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History, heritage and archives In late 2021, RACS Council approved a merger of the Heritage and Archives Committee and the Surgical History section. Now combined, its new name is the History, Heritage and Archives Section. The section, which sits within Fellowship Services, officially came into being in March 2022. It aims to broaden the section membership and oversee activities such as the Cowlishaw Symposium and the researching and planning of the RACS 2027 centenary celebrations—a huge milestone for the College. The College of Surgeons was established in 1927, almost 100 years ago, and has
a long and fascinating history. The first meeting of the College council was held in Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand, with Sir George Syme appointed as the inaugural College president. Since then, the College has grown and changed, generating a history, that has fed a rich and extensive historical collection. The RACS museum and archives—hidden in the basement of the 1960s wing of the Melbourne building—are managed by a small and passionate team. The collection houses surgical instruments, photos, gifts, rare books collection, artwork, and memorabilia—all of which will be
spotlighted in the upcoming 2027 centenary. The book Unveiling the Collections of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons was published in 2021 and highlights many important pieces within the museum. It is available for purchase through the College of Surgeons website (bit.ly/3Igdv9v). Helen Laffin, who has worked at the RACS museum for six years, tracks each item that comes through the museum doors with an image, description, donor details and location. Her personal highlight is the Sidcup and Heidelberg collection
