Collections

The archive collections include:

Records of the RCN (established 1916)

  • Council and committee minutes
  • working party reports and comments
  • departmental papers
  • pay reviews
  • campaigns
  • labour relations
  • educational courses
  • social events
  • property records and a variety of other papers.

Records of other nursing organisations which amalgamated with the RCN, no longer exist or have transferred their records to our Archives.

Personal records

Personal Records dating back to the 19th century donated to the RCN by nurses and their families such as:

  • diaries
  • albums
  • casebooks
  • lecture notes
  • certificates
  • textbooks
  • photographs
  • postcards
  • scrapbooks

Oral history collection

Around three hundred interviews with nurses from World War 1 onwards talking about their nursing careers and experiences. The entire collection will be transferred to digital format for easier access during the next few years.

Audio visual collections

  • black and white prints
  • lantern slides through to modern 35mm slides
  • a selection of negatives on film and glass
  • videos and DVD's and a small selection of training films which are on reels, but are being transferred to VHS
  • slides and audio tracks on reel to reel, which are sets used for training

The historical books collection

This is stored in the library in London. Many are catalogued and it is worth searching the library catalogue first.

Hospital and nursing badges

The RCN has the largest UK collection of hospital and nursing badges. An index to the collection with images will be available in the future, but at present the only method of access is by visiting. The Meghlaughlin Collection of nursing and hospital badges has been listed with images, and this is available to view in the Archives office in Edinburgh and the Library at 20 Cavendish Square, London.