The Royal College of Physicians is the oldest medical college in England. Since its foundation by Henry VIII the RCP has built up a magnificent collection of books, manuscripts, portraits and medical artefacts.
A series of lunchtime talks relating to our celebration of Sir Hans Sloane.
A duchess, a physician and a spoon
Jean Symons, the widow of Cecil, has written an article about an intriguing item in the Symons Collection, attempting to get the bottom of Cecil’s often asked question: ‘which came first, the teaspoon or the medicine spoon?’
Read Jean Symons' article (PDF 227kb 
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An exhibition celebrating the life of Hans Sloane runs
5 July-24 December 2010 (closed select days)
1st floor gallery, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, free admission
The RCP holds a unique collection of 17th to 19th century portrait prints of people with disabilities.
The project will examine the representation of disabled people's bodies, past and present; and unearth the human stories behind the historical prints.
An exhibition will open at the RCP in January 2011.
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The library holds 30,000 books and pamphlets, including the Dorchester Collection. |
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The College has fine collections of portraits, prints and silver, and displays the Symons Collection of medical instruments and the Hoffbrand Collection of apothecary jars. |
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The collection has manuscripts tracing College history from 1518, and personal papers of key medical figures. |
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The College's acclaimed fifth home in Regent's Park was designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and is Grade I listed. |