The History of Medicine Library holds a very special certificate issued by the first person to ever win two Nobel Prizes. The certificate, numbered 3246, was issued by the Institut Du Radium in 1923 and signed by Marie Curie, one of the most renowned scientists in history. It confirms the quantity of radium contained in a particular unit and the document ends with the statement: This certificate is unique and must accompany the unit for which it was delivered.

Curie's groundbreaking research in the fields of physics and chemistry led to the discovery of radioactive elements and fundamentally changed our understanding of matter and energy. These elements emitted rays of energy that Curie identified as “radioactivity,” a term she coined. Her isolation of radium and its radiation properties paved the way for radiation therapy, a crucial treatment for cancer that saves thousands of lives each day. She would become the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to ever win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields.

Born Maria Sklodowska in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867, Curie was the youngest of five children in a family that valued education. Her parents, both teachers, instilled a love of learning in their children. Despite the challenges of living under Russian occupation in Poland, Curie’s determination to pursue her education never wavered. At age 24, she moved to Paris to continue her studies at the University of Paris (Sorbonne). There, she would meet her future husband, Pierre Curie. Their professional and personal partnership would prove to be one of the most influential collaborations in scientific history.

"When radium was discovered, no one knew that it would prove useful in hospitals. The work was one of pure science. And this is a proof that scientific work must not be considered from the point of view of the direct usefulness of it."

Marie Curie’s achievements were extraordinary not only for their scientific merit but also because of the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field. At a time when women were often excluded from professional scientific circles, Curie’s accomplishments earned her respect and recognition from her peers. She chose not to patent her work on radium believing that it should benefit humanity rather than enriching herself.

Throughout her career, Marie Curie faced personal and professional challenges. Her husband, Pierre, tragically died in a road accident in 1906. Despite her personal grief, Curie remained dedicated to her work and continued to make remarkable contributions to science. Her daughter, Irène Joliot Curie, who would also go on to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry, became her assistant and later, her research partner. During the First World War, they would run mobile x-ray units together to French field hospitals, allowing surgeons to operate more accurately.

Curie’s health suffered as a result of her work with radioactive materials, which at the time were not fully understood and were unfortunately not handled with the precautions taken today. She died on July 4, 1934, from aplastic anemia, a condition linked to her prolonged exposure to radiation.

Marie Curie’s legacy, however, extends far beyond her research and her achievements. She became a role model for generations of women in science and a symbol of perseverance, intellectual curiosity, and determination. Today, Marie Curie is not just remembered as a brilliant, dedicated scientist but also as a trailblazer who changed the course of history and inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps.

"First principle: never to let one’s self be beaten down by persons or by events"

--Marie Curie