Today we got to see this painting of physician William Harvey up close as it was removed from its frame. The frame is off for a conservation treatment. Painted by an unknown artist in 1650 it is one of the few RCP Museum objects to have survived the Great Fire of London. #behindthescenes 1/3

Happy New Year!! 🥳 We are enjoying the winter sun & looking forward to 2026, pop by for a visit to see: ⭐Exhibition 'A body of knowledge' until 23 July ⭐Historic medical tools of the trade ⭐Artwork & silverware ⭐Stunning Grade I listed architecture Plan your visit now history.rcp.ac.uk/visit-us

The gorgeous 13th C Wilton Psalter starts with a calendar of annual events. As well as listing Christian saints' days & other religious festivals, each month is illustrated with its sign of the Zodiac & a 'labour of the month'. Here is December's 'labour' - to feast & be merry!

2025 has been a busy year, we: ⭐ran 34 events & 79 tours for over 2,600 visitors ⭐replied to over 600 enquiries ⭐set 85 traps for pests ⭐drank about 1300 cups of tea! Explore all our fun facts in our 'Museum Wrapped' blog 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/2025-rc... @rcphysicians.bsky.social

🎄Festive closures 🎄 The RCP Museum will be closed on the following dates 👇 19th December, Christmas Eve (24th), Christmas Day (25th), Boxing Day (26th), New Year's Eve (31st) 2025 and New Year's Day (1st) 2026. Plan you visit 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/visit-us

To celebrate #ArabicLanguageDay here is one of the first books printed in Arabic in Europe - a 1593 copy of 'Al-qanun fi'l-tibb' [The canon of medicine] by 10th–11th C Muslim writer Ibn Sīnā, known as Avicenna. It was a key text for medical students, but most Europeans would have read a translation.

Thank you to everyone who joined the RCP Garden & Museum teams for a lovely evening of tea tasting & making last night! A beautiful final event of 2025 with a lovely group. 🍵😋 We look forward to sharing more lovely events with you all in 2026! @rcphysicians.bsky.social #histmed #RCPHealingRecipes

Excellent recent workshop with artist Sarah Davis! Inspired by the Wilton Psalter we recreated beautiful letters from the 13th C manuscript learning all about medieval materials & techniques. Thanks to all who joined. About artist: www.sarahgdavis.co.uk @rcphysicians.bsky.social #BodyOfKnowledge

Hi! Sharing my call out for participants for my PhD research. Looking for women involved in care/ and or activism during the AIDS crisis in UK or US! #research #aids #women #feminism #phd #callforparticipants #interview #history

Very excited for this evening's online @rcpmuseum.bsky.social event 📚 After a tour of the current bookish exhibition by @girlinthe.bsky.social, @awickenden.bsky.social will talk about libraries, and I will talk about some Arabic books. Get your ticket here ➡️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-body-of-...

Have you booked for our cosy, fragrant & tasty evening yet? Join us on 17 Dec for 'Teas form the Garden' a seasonal workshop to learn about, taste & create your own herbal tea blends guided by an expert from the @rcphysicians.bsky.social Garden. Book 👉 rcp_teas_from_the_garden.eventbrite.co.uk

A reminder to book for the (online) @rcpmuseum.bsky.social Winter Lectures next Tuesday! a guided tour of the exhibition by @girlinthe.bsky.social, a lecture on Lancelot Browne and Arabic books by @samuscript.bsky.social, and a lecture from me on libraries 📚 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k...

These 1829 surveys show how British colonial doctors in Latin America helped destroy inclusive indigenous medical practises, in which gender and wealth played no role. In Britain, only wealthy men could be doctors. #ExploreArchives #EYAInclusion

#EarlyModern recipe books reflect collective medical knowledge. Anyone of any gender, ethnicity, or status could practise medicine. But the founding of the RCP in 1518 was an attempt to stamp out this inclusive culture and ensure that only wealthy men could be doctors #ExploreArchives #EYAInclusion

Dr Pye-Smith’s scrapbook includes an ode by James Hadfield to Jack Squrriel, one of many pets he had while held in Bethlem for trying to assassinate George III. The British state would rather criminalise those with mental health conditions than support them in the community #ExploreArchives #EYAPets

Dog health in #EarlyModern recipe books! The 6th recipe down in the 1st image asserts that ox blood poured into an open wound ‘cureth ye scabs in dogs,’ and the treatment for mange involves train oil (from whales), soap, gunpowder, and flower of brimstone (sulphur) #ExploreArchives #EYAPets

In oral history recordings, silence can be as powerful as the words it punctuates. In this emotional clip, former RCP president Andrew Goddard speaks about losing his friend and colleague, Donal O’Donoghue, to #COVID. #ExploreArchives #EYASilence 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...

