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Our history and archive

As first the British Paediatric Association and, since 1996, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, we have a rich heritage of collaboration and innovation in child health. Find out about our history, explore our extensive historical archives, get subject archive guides on key topics and read our blogs!
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Our history

In 1928, six paediatricians attended the first meeting of the British Paediatric Association "to advance, for the benefit of the public, education in child health and paediatrics...". Learn about our history as first the BPA and now RCPCH.
Our history
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Our archive

We preserve and enable access to records of our history as the BPA and Royal College, and to the history of child health. We welcome enquiries from our members and the general public. We are also pleased to discuss donations to our archive.
Our archive
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Our catalogue

Our archive includes 5,000 records and may be of interest to those researching the history of medicine, health and social policy, and medical education. These are all searchable on our easy-to-use online catalogue.
Our catalogue
Montage of photos from RCPCH and paediatrics over the past 30 years, with 30 in boxes

RCPCH at 30: Your Paediatrics, Your Future

This year marks our 30th anniversary as a Royal College. To mark this milestone, we've been asking members of the paediatric community to share their stories.

RCPCH at 30: Your Paediatrics, Your Future
Documents of the RCPCH archive

Subject archive guides

Our subject guides on a range of child health topics are for researchers interested in child health and the history of paediatrics. They cover subjects as diverse as nutrition, HIV/AIDs, vaccination and children's health during the second world war.

See all guides

Blogs and news about our history and archive

More related news
Leaflets about Reye's syndrome
Staff blog
28 November 2025

Cataloguing the National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation Collection

This blog tells the story of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness, and how the National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation’s work contributed to improving awareness and understanding of this disease. By preserving the Foundation’s records in our archive, we document this legacy and show how the advoc...
A painting showing Edward Jenner inoculating James Phipps against Smallpox, by Earnest Board,
Blog
24 April 2025

A brief history of vaccines

Globally, immunisation has saved six lives every minute since 1974, a total of over 154 million, including 101 million under-5s. It is thought that vaccines are responsible for a 40% reduction in childhood mortality. As World Immunisation Week begins, we are looking back on the history of vaccines a...
Group of BPA members, including Beryl Corner
Staff blog
8 March 2025

Celebrating pioneer paediatrician Beryl Corner on International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day so we’re looking back at the achievements of one of our earliest women members. From setting up the first special care baby unit in the UK to delivering the first quads to all survive birth by caesarean section to becoming the 'paediatrician' at Bristol Zoo, Beryl ...