Services for Researchers and the Public
The College possesses one of the finest historical medical collections, including many rare and unique items, recognised as a Designated Collection by Arts Council England. The collections are particularly strong in anatomy and surgery, with comparative anatomy and natural history also well represented.
You are welcome to use our collections for research. To make an appointment, please email library@rcseng.ac.uk. We are usually open for appointments 10am-5pm, Tuesday to Thursday. Please provide at least three working days’ of your preferred dates, so that we can make sure staff and resources are available on the day of your visit.
When you make an appointment, please be as specific as possible about the collection items you would like to see. If you can, please provide the title and author, or barcode numbers, of any books or journal volumes you would like to see. You can find all of the above information on our Heritage Collections catalogue.
If you would like to access the Library collections you will need to register as a researcher. To do this, you will need to bring with you two documents: one photographic ID (e.g. a driving licence), and one proof of address (e.g. a recent bank statement). You will not be able to view collections without registering first.
The rarity and condition of some items may place restrictions on access and copying, but we will do our best to meet your needs.
Family history research
If you are researching your family history and believe that an ancestor was a member, we are happy to help. Please email library@rcseng.ac.uk.
Fellows’ obituaries are now available online at Plarr’s Lives of the Fellows.