Explore the collections
Over 1.1 million items exploring art, health, culture and what it means to be human.
Browse by theme
Opium
The medical use, cultural impact and complex legacy of opium is uncovered in striking artwork and rare books.
Paintings
Our extensive collection of paintings explores human health all over the world, depicting illness, anatomy, traditions and medical practices.
Julia Margaret Cameron
Works by the pioneering 19th-century photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (1815–1879), including portraits of renowned Victorian figures and allegorical scenes.
Song sheets
Song sheets dating back to the 15th century weave health metaphors into political commentary, from satirical takes on medical sales to 19th century jingles.
Bryan Charnley
Self-portraits, vivid paintings and diary notes by British artist Bryan Charnley (1949–1991) show the raw emotional and psychological landscape of mental illness.
Magic
From ancient spells to shaman rituals, our collection explores the historical role of magic in healing and culture.
Royal Mail
Postcards and stamps from UK postal service company celebrating major anniversaries such as the birth of the NHS.
Childbirth
Explore all aspects of childbirth, from medical and obstetric texts and illustrations to historical depictions of women in labour with their attendants.
New online
Access the collections online or in-person
Thousands of digitised materials are readily available online for you to explore and download under a range of free licenses. You're welcome to visit the library in person to browse the shelves or request to view an item in our Rare Materials Room.
Learn more about the libraryDevelopers and digital researchers can also access the collections catalogue data through open APIs.
Inside our collections
Explore stories inspired by the objects, manuscripts and archives in our collection.
Types of materials in the collections
About our collection
Our collections are an incredible resource for all kinds of research. They were first assembled in the early 20th century during a time when racist, sexist and ableist ideas shaped how culture was valued. We are now working to change how we manage and use these collections.
