About the History of Medicine Library

The RACP’s Library was established in 1940 with a focus on providing a clinical reference library to its membership, one of the objectives of the College being:

"To acquire by purchase, donation or otherwise, a library of scientific works and to maintain and from time to time extend and improve such a library”

It only acquired its current name "Royal Australasian College of Physicians History of Medicine Library" in 1982.

Beginnings

The Library was originally housed in the Council Room of 145 Macquarie Street, with notable scholar Dr. Leslie Cowlishaw (MRACP) appointed the first Librarian. Blackwood shelving was installed as part of renovations on the newly acquired building in order to house the future collection.

The Librarian’s office was situated in what is now the President's Room.

The Library was endowed in 1940 by Helen Mills, widow of the late Dr. A. E. Mills (Foundation Fellow) with an income of £50 per annum for the purchase of books and periodicals. This endowment enabled the College to commence subscription to twenty-five British and American journals

A new direction

By the late 1950s, however, it was obvious that the Library was not providing a meaningful service to Fellows and Members outside of Sydney. Consequently, Council decided - on the recommendation of the Library Committee - that the Library would instead specialise in medical history. This decision was based on a number of donations received during its early years, including a collection provided by the Royal College of Physicians of London, of some thirty medical works published between 1500 and 1900. It was agreed that the journal section should be sold and that a medico-historical library with special reference to Australia and New Zealand be developed.

In 1958, Professor Edward Ford, a Fellow of the College, was appointed Curator. Ford was a renowned bibliophile and authority on medical history, particularly relating to Australia, and was, at that time, Director of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Sydney University.

Progress after 1958 was still slow however, and in 1966 the Library Sub-Committee reported to Council the need for a larger budget and a full-time, trained Librarian if the Library was to develop as Council had planned. When the state of the Library was outlined before an annual general meeting of Fellows and Members there was considerable majority support for it to continue. A motion proposed by Library Committee member, Associate Professor Bryan Gandevia, invoking the financial support of Fellows and Members was carried by a considerable majority. Council increased substantially the annual allocation and a trained Librarian was appointed.

Gandevia was also a driving force behind the Library’s development. He can be seen in this footage discussing the History of Medicine Library.

In 1978, Sir Edward Ford donated his unique collection of nineteenth and twentieth century medical Australiana. On his death in 1986 his collection of internationally important historical medical texts was also bequeathed to the Library. It consisted of approximately 1100 volumes, including over 200 works published before 1800, as well as 3 incunabula (books printed before 1501)

Today

Today the Library is housed over two floors at 145 Macquarie St. Sydney, in the College’s historical Council Room, Fellows Room, and Sir Edward Ford Room, as well as the Library proper in 147 Macquarie St. In 2018, the complete collection was sent offsite for remediation ensuring it was preserved for future generations. 

The History of Medicine Library and other heritage collections are overseen by the Library Collections and Cultural Heritage Committee (LCCHC)