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rcpmuseum.bsky.social
RCP museum
@rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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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.bsky.social · 15d
🎄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
A large decorated Christmas tree in the RCP central hall.
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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!
This illuminated roundel shows a Janus-faced character drinking from a goblet and a horn, with a table set out with rich dishes and pies.
December 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
December 19, 2025 at 12:44 PM
rcpmuseum.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
A large decorated Christmas tree in the RCP central hall.
December 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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.
An open book with Arabic printed text inside a display case. The text is: Al-qanun fi'l-tibb [The canon of medicine] byIbn Sīnā, known as Avicenna, published Rome, 1593 Open pages of a printed book in Arabic. The book is: Al-qanun fi'l-tibb [The canon of medicine] by Ibn Sīnā, known as Avicenna, published Rome, 1593
December 18, 2025 at 2:41 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
December 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
December 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by RCP museum
queerarchivist.bsky.social
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
December 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Reposted by RCP museum
samuscript.bsky.social
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-...
A body of knowledge: winter lectures
Join us to explore recent research into how we investigate the history of libraries like the collections of the Royal College of Physicians.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 8:22 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
rcpmuseum.bsky.social RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · Nov 20
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...
A flyer titled 'Teas form the Garden' surrounded by colourful dried herbs A cup of her tea being poured into a tea cup.
December 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by RCP museum
awickenden.bsky.social
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...
A body of knowledge: winter lectures | RCP Museum
history.rcp.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
A handwritten survey response from Trinidad, dated 1829. One sentence reads: ‘Of native doctors we may say we have not any except old women who deal in simples.’
December 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
#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
A double page spread from a 17th century handwritten recipe book, including a remedy for ‘gravel’ (urinary tract stones) shared with Sarah Wigges by Mr Speed.
December 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
A Victorian scrapbook containing drawings of dissected body parts, bugs, and other items. A handwritten poem about a squirrel, written in 1829.
December 3, 2025 at 2:50 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
Eighteenth century handwritten medical recipes Eighteenth century handwritten medical recipes
December 3, 2025 at 10:19 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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/...
December 2, 2025 at 2:02 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
Official written documents relating to HIV/AIDS from the 1980s and 1990s
December 2, 2025 at 12:34 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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...
A leaflet titled 'AIDS Don’t die of Ignorance' from 1987 recently donated to the RCP archive.
December 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
Transcribathon 2023: 17th century 'beauty' recipes
YouTube video by Royal College of Physicians
youtu.be
November 30, 2025 at 8:22 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
November 29, 2025 at 1:29 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
November 29, 2025 at 8:56 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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👇
The interior of a display case in exhibition 'A body of knowledge' showing a mix of open and closed books with information labels.
November 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
A compilation of four photos showing physicians who feature in the blog.
November 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
rcpmuseum.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...
A conservator works delicately with a paintbrush on one of the RCP paintings. The open title page of a book by Thomas Linacre. Close up of the hand of a conservator using a brush to repair a gold leaf frame. A rare 19th century print of 'A history of vaccination' with the word 'Jenner' large in the centre. Painted by Stephen Jenner, the nephew of Dr Edward Jenner
November 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
Print of an adult walrus and two pups on a rock in the sea with polar bears and ice in the backdrop from William Jardine's Naturalist's Library of 1838.
November 24, 2025 at 11:38 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
November 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM