The University of Alberta Library subscribes to numerous databases that are core for certain disciplines, but also really deserving of wider attention. Here is one of those gems…
Royal College of Physicians: A Wiley Digital Archives Collection primarily relates to the history of medicine, but others may also enjoy exploring this fascinating database! This digitized archival collection contains the documentation of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
The RCP came into being back in 1518 by royal decree by King Henry VIII, and as such is one of the oldest bodies of its kind in the English-speaking world. The RCP (not to be confused with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) historically oversees issues of professional practice for British physicians, including accreditation, licensing and disciplinary matters. The RCP’s archives contain a range of materials, such as books, committee records, correspondence, domestic manuals, grants, charters, statutes and illustrations. These thousands of documents speak to a wide variety of interests, including the history of medicine; anatomy; non-western medicine; legal, regulatory, and policy matters; and early modern English.
Royal College of Physicians: A Wiley Digital Archives Collection is a collection of primary source documents! Think of it as an unfiltered window into the past, including views and terminology that are now obsolete. This collection brings us closer to rare documents. These documents come in a variety of forms — medical advances, manuscripts, monographs, maps, photographs — that provide first-hand knowledge and evidence of the advancement of medical and non-medical topics.
Happy discovery!