RCP museum

@rcpmuseum

The Royal College of Physicians museum, heritage library, archive & garden in Regent's Park | History, medicine, art & modernist architecture | Exhibitions & events

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RCP museum@rcpmuseum· 22d

We continue to seek objects, documents and publications that reflect the experiences of physicians delivering HIV/AIDS care and people living with HIV/AIDS to add to the RCP collections. Find out how you can donate history.rcp.ac.uk/collections/...

An image of a collection of flyers and leaflets relating to HIV and AIDS with text over the top saying 'Help preserve the history of HIV/AIDS care'.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· 26d

Dr Rukhmabai Raut, became the second Indian woman to practice Western Medicine and a campaigner for women's rights. Discover her story with guest blogger Theeba Krishnamoorthy history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/dr-rukh... #SAHM2026 @rcphysicians.bsky.social

Sepia toned oval photograph portrait of a woman, looking slightly to the left. What is visible of her clothing appears to be a pale blouse under pleated fabric over her right shoulder.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· 27d

There are a few tickets left to our Teas from the Garden workshop next Wednesday 22 July with the wonderful @rcphysicians.bsky.social Garden team. Tasting herbal teas, mixing beautiful blends and an evening in a gorgeous garden - have you booked yet? 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/teas-g...

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 13

As part of the recording of ‘A Most Magickal Encounter’, we were delighted to welcome Tim Dee & Charles Nicholl to peruse books owned & annotated by John Dee, which are now part of the @rcphysicians.bsky.social Heritage Library. Listen in at 7.15pm this Sunday: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m.... 📚🔮📻

Two pages of an early printed book with mathematical diagrams and diagrammatical annotations in the margin. Andreas Alexander, Mathemalogium (1504). Annotated by John Dee

Signature ‘Joannes Deeus 1551 Londini’ above title printed in blackletter type: Mathemalogium prime partis Andree Alexandre Ratisbonensis (1504).

Marginal annotation of three nested bearded faces, drawn in brown ink in an early printed book. Arnaldus de Villanova, Opera, 1527. Annotated by John Dee.

Two pages of an early printed book with decorated initials and lots of marginal annotations. Arnaldus de Villanova, Opera, 1527. Annotated by John Dee.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 13

It’s Elizabethan mystic #JohnDee’s 499th birthday today. Find out more about his extraordinary life and library in ‘A Most Magickal Encounter’, airing on #BBCRadio4 on Sunday. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m.... 🔮📻

Engraved portrait of a man with a white pointed beard, wearing a skull cap, a 16th century ruff, and an academic gown. John Dee, engraved by R Cooper, c1800

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 10

Meet Karl Simmons, @rcphysicians.bsky.social Gardens new Artist in Residence 🌿 Karl has been volunteering with the #garden since 2018, & producing drawings for the garden's publications since 2021. He has now been appointed RCP Garden Artist in Residence. 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/meet-ka...

A man dressed in black with short grey hair and glasses stands in front of a large leafy green plant, smiling at the camera.

Open pages of Karl's sketchbook showing handwritten notes and colourful sketches of plants.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 9

Dr Kadambini Ganguli, was a woman of many firsts. One of the first 2 women graduates of India & the British Empire & the first Indian woman to graduate & practice Western Medicine in India. Discover more in this blog by Dr Theeba Krishnamoorthy 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/dr-kada... #SAHM2026

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 7

Mary Goodson's recipe book featured in exhibition 'Healing words' where over 30 handwritten volumes containing recipes for medicines, food & more were on display. You can find out more & view our digitised recipe book collection online: history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...

A collection of plants, bottles and recipe books gathered together.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 7

This #worldchocolateday watch our video on how to create your own chocolate discs to a 17th century recipe! Last year Dr Amanda Herbert helped us recreate the flavours of a chocolate recipe in Mary Goodson's handwritten recipe book from 1687 - now you can too! #histmed #RCPhealingrecipes

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 2

Only two complete sets of anatomical tables like these are known to exist in the world, Visit ours at the @RCPhysicians by Regent’s Park on display on the 2nd floor.. They're waiting. Find out more here 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/anatomi... 4/4

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 2

Their names if they were ever recorded are now lost, and why they were chosen we don’t know for sure. They may have been criminals sentenced to death in or around Padua or simply individuals too poor to afford a burial. 3/4

Adult female arterial and nervous system laid out on a wooden panel.

Dissected male nervous system on a wooden board.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 2

We know they were donated to us in 1823. We know they passed through the hands of diplomats & earls. We even know they sat in a cupboard for over a century. But the people whose bodies made all of this possible? As is often the case with medical collections, we know almost nothing about them. 2/4

A close up section of the dissected male nervous system in one of the anatomical tables.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 2

We know who owned them. We don't know who they were. These extraordinary 17th C anatomical tables consist of six panels, showing the preserved veins, arteries & nerves of real human bodies, & two animal organs dissected at the University of Padua with extraordinary skill & care. 1/4

A view of the anatomical tables in frames hanging on the wall of the RCP.

A close up of the texture showing the raised surface of the dissected remains.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 1

You can come and see some of those fascinating books, chat to curator Katie Birkwood, & even have a bit of fun with book-inspired crafts, in our Museum Late tomorrow evening from 5.30pm. Book free 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/rcp-mu...

Visitors looking at rare books in the Dorchester Library.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jul 1

As the exhibition A Body of Knowledge nears the end of its run (closing day is 23 July 2026!), Rare Books Librarian and curator of the exhibition, Katie Birkwood, reflects on the books that didn't quite make it into the exhibition in our latest blog. history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/ones-go...