The first mention of #HIV/AIDS in RCP minutes is 6 years after the first AIDS-related death in Britain. The RCPs silence helped the state take advantage of the epidemic to spread fear, introduce queerphobic policies, and cut services such as healthcare #ExploreArchives #EYASilence

1 December 2025 marks the 37th #WorldAIDSDay. The @rcphysicians.bsky.social Archives, Heritage Library & Museum Collections continue to seek donations of material relating to the history of HIV/AIDS. Find out about recent donations & interviews 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/world-a...

Cure your spots, clear your warts & check who's wearing make up - 17th C style! Discover these fascinating instructions in one of RCPs hand-written recipe books with Archive Manager Pamela Forde. 👉 youtu.be/vSo5-BeuYz0?... Not animal friendly - don't try at home! #EYABeauty #ExploreYourArchive

These beautiful plant drawings were made by an unnamed Chinese artist, possibly at the behest of colonialist John Bradby Blake in 1771-2. Ordinary sticky tape is a nightmare for archives, but acid-free repair tape can be used to patch up torn pages. #ExploreArchives #EYAConservation

It’s hard to remove archives safely from envelopes that open at 1 end. We’re repackaging with 4-flap folders that can be opened without damaging the contents. These letters from Eugène Dupuy to Charles Édouard Brown-Séquard can now be accessed more easily & safely #ExploreArchives #EYAConservation

Have you booked our 9 Dec virtual lectures evening? Join 3 expert speakers inspired by recent research into how we investigate the history of libraries like the collections of @rcphysicians.bsky.social. Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/.../body-kno... #BodyOfKnowledge #LibraryHistory More details below👇

Like any other professional group, physicians experience illness or disability. Explore the representation of physicians who have experienced illness or disability from various eras within the RCP collections👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/explori... #disabilityhistorymonth @rcphysicians.bsky.social

For over 500 years, the @rcphysicians.bsky.social has been collecting treasures of medicine – from early anatomy texts, to physicians’ portraits & rare instruments. Through the new Adopt a Treasure campaign, help us fund the conservation of rare & significant items. 👉 www.rcp.ac.uk/support-us/p...

24 November is #WorldWalrusDay. These dapper examples are from William Jardine's Naturalist's Library of 1838. The book describes how the animals' 'coating of oily fat' (blubber) enables them to 'repose on their icy beds without inconvenience'. Anyone else got a good walrus to share? #RareBooks

Book now for your chance to see the incredible Wilton Psalter up close & create your own illuminated letter in our workshop on Sat 29 Nov. Join artist Sarah Davis to create your own beautiful letter complete with 23ct gold leaf! 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/illumi... @rcphysicians.bsky.social #histmed

Frankenstein Myth Busting! Have you seen Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein, and are you wondering how much is rooted in actual medical history? Let’s have a closer look in our latest blog: history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/franken... *Warning! Contains spoilers!* @rcphysicians.bsky.social #Histmed

On 17 Dec from 6pm, join the RCP Garden team for an evening of tea tasting & blending featuring ingredients in the Medicinal Garden. Inspired by recipe books in the RCP archives & led by expert gardeners create a blend to take home or give as a festive gift! Book 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/teas-g...

For #FragmentFriday: fragments of a pocket Breviary with musical notation, 13th century, @rcpmuseum.bsky.social MS777/91, removed from the Paris 1570 edition of Gregory's Decretals. See them in the current exhibition #BodyOfKnowledge: history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...

The oldest European book in our collection is the stunning illuminated Wilton Psalter made for the nuns at Wilton Abbey in c.1250, likely by the monastic scriptorium in nearby Salisbury Cathedral. Each of the 150 Psalms from the Christian Bible begins with a large illuminated initial letter.

