The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London, commonly referred to as Munk's Roll, is a series of published works containing biographical entries of the fellows of the
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...
. It was published in print in eleven volumes (1861 to 2004) with a twelfth online (2005 to present). The series is now titled Inspiring Physicians (from 2020). The series has been informally known as Munk’s Roll, after the original compiler, for over a century. However, the formal name for the series of volumes (1-11) in print, is Lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of London.
History
Munk's Roll was initially the work of the College's Harveian Librarian,
William Munk
William MunkFRCP (1824 September 1816 – 20 December 1898) was an English physician, now remembered for his work as a medical historian and "Munk's Roll", a biographical reference work on the Royal College of Physicians.
Life
The eldest son ...
.
The first published edition (1861) was originally prepared as manuscript in three large volumes, containing biographical information on all physicians who were connected with the College, with no thought to publication. Each volume of the manuscript was presented to the Colleg
libraryupon its completion. The first volume covered the foundation of the College to 1600 (completed March 1855), the second covered 1601 to 1700 (completed December 1855), and the third volume 1701-1800 (completed in June 1856). The Council of the College, at the instigation of some influential Fellows, expressed the view in December 1860 that the work be published, and it was, in 1861.
The first edition consisted of volumes one and two, containing fellows and licentiates from 1518 to 1800. In 1878, volume three was included in the second edition, overseen by Munk, with biographies to 1825. The work was set out in chronological order with an index.
Subsequent editions, for biographies post 1825, were limited to fellows, which reflects the increasing numbers, qualifications and professionalism of physicians through the 19th century. They were titled ''Lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of London''.
Volumes
* Volume 1, 1518-1700
* Volume 2, 1701-1800
* Volume 3, 1801-1825
* Volume 4, 1826-1925
* Volume 5, 1926-1965
* Volume 6, 1966–1975, published 1982 (ed.
Gordon Wolstenholme
Sir Gordon Ethelbert Ward Wolstenholme, (28 May 1913 – 29 May 2004) was a British medical doctor, and the founding director of the Ciba Foundation.
Early life and education
He was born in Sheffield, the son of a mechanical engineer, and educ ...
)
* Volume 7, 1976–1983, published 1984 (ed. Gordon Wolstenholme)
* Volume 8, 1984-1988
* Volume 9, 1989-1993
* Volume 10, 1994-1997
* Volume 11, 1998-2004
* Volume 12 (2005 onwards)
The Roll today
It has become an invaluable biographical resource for those interested in medical and social history, and family historians. All the print volumes are available online as part of th
Inspiring Physiciansseries, which is regularly updated with new biographies of deceased fellows.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Inspiring Physicians– searchable database on th
history of medicine websiteof the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
British biographical dictionaries
Online databases