Royal Edinburgh Asylum Medical Library

This material is held atLothian Health Services Archive

Scope and Content

Annual Reports of Asylums 1814-1908; General Board of Commissioners in Lunacy and General Board of Control Reports 1851-1939; printed journals and books 1823-1946

Administrative / Biographical History

The earliest reference to books being borrowed from a specifically medical as opposed to a patients' library at the Royal Edinburgh Asylum occurs in 1855, and it is reasonable to assume that it was founded around that time. This coincides with an increased emphasis placed on clinical teaching by the Asylum's Resident Physician, Dr David Skae (1814-1873). The majority of the library was transferred to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital Library, with remaining items going to Edinburgh University's Department of Psychiatry Library.

Arrangement

Chronological within record class

Access Information

None

Acquisition Information

Royal Edinburgh Hospital

Note

Compiled by Mike Barfoot and Jenny McDermott using existing handlists

Other Finding Aids

Manual item-level descriptive lists and card index available

Custodial History

Items held within Royal Edinburgh Hospital

Accruals

No further accessions are expected

Related Material

Rosslynlee Hospital (LHB33)

Royal Edinburgh Hospital (LHB7)

Royal Medico-Psychological Association, Scottish Division (GD15)