Sharing forthcoming @roysocmed.bsky.social events (in person and online). Just search 'medicine' on the events page to find out more about these events in January and February and others www.rsm.ac.uk/events/ Please note fees may apply. #histmed #histSTM #medhumanities

Explore striking art installation Making Visible by doctoral researcher Catherine James & exhibition 'A body of knowledge' Mon 10 Nov. With an exclusive intro from Harveian Librarian Anita Simonds @anitaks.bsky.social! 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/making... @rcphysicians.bsky.social #BodyOfKnowledge

Our new permanent gallery and learning centre are now open! Be one of the first to check out our alchemical scroll, examine medicines from the Battle of Culloden and try out our family-friendly puzzles and activities. Find out more 👉 www.rcpe.ac.uk/heritage/joy...

'They will first appeare like so many starres and when the starres are spent… they will run wrigling to and fro like Serpents' This is a description of 'fisfigs', incredibly dramatic firework designs in 'Pyrotechnia' by J Babington, 1635. 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/light-b... - Don't try at home!

#OTD 1964 Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the RCP’s new headquarters in Regent’s Park. Explore the design of the Grade I listed building with architect Denys Lasdun, specialist speakers & featuring footage of the then Queen at the opening👇 youtu.be/z-4ydFg6jww?... @rcphysicians.bsky.social

We are delighted to announce a virtual winter lectures for exhibition 'A body of knowledge' is open to book 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/body-k... 🗓️ 6pm GMT, 9 Dec, £5 😍 Featuring a virtual exhibition tour & fascinating lectures from @awickenden.bsky.social & @samuscript.bsky.social! #LibraryHistory

This History Day, explore hidden queer histories and surprising discoveries in the Queer History and Heritage Trail, with collections from The Postal Museum, @rcphysicians.bsky.social @qmullibrary.bsky.social and beyond! Blog: buff.ly/pzsC6wm #HistDay25 @ihr.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social

Feeling spooky? Here are 3 Memento Mori to visit at the Museum: history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/feeling... #halloween #mementomori #callingallskeletons

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for a fabulous story-time with the amazing Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social! Vanessa created a unique tale all about the library of the RCP. There was music, puppets, pretend flames, smells, a disco ball & books! @rcphysicians.bsky.social

Happy #IntersexAwarenessDay! These doctor’s notes give an insight into the life of a teen in 1830 who today might refer to themselves as #intersex. Working as a household servant there is the suggestion they lost their job due to being intersex. Discrimination still faced by many today. #Histmed

There is still time to pre-book for one of tomorrow's storytelling sessions with Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social or you can pay on the door to attend - we'd love to share the tales from our 500year old library! 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/tales-... @rcphysicians.bsky.social #halftermfun

Did you know the @rcphysicians.bsky.social lost nearly its entire library in the Great Fire of London? Storyteller Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social has created a fabulous story all about the library, join us Mon 27 Oct to discover more! Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events #BodyOfKnowledge

Join us Sat 29 Nov for an all day practical workshop to create your own illuminated letter to take home or give as a festive gift. Artist Sarah Davis will lead the session using an array of medieval techniques & materials, including 23ct gold leaf. Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/illumi...

One of the student halls at the University of Lagos is called the Kwaku Adadevoh Hostel to acknowledge the legacy & contributions made to the University by its 4th vice-chancellor. But who was Kwaku Adadevoh & what did he do? Discover👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/remembe... #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM

Did you know the RCP Heritage Library has over 50,000 books? 🤯 Storyteller Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social has created a fabulous story all about the library & its secrets. Join us next Mon 27 Oct for #halfterm to discover more! Book now 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events #BodyOfKnowledge

#BehindTheScenes at the museum today we have one of our more delicate collection objects out - an amazingly rare sculpture by the ‘Ingenious Chinese artist’ Chitqua, (Tan Che Qua) c. 1728–1796.😍 ICON accredited conservator Alexandra Kosinova ACR is evaluating the statuette for a potential loan.🔍

Thomas Linacre, founding fellow of @rcphysicians.bsky.social died #OTD 1524. He opened up his house on Knightrider Street in the City of London as the first home of the College, and allowed the fellows to make use of this own personal library. #HistMed

Join storyteller Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social for an exciting family storytime 27 October @rcphysicians.bsky.social! There will be music, props, smells & a secret revealed! Pick from a selection of times through the day. Book now👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/event/tales-... #BodyOfKnowledge

Join us on 30 October for a powerful evening exploring the intersection of art and nursing. The official launch of our Art of Nursing exhibition, hosted by curator Kate Forde. 📍 London & Online 🕠 Doors open 5.30pm | Panel starts 6.30pm 🎟️ Free, book now: https://bit.ly/3IPgRFo #ArtOfNursing