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History of the RSM - February 2011

The RSM Library - a very odd arrangement
Edward Law Memorial Fund crest
Charles Hewitt in the first floor library reading room at 1 Wimpole Street
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Edward Law Memorial Fund crest
The duties of the two librarians
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The arrangement of the library staff, following the formation of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1907, has been described as "a very odd one." Archibald Clarke, originally the librarian to the Society, under the watchful eye of John MacAlister, Secretary to the Society and consulting librarian, was joined in office by Charles Hewitt. Both men held the title of librarian and neither had authority over the other with an inevitable resulting friction that was not good for the library. By 1910, however, Hewitt had assumed full charge of the library and was to remain in post until 1920. MacAlister and Hewitt's professional relationship was largely successful, but, as can be seen from items of correspondence, it was also often fraught. A few examples of MacAlister's letters to Hewitt can be seen in the current library exhibition, The Library of the Royal Society of Medicine: An Historical Miscellany, which is open to the public and runs until 21 April 2011.

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