UNMC History 101 — Library named for ‘Omaha’s stork’

Everyone knows that the stork delivers newborn babies. But for many years in Omaha, that “stork” was Leon McGoogan, M.D., namesake of the McGoogan Library of Medicine at UNMC, whose personalized Nebraska license plates were emblazoned with the word “Stork.”

By his own estimate, Dr. McGoogan — who served as chairman of UNMC’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1950 to 1955 and again from 1961 to 1962 — delivered 9,000 babies during his career.

Leon McGoogan, M.D., the namesake of UNMC’s library of medicine, estimated that he delivered 9,000 babies in his career as obstetrician in Omaha, which earned him the nickname “Stork.”

During World War II, he was one of only five obstetricians in the city and delivered an average of 50 to 60 babies a month.

“McGoogan babies” can be found all over the United States. Among those 9,000 babies delivered by the “stork” is one of the McGoogan librarians, Marty Magee, associate professor, and liaison to the National Network of Libraries of Medicine.

Early career

Born in Lincoln, Dr. McGoogan attended the University of Nebraska College of Medicine from 1921 to 1923 but then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he received his M.D. in 1925.

After completing internship, residency and a fellowship, Dr. McGoogan returned to Omaha in 1930 to set up a private practice in obstetrics and gynecology. The next year, he began serving as a volunteer instructor in the College of Medicine.

He married Vera Kelley of Omaha in 1934 and credited her with attracting patients to his practice. Ironically, the McGoogans did not have children of their own.

Library advocate

A proud supporter of UNMC’s library — Dr. McGoogan served on the library committee from 1950 until his death in 1993.

In 1967, he played a key role in raising funds to build a new library on campus. For his service, the new library was named in his honor in 1978.

In 1979, he founded the Friends of the Library, and upon his death in 1993 he left an endowment gift to help support library operations.