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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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rcpmuseum.bsky.social
2 for 1 offer now open on tickets for our half-term activities!
Book 👉 tales_from_the_doctors_library.eventbrite.co.uk

Join professional London storyteller Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social for an interactive storytime with music, props & even smells! Plus get creative with paper crafts!
February 3, 2026 at 4:59 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Join us next Thurs 5 Feb for an evening exploring the long, rich & inspiring history of LGBTQ+ lives through fascinating & potentially challenging items in the RCP collections.

Book free now 👉https://RCP_Museum_LGBTplus_History_Month.eventbrite.co.uk

#LGBTplusHM #LGBTQIA #ScienceAndInnovation
An image of Eugene Sandow crouched down while punching out with his right arm. He has a moustache, is dressed only in boots and pants, and is standing on a leopard skin rug. A group of visitors on the exhibition gallery.
January 29, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by RCP museum
rcpsgheritage.bsky.social
For #NationalHandwritingDay here's proof that doctors don't have terrible handwriting! This beautifully handwritten letter (c.1735) diagnoses a patient with breast cancer, a “disorder rarely hitherto known to yield to any milder remedy than the knife”.
Beautiful handwritten letter. The writing fills the full page and discusses very remedies to try for someone who is living with breast cancer. The letter is dated August 7th 1735
January 23, 2026 at 9:43 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Happy belated Birthday to Edward Tyson born #OTD (yesterday!) 1651!
These drawings are from Tyson's scrapbook on #comparativeanatomy. Tyson was one of the first to propose a continuity of traits between humans & other primates, his writings informing future research into human evolution.

#histmed
Black and white pencil drawing of a cuttlefish, possibly partially dissected, with its tentacles splayed out. Annotation reads 'Sepia - April 20th 1693' Two colour drawings of dissected lizards, pinned on their backs with internal organs on display. Both have their legs and tails splayed out and one has its long tongue splayed out also. Three colour drawings showing parts of dissected snake, including one of the head posed, as if in life, with the mouth open showing the teeth and protruding tongue Colour drawing of a warthog in profile view, as if in life, and the same view of a warthog skeleton
January 21, 2026 at 11:43 AM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Events to look out for over the next few months at the RCP museum!

⭐4 Feb & 4 Mar – taster tour
⭐5 Feb – Museum Late: LGBT+ History Month special
⭐17 Feb – Tales from the doctors library: family storytime & crafts
⭐4 Mar – Museum Late: women’s history month

Book now 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events
A tour group gathered round a guide in the RCP. An image of Eugene Sandow crouched down while punching out with his right arm. He has a moustache, is dressed only in boots and pants, and is standing on a leopard skin rug. A set of three images. On the left is a woman (Dr Dossabai Patell) in a white shirt surrounded by men in suits. In the centre is the portrait of Dr Dorothy Hare dressed in her red graduation robes and black hat. On the right is the title page of a handwritten book reading 'The Lady Sedley, her Receipt book' The storyteller holds out her ukulele for a child to drum on as other children watch.
January 20, 2026 at 2:05 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Visit the exhibition to discover more about the wide range of topics in our library, the disasters its survived (including plague, theft, fire & bombs!) & much more. You can visit free during our opening hours & at special Late openings 👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/visit-us
#BodyOfKnowledge #histmed
Exhibition graphic showing colourful pages from the books in the background and the following text: A body of knowledge Discover 500 years of book collecting at the RCP 10 September 2025 - 23 July 2026 Exhibition | Free entry
January 16, 2026 at 12:13 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Exhibition 'A body of knowledge' uses 61 of our most fascinating books to explore 500 years of book collecting @rcphysicians.bsky.social. But there are 50,000 on our shelves!
Today’s blog👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/blog/archite... explores 5 16th C masterpieces on architecture, displayed at #OpenHouse2025.
Three men closely examine the 16th C books on display in the Dorchester Library.
January 16, 2026 at 12:13 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
For artwork ‘Making Visible’, in exhibition ‘A body of knowledge’, Harvey’s portrait has been temporarily replaced by one of Grace Pierrepont. Grace restarted the library collection after the Great Fire. Find out about her, Harvey & the books: history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
#BodyOfKnowledge
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A portrait of Grace Pierrepont handing on a wooden wall with bookshelves either side. The books on the shelves are wrapped in blue paper as part o an artwork called 'Making Visible'
January 7, 2026 at 3:17 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
A fellow of the RCP, Harvey was famous for his experiments & publication that demonstrated the circulation of blood. He was also an early donor to the physicians’ library giving books & money for the 1st librarian. Because of this his portrait usually hangs in the RCP's Dorchester Library.