Illustration of St George on horseback and the dragon as constructions made to set off fireworks. In John Babington, Pyrotechnia or, A discourse of artificiall fire-works, published 1635

Illustrations of a range of ways to fold a napkin from simple fans to a 3-masted boat!
Harsdörffer, Trincir-Buch [carvery book], published 1657, p. 27 Photography by Mike Fear.

Map of the world as seen from the north pole in a beautiful book of maps by Ptolemy, edited and expanded by Marcus Beneventanus, Giovanni Cotta and Joannes Ruysch, Geographiae, published 1508

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jun 25

Tickets are booking fast for upcoming creative textile workshop, 29 July, 'South Asian women doctors and healing herbs' with historian & artist Theeba Krishnamoorthy. Book your ticket 👉 sahm_women_doctors_healing_herbs.eventbrite.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #SAHM2026 #SouthAsianHeritageMonth

A graphic advertising the workshop with the dates (shared in post) and images of 4 South Asian Women doctors.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jun 24

Book your free place now for our last Museum Late for exhibition 'A body of knowledge': 🌟a mini-display of some of the books 🌟 expert tour by curator & rare books librarian Katie Birkwood 🌟 fun with book inspired crafts! 👉 museum_late_july.eventbrite.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #histmed

Visitors explore rare books in the Dorchester

Visitors explore books in the exhibition

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Jun 4

A huge thank you to the volunteers who support our Archive, Heritage Library and Museum service. This past year, they have given hundreds of hours to help preserve and share the RCP's rich heritage. Discover their latest work: bit.ly/43MiJoX Thank you volunteers for your hard work! #VolunteersWeek

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 29

Join our special Late opening for the London Festival of Architecture on Thursday 4 June. There will be: ⭐ a special archives display ⭐ self-guided trail ⭐guided tour of the Grade I listed architecture Book free: rcpmuseumlate_lfa.eventbrite.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #LFA2026

Photograph of the side view of the building showing striking brutalist architecture.

Visitors enjoying the staircases inside the RCP.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 29

We will soon be hosting our summer lectures on Tuesday 23 June - join us to discover the fascinating history of interactive printmaking with two expert speakers Suzanne Karr Schmidt & Katie Birkwood, & create your own interactive volvelle. history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k... #BodyOfKnowledge

An open book showing a circular astronomical volvelle.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 29

Back in December 2025 we shared a tour of exhibition 'A body of knowledge' & host two talks on recent research into how we investigate the history of libraries with doctoral researcher Samantha Brown & Dr Alice Wickenden. Watch back history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/investi... @rcphysicians.bsky.social

Talk cover slide titled: Moving Libraries - from the personal to the institutional

Talk cover slide: Islamic Knowledge in an Elizabethan Physician's Library - Lancelot Browne & his Arabic books

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 27

Thank you to everyone who braved the heat & joined our half-term workshop yesterday to create their very own herbals. It was a lovely to share our rare books, explore the @rcphysicians.bsky.social garden & get creative. There were some really beautiful books made & interesting recipes created!

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 19

Read our latest blog 'From foxed to fabulous: works on paper conserved through Adopt a Treasure scheme' history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/foxed-f... Explore a batch of paper items in the Adopt a Treasure & delve into the conservation process that generous donations have funded. @rcphysicians.bsky.social

Discovery of Pulmonary Circulation paper before conservation with torn and ragged edges and after conservation properly supported.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 12

Augustus D’Este’s #handwriting in his 1846-48 diary may show a loss of dexterity due to his #MultipleSclerosis. He continued to get the most possible out of life - the daily walking times he was particularly pleased with are shown in red ink. #EYAhandwriting history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/my-case...

Pages from a personal account book repurposed as a diary. Handwritten entries in black and red ink, dated December 1847 to January 1848.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 7

Thank you to everyone who joined us at this week's Museum Late in the @rcphysicians.bsky.social garden of medicinal plants. It was a lovely evening with: ✨ expert garden tours 🌿 a plant display 📚 gorgeous historic botanical books 🌱 a new garden trail 📖 tour of exhibition 'A body of knowledge'

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 1

In 1911, doctor Mabel Ramsay and others bravely risked being criminalised for organising a census resistance party in protest against women being denied the vote. Two pages shown below are from Mabel's diaries in the RCP archives describing the resistance party. #EYAcrime #universalsuffrage

Typewritten pages of text detailing the 'census resistance party' Mabel Ramsay attended with fellow women campaigners for suffrage.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· May 1

Women fought for & won admission to the @rcphysicians.bsky.social in 1909, but in the centuries before that hundreds of women doctors were sanctioned for ‘illegal’ practice. For example, Elizabeth Pratt was fined & imprisoned in 1709 - this legal document was signed by Elizabeth & the RCP members.

A legal document detailing the case of Elizabeth Pratt with handwritten ink text and Elizabeth Pratt's signature at the bottom.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Apr 24

This is just one of Hamey’s notes – there are dozens, if not hundreds throughout the pages of the book. It’s just one of the fascinating volumes you can see in the exhibition ‘A body of knowledge’ until 23 July. #BodyOfKnowledge

A design graphic with the exhibition title
'A body of knowledge
Discover 500 years of book collecting at the Royal College of Physicians
10 September 2025 - 23 July 2026
Exhibition Free'

The text is on a background of marbled paper and pages from books.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Apr 24

In this, we can see how Hamey noted that a medicine called ‘lohoch of fox lungs’ (a kind of cough syrup) ‘purifies and strengthens ulcers of the chest and lungs and is to be preferred to other remedies in phthisis [tuberculosis].’

Close up of the handwritten text by Hamey describing the 'lohoch of fox lungs’.

RCP museum@rcpmuseum· Apr 24

We’re lucky to have a close insight to Hamey’s medical study and practice in the @rcphysicians.bsky.social library: his own annotated copy of the RCP’s medical reference work, the ‘Pharmacopoeia Londinensis’.