Royal College of Physicians of Ireland - Heritage Centre

The Heritage Centre at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) preserves, protects and promotes the RCPI’s collections relating to the history of medicine and medical education in Ireland, dating from its foundation in 1654.

Among their object collections, the centre holds medical intruments and marteria medica samples, artworks, ceremony and commemoration silverware and artefacts, and historical curiosities relating to their members and medicine more widely (including Napoleon's toothbrush!). Their archives contains both the RCPI and deposited collections, ranging from the administrative to the personal, from minute books to love poems. It also holds Dun's Library, part of the RCPI since 1713, when Sir Patrick Dun (1642-1713), an eminent physician and former President, bequeathed his personal library to the College.

The RCPI Heritage Centre received full accreditation under the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland in 2018, recognising their dedication to collection care in line with best international practice.