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A close up of William Harvey's face painted by an unknown artist. He is shown as a white man with grey hair curling onto his shoulders, thinning on top, a small moustache and a beard on his chin. He is wearing a white collared shirt under a black robe. An image of the Dorchester Library showing shelves of books and the portrait of William Harvey handing in the centre.
January 7, 2026 at 3:17 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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

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Two art handlers unscrew metal catches on the back of the painting frame. Two art handlers carefully place the unframed painting of William Harvey onto foam blocks. Two art handlers carefully lift the empty decorative golden frame. The portrait of William Harvey outside it's frame supported on foam blocks.
January 7, 2026 at 3:17 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
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
January 5, 2026 at 4:01 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
We hope you all have a wonderful Festive Season whether celebrating Hannukah, Christmas or just generally enjoying this time 'to feast and be merry'! 🍽️😋🎄

We will sign off socials for now and see you all in 2026 🥳

@rcphysicians.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
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
Brown's annotations are in Arabic, Greek & Latin. He traces the origins & meanings of Arabic terms, compares the text with two different Latin translations, & confronts textual errors & inconsistencies. On these pages, Browne is grappling with the book’s classification and description of spiders!
The open pages of showing Arabic text and annotations in Greek, Latin and Arabic. The book is a copy of Al-qanun fi'l-tibb [The canon of medicine] byIbn Sīnā, known as Avicenna, published Rome, 1593
December 18, 2025 at 2:41 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
This copy displayed in exhibition 'A body of knowledge' once belonged to physician Lancelot Brown, father-in-law of @rcphysicians.bsky.social fellow William Harvey. Harvey was famous for demonstrating how blood circulates. Brown was one of the few to read the original Arabic.
#BodyOfKnowledge
An open book with Arabic printed text inside a display case alongside several other books. The text is: Al-qanun fi'l-tibb [The canon of medicine] byIbn Sīnā, known as Avicenna, published Rome, 1593
December 18, 2025 at 2:41 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
Look out for more creative workshops inspired by the books and manuscripts in exhibition 'A body of knowledge' coming next year.

#BodyofKnowledge #histmed

👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
Exhibition graphic with a selection of marbled papers showing the title: A body of knowledge Discover 500 years of book collecting at the Royal College of Physicians 10 September 2025 - 23 July 2026 Exhibition | Free entry
December 16, 2025 at 6:19 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
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
ah the many purposes of urine! 🤢
December 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Oh & apparently for spots its hen's blood. . .
Neither are animal friendly & needless to say none to be tried at home!

Read all the recipes: archive.org/details/ms-5...
A recipe in an early 18th century handwritten recipe book claiming the blood of a white hen will remove spots or freckles if the face is washed in the blood, it is left to dry then wiped off. Needless to say - don't try at home!
December 16, 2025 at 2:26 PM
rcpmuseum.bsky.social
Snap!
We've a similar recipe in this hand-written book from c.1700 using eel blood with an added instruction to then bury the eel's head. Apparently when the head has rotted the warts will drop off. Underneath are others involving fig leaves & raw beef, all buried after use to complete the cure!
An excerpt from a early 18th century hand-written recipe book showing three recipes for removing warts. the first involves cutting off the head of an eel, washing the warts in the blood and then burying the eel's head. When the head has rotted the warts will apparently drop off. The next two recipes involve first fig leaves then raw beef, similarly rubbed on then buried. Needless to say don't try at home!
December 16, 2025 at 2:26 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