The Archives are the corporate memory of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) from its origins in 1927 to the present day.

They include a diverse collection of material documenting the history of RACS and the development of surgical practice. Records come from a variety of sources and include documents such as personal papers, photographs and associated memorabilia.

Although material had been collected by various interested parties since the College’s inception, the archives were established in the 1960s with the appointment of Julian Ormond (Orm) Smith as the first Honorary Archivist.

The main repository for the archive is at RACS Headquarters in Melbourne.

Upon request, RACS is able to provide reference and research services to Fellows, Trainees and members of the public. Please include relevant information about your enquiry. Fellows of RACS are welcome to visit the archives during opening hours. Others can visit the archives by appointment. Applications to view records less than 30 years old will be assessed on a case to case basis.

Significant collections include:

• Fellowship and biographical files, 1926- present
• Photographs, 1930- present
• Minutes and agenda papers, 1926- present
• Correspondence files, 1930- present
• Archibald Watson: Diaries and correspondence, 1882-1940

Archives staff can conduct biographical research about deceased Fellows of RACS but in accordance with privacy legislation, information about extant Fellows will not be provided without permission. Some biographical information can also be viewed via the In Memoriam page on the website.

Contact: