RCSI Heritage Collections

William Butler Years was born 150 years ago today in Sandymount, Dublin. Yeats was to become an internationally recognised Irish poet, playwright, author and one of the most influential figures of 20th century literature. Throughout his life he suffered illnesses including fever, pneumonia and a broken heart from his unrequited love of Maud Gonne. W.B. Yeats and Oliver St. John Gogarty in Dublin in 1924 taken from The New York Times March 1964 Yeats and Oliver St. John Gogarty were close friends despite their age difference. They wrote to each other, attended various literary and political gatherings across the globe and sat in the Senate together. Gogarty was not only interested in literature he was a highly qualified surgeon. When Yeats fell ill at the end of 1929 his fever charts were passed to Gogarty, who confirmed the seriousness of Yeats illness. These fever charts were donated to the RCSI Heritage Collections by Prof. J.B. Lyons many years ago and can be seen below ...

The College functioned first in humble premises near Mercer's Hospital (the present Mercer Library), moving in 1810 to a new building facing Stephen's Green. On the upper floor, Sir Charles Cameron tells us there was RCSI in 1810 A large room.....with windows opening upon the Green, [which] was devoted to the meetings of the College and their committees. The Board Room then extended the entire width of the upper storey and its original dimensions were not added to by the major expansion of the building initiated in 1825. It provided ample space for important occasions on which the President, Vice-President, Censors and Members convened to deal with College business. A carpet which cost £48.5s.3d was purchased; a large and impressive chair was provided for the President; armchairs were available for lesser dignitaries, while the members (all of whom were free to attend) sat on plain seats. RCSI Board Room before 1916 The supplemental charter (1844) introduced a C...

    The late J.D.H Widdess, Librarian and Professor of Biology, knew more about the College than any other person. His account of the Arms of the College explains how suitable armorial bearings were devised and used from 1784 until 1907 when it was realised that formal authority to use a coat of arms had never been obtained.   An application was made immediately to the Ulster King of Arms, the heraldic authority in Ireland, who had his office in Dublin Castle. A grant of arms was given on 20th March 1907 consisting of a shield, crest and supporters. Its official description in the language of heraldry is quite a mouthful:      'Argent on a Saltire gules, a dexter hand apaumée fessewise, couped at the wrist proper, on a Chief      ermine harp crowned between two fleams or; for CREST on a wreath of the Colours an Eagle     preying on a serpent proper; for SUPPORTERS two Irish elks each gorged with a C...