| History | The Dublin Biological Club was founded in January 1872 at a meeting called to 'consider the expediency of forming a scientific club. Membership of the club was by election, a subscription was to be paid by all members, who could present papers, specimens and cases on 'the morbid and health conditions of animal and vegetable life'. Members were also allowed to bring visitors to the meeting, who could also on occasion present papers. The club originally met in rooms in Trinity College Dublin, before hiring a room on Great Brunswick Street (1874-1881) and finally moving to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Membership of the club was initially by unanimous election, although this was changed to a ballot at which one negative in five (later seven) could prevent election. The club met weekly for the presentations of papers between October and June (later May), there were also annual general meetings and club dinners. Over the years the frequency of meetings was reduced, although members were required to attend a quota of meetings each session or they would forfeit their membership. From the beginning the press were excluded from the meetings, which meant that doctors were able to talk about unsuccessful treatments, as well as those cases which had succeeded. |
| Custodial History | The minute books of the Dublin Biological Club were deposited in the archive of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland where the club had held its meetings since 1881. In 1998 an additional accession of material was added to the collection. This material, including minute books, had originally formed part of the main archive but had become separated from the rest of the archive at some point.
In 2025 two attendance books from 1954-1964, loose attendance sheets and secretary's reports, were added to the collection. Additional material was added to the club rules and history series, along with an uncashed cheque from Earle Hackett. This material was acquired from Doctor John Kirker's collection. Kirker was a member of the club and therefore some of the original main archive material ended up in his care. |