Examining 700 years of trusted, historic medical research

The Royal College of Physicians was founded in 1518 by King Henry VIII, in response to a critical need for more stringent guidelines around the medical practice. It is the oldest medical college in England, and a leading professional membership body for physicians, with 37,000 members and fellows worldwide.

The organization works to improve health by influencing the way that healthcare is designed and delivered, promoting good health, preventing disease and enabling physicians to fulfill their potential.

Centuries after its founding charter, the Royal College of Physicians continues to play a pivotal role in setting and raising medical standards, and improving the health of the global population.

The history of medicine—from folklore to modern public health policy

The Royal College of Physicians archive, which ranges from the year 1205 through 1980, reflects the history and development of modern Western medicine, while documenting the interactions of the medical community with monarchs, politicians, and the general public.

Collections within this two-million-image archive cover a broad range of topics, from astronomy and anatomical studies to neurology and botanical research.

There is also a good deal of information related to the establishment of medical practice standards and medical education, as well as the formation of specialized fields of practice as we know them today.

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RCP Part I

1200-1862

Highlights include:

Folk Medicine • Recipe books • Medieval Medicine • Healers and domestic medicine • The early days of Anatomy • Herbal Medicine

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RCP Part II

1863-2000

Highlights include:

History of Pharmacology and Medical Treatments • Military Medicine • Nomenclature of Diseases • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder discovery and diagnosis • Public Health Vaccination Programs and Policy

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Subjects and Themes

Anatomy · ‍Biology · Biomedical ScienceDevelopment · Clinical Medicine · Drug and VaccineDevelopment · History of Medicine andMental Health · History of Vaccination · History of Pharmacology · Medical Humanities · Medical Science andResearch · Medical Treatments · Military Medicine · Nomenclature ofDiseases · Non-Western Medicine · Pandemics in History · Post-Traumatic StressDisorder Discovery and Diagnosis · Public Health · Vaccination Programsand Policy · World Health

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Primary Source Materials

Committee Records · Correspondence · Domestic Recipe & Medical Manuals · Early Medical Textbooks& Education · Grants, Charters &Statutes · Illustrations, Sketches& Drawings · Journals · Manuscripts · Maps · Medical Textbooks · Medieval & Early Modern Texts · Pamphlets · Personal Papers · Proceedings · Reports · Surveys &Questionnaires · Treatment Records

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