The Royal College of Nursing Archives
The Royal College of Nursing Archives was one of the founders of the UK Centre for the
History of Nursing and Midwifery. The RCN Archives holds a wide ranging collection of
primary sources for nursing history. The collections date back to the late nineteenth century
and come from the College’s work as a professional association, educational institution and
trade union, and from other UK nursing organisations which have merged with the College
over the years.
Our archival collections also include:









Over 400 oral history interviews with nurses;
Nursing and hospital photographs and postcards from the early 1900s to the 1980s;
Historical pamphlets and publications from UK and worldwide sources, 1890s-1980s;
Over 180 historical nursing journal titles, dating from 1880s-1980s from around the
world including the British Journal of Nursing / Nursing record 1888-1956, which is
available online on the RCN website at www.rcn.org.uk/archives;
Biographical material on nursing leaders, such as news cuttings, obituaries,
photographs, publications and oral histories;
Reports, Acts and Bills covering major developments in healthcare including State
Registration, NHS and Mental Health Acts; Horder, Briggs and Griffiths for example;
NHS pay scales, salaries and employment conditions information, including evidence
to and reports of the Pay Review Body;
Personal papers of nurses including notebooks, lecture notes, certificates, albums,
casebooks, textbooks, diaries, letters and artworks, 1880s to current;
An international range of nursing and hospital badges, medals, awards and belt
buckles dating from the late nineteenth century up to the 1990s.