Blogs

Though the library, archive and museum are currently closed, there are plenty of ways to explore our resources online.

Letters in the RCP reveal the restrictions placed on travellers to try and reduce the spread of plague in 17th century Europe. William Harvey spent time in quarantine in Treviso, Italy in 1636.

Thousands of archive and library documents and books relating to the history of medicine and beyond have been digitised by Wiley Ltd for a new online resource, Wiley Digital Archives.

For many years, any suggestions of same-sex attractions or relationships were usually minimised in official documentation such as RCP biographies of its fellows. But that doesn’t mean those loves and relationships weren’t there.

A new library research project has uncovered a surprising marital gift: an 18th century woman’s health book bought for a woman by her husband.

A recently catalogued book added to the RCP library was owned by 20th century artist Jean Clark. She owned and used it in her teens and twenties as part of her artistic training in human anatomy.

How were 16th century anatomical ‘flap diagrams’ assembled, and how to do they represent the human body? The RCP library has been experimenting with making its own versions of the diagrams from Andreas Vesalius’ De humani corporis fabrica epitome (1543).

Thomas Young, fellow of the RCP and the Royal Society, made a significant contribution to the modern deciphering of Egyptian hieroglyphs by examining the Rosetta Stone. His efforts were eclipsed by Jean-François Champollion.

A new trail around the RCP museum explores the history of anatomy and the ways human bodies have been used in medical science.

A group of mystery objects in the RCP museum led to an intriguing story about William Harvey, the man who discovered the circulation of the blood.