Annual Reports of RCSI Council
Cover page of first Annual Report of RCSI Council 1844
The Annual Reports of RCSI Council are a rich resource for the study of the development of healthcare education in Ireland and the regulation of the surgical and medical professions in this country.
The Council governance structure was instituted in 1844 under the terms of a Supplemental Royal Charter granted by Queen Victoria. This Charter abolished the previous governance structure of Censors and Assistants instituted in 1784 and mandated regular reporting to the Fellows of the College. The first Annual Report of Council was published this same year in 1844. Annual Reports were published in the same format until 1961.
The Annual Reports show the development of RCSI as an educational institution during the period 1844-1961 and chart its expansion from a surgical college catering to predominantly Irish and British students to a leading health sciences university attracting students from around the world. They reflect broader areas of concern regarding healthcare education and practice in these isles and document RCSI’s interaction with other educational institutions and regulatory bodies on matters of professional importance.
Reports also document the routine administration of the College and highlight major activities and achievements during the period 1844-1961. They are also a rich source of information for family history researchers, containing the names of many students, faculty, and fellows that passed through the doors of RCSI over the years.
