentioned many times in the book-- Deborah Lacks refers to periods in her life as "before London" and "after London."
- Henrietta Lacks Was Never Compensated for CellsThis short ABC News report looks at the scientific contribution of Henrietta Lacks.
- Henrietta Lacks' 'Immortal' Impact on Medical ResearchA short video interview with the director of the National Institutes of Health, regarding the deal with the Lacks family. From PBS Newshour.
- Additional Video, Audio & Photos at Rebecca Skloot's WebsiteLinks to a variety of sources.
- RadioLab Extra: Henrietta LacksInterview with author Rebecca Skloot (35 minutes)
The Story Continues
In 2013, three years after the publication of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, scientists succesfully sequenced the genome of the HeLa cell and published the entire genome online. They did not ask permission from the Lacks family. After months of discussion, the Lacks family agreed to a deal that would allow limited use of the HeLa genome while still maintaining their genetic privacy.
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the SequelRebecca Skloot's NY Times op-ed article stating scientists did not get the family's permission to publish Henrietta Lacks' genetic information.
- A Family Consents to a Medical Gift, 62 Years LaterThe New York Times reports on the deal between scientists and Lacks family members.
- HeLa Cells: A New Chapter in An Enduring StoryThe director of the National Institutes of Health announces that a deal has been made with the Lacks family to allow limited use of the HeLa genome.
- Henrietta Lacks' Lasting Impact Detailed In New PortraitNPR reports that the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., honored Henrietta Lacks by installing a painting of her just inside one of its main entrances.
Collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from Kadir Nelson and the JKBN Group LLC.
The Congressional Record
- In Memory of Henrietta LacksIn 1997, thirteen years before the publication of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Representative Robert L. Erlich, Jr. spoke in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Henrietta Lacks.
Crownsville State Hospital
In Chapter 33 of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Deborah Lacks and Rebecca Skloot visit Crownsville State Hospital, the former Hospital for the Negro Insane, where Elsie Lacks was held until her death.
- Overcrowded Hospital 'Loses' Curable PatientsThis is the "gruesome" article that Rebecca Skloot and Deborah Lacks read while sitting in an office in Crownsville State Hospital. (See pages 274-275 of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.)
- The Darkroom: Crownsville State HospitalHistorical photographs of Crownsville, and a short written history of the hospital, provided by the Baltimore Sun.
- Forgotten Photography: Crownsville State HospitalPhotographs of Crownsville after its closure in 2004.