The RCSI Heritage Collections are delighted to announce the arrival of its latest collection that of the Charitable Infirmary (Jervis Street Hospital) received from the Charitable infirmary Charitable Trust (CICT). The full and colourful history of the CICT can be found on their website http://www.cict.ie/history/
The Charitable Infirmary Collection made its way to the
Royal College of Surgeons through the foresight of one of
our past Presidents and member of the CICT Trust
Committee Mr. Peter McLean.
Mr. McLean studied at the RCSI, became a Fellow of the
College in 1962, a Council Member in 1984 and President
from 1996 to 1998. He interned in the Charitable Infirmary
in Jervis Street, worked as a consultant in there and in
Beaumont Hospital and sat on the CICT Trust Committee.
He had a passion for heritage and the preservation of this
heritage for future generations. Mr. McLean personally
funded the conservation and refurbishment of 14 Charitable
Infirmary council minute books before he presented them to
the RCSI. The CICT has now deposited the remainder of the Charitable Infirmary archive to the RCSI Heritage Collections.
There are numerous intrinsic links between the Charitable Infirmary and the RCSI
The collection is made up of council minute books; patient registers; accounts; ledgers; sub-committee minute books; subscriptions and bequests; letter books and financial records.
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| Mr. Peter McLean (1934-2010) |
Royal College of Surgeons through the foresight of one of
our past Presidents and member of the CICT Trust
Committee Mr. Peter McLean.
Mr. McLean studied at the RCSI, became a Fellow of the
College in 1962, a Council Member in 1984 and President
from 1996 to 1998. He interned in the Charitable Infirmary
in Jervis Street, worked as a consultant in there and in
Beaumont Hospital and sat on the CICT Trust Committee.
He had a passion for heritage and the preservation of this
heritage for future generations. Mr. McLean personally
funded the conservation and refurbishment of 14 Charitable
Infirmary council minute books before he presented them to
the RCSI. The CICT has now deposited the remainder of the Charitable Infirmary archive to the RCSI Heritage Collections.
There are numerous intrinsic links between the Charitable Infirmary and the RCSI
·
Richard Dease President of the College in 1809
was on the Infirmary staff
·
Samuel Wilmot President of the College (1815,
1832, 1846) taught surgery in the Infirmary
·
Robert Adams FRCSI 1818, President of the
College (1840, 1860, 1867) was elected surgeon in the Infirmary in the
1820s
·
Robert Harrison, Professor of Anatomy and
Physiology in RCSI (1820s), President of the College (1848) was on the Infirmary
staff
·
William Wallace MRCSI (1791-1937), a pioneer in
the development of dermatology and anatomy, gave anatomy instruction in the
Infirmary
·
Robert McDonnell, son of John McDonnell,
performed the first recorded blood transfusion in Ireland on 20 April 1865 in
the Charitable Infirmary. The McDonnell family have strong and
important links to the College; John studied at RCSI and introduced anaesthesia to Ireland;
Robert also studied at RCSI and was President of the College in 1877
important links to the College; John studied at RCSI and introduced anaesthesia to Ireland;
Robert also studied at RCSI and was President of the College in 1877
The collection is made up of council minute books; patient registers; accounts; ledgers; sub-committee minute books; subscriptions and bequests; letter books and financial records.
 |
RCSI/CICT Subsciption and Bequests volume from 1778 RCSI/CICT Male and Female Patient Register 1918-1923 |
There are 98 volumes in total thus making this a substantial collection to have received. With dates ranging from 1740s all the up until the 1970s the information held within these volumes is of huge historical medical value. They are a major part of Dublin city's medical heritage as well as the College's own heritage. The research potential for this collection is vast and the RCSI Heritage Collections looks forward to researchers, students, academics and the public consulting them in the near future.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy