RCPI’s Heritage Centre holds extensive and unique sources of information on Irish doctors from the seventeenth century onwards, and is an invaluable resource for those endeavouring to trace medical ancestors.
Before you start
In undertaking, or commissioning, any genealogical research in the Heritage Centre it is important to provide as much information as possible, this will both speed up the process and increase the chance of finding relevant information.
For any search it is important to know as many of the following as possible:
• Name of the doctor
• Birth or death date, or rough period of activity (e.g. mid-eighteenth century)
• Place of residence
• Any known qualifications
Sources of information
The Kirkpatrick Index
A unique collection of newspaper cuttings, manuscript notes and extracts from printed works, relating to individual Irish-born doctors, collected by Dr Kirkpatrick. The index contains entries for over 10,000 Irish-born doctors from the earliest times up to the 1950s.
The Medical Register and Medical Directories
These publications have appeared annually since 1852 and list all the doctors registered in the British Isles, with some details of their qualifications and positions held. RCPI has an almost complete run of these publications, plus two earlier Irish medical directories published in 1843 and 1846.
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Registers
These list all the doctors who have been admitted to RCPI as Licentiates, Members, Fellows or Honorary Fellows since 1692. The information contained in the registers usually consists of a name, with date of admission. Sometimes an address, qualifications or date of death is included.
Apothecaries’ Hall of Ireland
The Heritage Centre holds the archive of the Apothecaries’ Hall of Ireland, which awarded the recognised medical qualification of Licentiate of Apothecaries Hall (LAH) from the mid-nineteenth century to 1971. The registers of Licentiates and apothecaries examined by the Hall contain details of name, date of admission and qualification, and in many cases an address.
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Registers
The Heritage Centre holds a digital copy of the Register of Licentiates of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland from 1828 to 1983.
RCPI’s Archive Collections
RCPI’s substantial archival collection relates both to the history of RCPI and other medical institutions in Ireland. References to individual doctors may be found in various parts of the archive; particularly important for genealogical research are the hospital and College records.
How to search
Genealogical searches can be conducted in two ways;
1. In person
Visitors can consult the sources of information detailed above in the Heritage Centre Reading Room, under the guidance of the Heritage Centre staff. The Heritage Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4.30pm by appointment only.
To make an appointment please email heritagecentre@rcpi.ie or phone +353 1 6698817
2. Commissioned Research
A general search can be undertaken on your behalf, by the Heritage Centre, on receipt of sufficient information. An administrative fee of €25 must be paid in advance. Payment may be made in cash or via cheque or credit card (Visa and MasterCard only).
For the €25 fee the Heritage Centre will undertake a general search of the main sources of information outlined above. All relevant information can be either emailed or mailed to you, and copies of original documents can be ordered.
Please note that searches may result in a negative yield.
If during the search reference to additional sources are found the reference will be provided with the results of the search. If you wish to undertake further research this must be done in person or by employing a third party researcher. Due to the number of requests received the Heritage Centre cannot provide any research service beyond the general search.
To commission a general search please email heritagecentre@rcpi.ie or phone +353 1 6698817