Surgeons' Hall Museums has announced an Oral History Project designed to preserve voices that might otherwise be lost to time.
The initiative aims to capture first-hand experiences that are often absent from statistical reports and conventional historical records. With only a small number of personal accounts from the 20th and 21st centuries currently documented, College leaders warn that a vital part of surgical history is at risk of disappearing.
The project draws inspiration from one of those rare accounts: the autobiography of Caroline Doig, the first woman elected to Council at the College. In her detailed and compelling memoir, Caroline recounts her surgical career at a time when women represented just one percent of practising surgeons in the UK. Her story offers a vivid insight into the professional and cultural challenges faced by women in surgery during that era.
Building on this foundation, the Oral History Project will record interviews with women in surgery from across generations, specialties, countries and backgrounds. Organisers say the goal is to create a rich, diverse and deeply personal archive that reflects the breadth of modern surgical practice.
The recordings will be preserved within the College’s archive collections, forming a valuable resource for current and future researchers seeking to understand not only how surgery has evolved, but who shaped its progress.
The College is now inviting participants to contribute their stories. Those interested in taking part are encouraged to contact the Curator at museum@rcsed.ac.uk.