Museum Catalogues
TitleMuseum Catalogues
ReferenceRCS-MUS/7
Level of descriptionsub-fonds
Datec1790-1998
Admin./ biographical historyAfter the contents of John Hunter’s Museum were donated to the The Company of Surgeons in 1799, it was continually added to it with specimens either purchased by or donated to the College. The increasing size of the collection, and the loss of specimens through deterioration, meant that the catalogues had to be updated many times.
When the College was suffered bomb damage in 1941, about two-thirds of the museum specimens were destroyed. The old catalogues are now often the only source of information about the specimens that were lost in the bombing.
In the 1970s the museum published its last printed catalogues. The current catalogue is maintained as a database, searchable on the Royal College of Surgeons website via Surgicat. Surgicat should be used to search for current specimens in the first instance.
The series level descriptions give detailed histories of how each series was catalogued.
When the College was suffered bomb damage in 1941, about two-thirds of the museum specimens were destroyed. The old catalogues are now often the only source of information about the specimens that were lost in the bombing.
In the 1970s the museum published its last printed catalogues. The current catalogue is maintained as a database, searchable on the Royal College of Surgeons website via Surgicat. Surgicat should be used to search for current specimens in the first instance.
The series level descriptions give detailed histories of how each series was catalogued.
Scope and ContentIncluding published and unpublished catalogues and store lists of numerous collections including fossils, osteology, physiology, histology, drawings, pathology, calculi, Hunterian specimens and many others.This sub-fonds contains 389 volumes, 24 files and 5 boxes of published and unpublished catalogues and related information.
Extent406 volumes, 5 boxes, 24 files
LanguageEnglish
System of arrangementThe catalogues are arranged into 26 series primarily according to the type of specimen catalogued. They were arranged in this way in 1929, and numbered accordingly, and this arrangement has been followed here. This system does mean that some of the early catalogues that were originally created as a series (in several volumes, each covering different types of specimen) have since been split into different series.
Conditions governing accessThis collection is available to everyone for research. It can be consulted in our Research Room at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 38-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE. It is essential to book in advance so we can ensure material is available. Please email archives@rcseng.ac.uk to book a Research Room appointment. Access to some records may be restricted due to Data Protection legislation. We will advise where this is the case.
Conditions governing reproductionCopies of material in the archives can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents. Some items within this collection may remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study. Permission to publish material must be sought in advance from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and, where appropriate, the copyright holder. Please email archives@rcseng.ac.uk in the first instance.
