Collection: Hunterian Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  In 1799 the Company of Surgeons in London received the museum collection of the surgeon anatomist John Hunter (1728–93), which was purchased by the government and transferred into the care of the Company under the supervision of an independent Board of Trustees (The Hunterian Collection Board of Trustees). In 1800 the Company of Surgeons became the Royal College of Surgeons in London by a Charter of George III (subsequently amended by a Charter of 1843 to The Royal College of Surgeons of England). The Hunterian Collection was incorporated into the College Museum, to which additions of objects, specimens were made throughout the 19th and early 20th century. In 1909 the College received on loan from the Royal Society of Medicine the museum collection of the Odontological Society of Great Britain: this loan was converted into a gift in 1941. Following destruction of a large part of the collection and of the original College building by bombing during the Second World War, a decision was taken to split the original College museum into four departments, each of which operated separate accession and/or disposal procedures. These were brought under a common management structure in the 1990s. From 2010 – 2017 the Museums and Archives came under the same Department.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: Not known

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Hunterian Collection

  3,758 specimens, mostly of human and comparative anatomy and pathology or natural history, together with 25 paintings and approximately 950 drawings, made or owned by John Hunter (1728-93), and included in the original transfer of 1799. The Hunterian Collection provides a comprehensive record of one of the most significant figures in the history of surgery and comparative anatomy and it gives a unique insight into the injuries and diseases that an 18th century surgeon treated. Hunterian artworks include paintings by George Stubbs (1724-1806) and Benjamin West (1738-1820). It includes items purchased by Hunter, such as a collection of 97 microscope slides prepared by William Hewson. Hunter’s published works, surviving manuscripts and casebooks are held in the College Library. The collection is central to the Hunterian Museum displays, and the specimens have ongoing relevance to clinical, scientific and historical research.

  College Museum Collection

  3602 items prepared by museum conservators such as Richard Owen (1804-1892), William Henry Flower (1831-99) and Arthur Keith (1866-1955) or acquired by the College by purchase, gift or exchange since 1800. The bulk of the collection is comparative anatomy, but there are also preparations of human anatomy, and approximately 200 objects, including teaching models, ceremonial items and objects personally associated with College members. The earliest specimens of human remains are from the upper Nile and date from between 2500 BCE and 500 CE and the John Evelyn’s anatomical tables, the oldest known human anatomical preparations of their kind in Europe, date from the mid-17th century. The collection also includes a small number of modern specimens of human anatomy covered under the Human Tissue Act. Around 5% of the collection is displayed in the Hunterian Museum (from February 2023), including iconic dodo and moa skeletons, and specimens presented by important figures in the history of science, such as Charles Darwin (1809-1882) and Robert Koch (1843-1910). The rest of the collection is stored for use in temporary exhibitions, by loan and through research.

  Odontological Collection

  12,536 items, mostly specimens or models of human and comparative dental anatomy and pathology acquired by the Odontological Society of Great Britain from the late 1850s, or by the College after the transfer of the Odontological Collection in 1909. Many specimens were donated by pioneers in dental surgery, such as John Tomes (1815-1895), while a sub-collection of approximately 1200 zoological and anatomical specimens came from renowned primatologist William Charles Osman Hill (1901-1975). The collection also contains important collections of archaeological human remains from Anglo-Saxon burial site excavations at Breedon-on-the-Hill in Leicestershire and Polhill in Kent. While a few items are displayed in the Hunterian Museum, the majority are in store and are used in research and teaching in a variety of disciplines, ranging from dentistry to zoology and bioarchaeology.

  Historical Instrument Collection

  A collection of 9,130 surgical or medical instruments dating from the 17th century to the present day, acquired by the College since the early 19th century. The collection illustrates the development of surgical instrumentation and includes sets of instruments or equipment owned by important figures in the history of surgery, such as Robert Liston (1794-1847), Joseph Lister (1827-1912), William Macewen (1848-1924) and Harold Gillies (1882-1960). Many instruments are displayed throughout the Hunterian Museum (from February 2023) and are also frequently used in temporary exhibitions and in formal education, particularly KS4 Medicine Through Time. The majority are held in store and are available for research.

  Microscope Slide Collection

  Over 16,000 microscopic preparations dating from the 18th century to the present, ranging from early fluid-filled, sealed glass vials to modern diagnostic histopathology slides. The collection demonstrates stunning biological diversity as well as an array of techniques developed by renowned preparators. The 12,000 slides produced or collected by Museum Conservator, Professor John Thomas Quekett (1815–1861) form an important sub-collection, and his slides include samples taken from Hunterian specimens that were destroyed by bombing during the Second World War. The Microscope Slide Collection is used in research, and in events targeted at professional and public audiences. Examples of slides are displayed in the Hunterian Museum and the collection has been the focus of temporary exhibitions.

  Pathology Collection

  4,599 specimens of mostly human pathology, acquired by the College since 1800. The collection includes historical material from the collections of prominent surgeons such as Astley Cooper (1768–1841), some of which probably date to the late 18th century. The collection is mostly displayed in the RCSEng Anatomy and Pathology Museum and is used for surgical training through RCS courses and examinations, and by other qualified practitioners and students on recognised courses in medicine, nursing, allied health subjects, and related scientific/technical subjects. Some historical specimens (4% of the collection) are on public display in the Hunterian Museum. Specimens not on display are held in storage and are available for research.

  Anatomy Collection

  1150 specimens or models of human anatomy, including a small number dating from the late 19th century. Most are post-1950 accessions and the majority of the collection is covered by the Human Tissue Act. The collection is used in professional surgical and medical training and is displayed in the RCSEng Anatomy and Pathology Museum (from April 2022). A small number of anatomical models are displayed in the Hunterian Museum.

  Special Collections

  This includes objects of historic, artistic or architectural significance acquired by the College since 1800, including a small number of items which were formerly the property of the College’s predecessor body, the Company of Surgeons in London (1745–99). It comprises 3,576 works of fine and decorative art, including paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculpture, some of which date from the 16th century. The majority of the collection consists of portraits of surgeons or patrons associated with the College or its predecessor bodies; prominent figures in the history of British surgery, medicine and the sciences; works depicting the College buildings and other places associated with British surgery and medicine; and works depicting surgical procedures, pathological or anatomical features; surgical patients; and natural history. Artists represented in the collections include Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543), William Hogarth (1697-1764) and Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792). Special collections also include historic silver (325 items), medals (231 items), furniture (118 items) and ceramics, including drug jars (122 items). Special Collections are displayed in the Hunterian Museum (from February 2023) and throughout the College building.

  Handling Collections

  The museum holds small collections of un-accessioned items for use in demonstration and handling during formal and informal learning and outreach events. The nature of some items e.g replicas, duplicates or explanatory material lie outside the RCSEng’s collecting policy.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date:

  Licence: CC BY-NC