Black Jack Public House: signature books

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0114 MS0031
Held at	: Royal College of Surgeons of England   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums-and-archives/archives/ ›
Full title	: Black Jack Public House: signature books
Date(s)	: 1854-1892
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 3 volumes
Name of creator(s)	: Black Jack Public House, Portugal Street, London

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The old Black Jack Public House in Portugal Street was located near to the old King's College Hospital. Some surgeons signed their names in a signature book at the Black Jack when they became members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The signatures in the volumes range from being neat and clear, to almost illegible. This is perhaps a consequence of their location in a public house.

The Black Jack was demolished in c 1902. A watercolour painting showing the interior and exterior of the Black Jack, by J P Emslie and J I Wilson, was sold in the early 1920s in the sale of the Gardener Collection. (see Tract 1881, 14 for Sale Catalogue).

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Signature books of the Black Jack Public House, 1854-1892, comprising 3 volumes of signatures, comments and illustrations by young surgeons upon becoming members of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Conditions governing access:

Access to bona fide researchers upon written appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction:

The volumes should not be photocopied due to the fragility of the volumes.

Finding aids:

Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Library of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1928) by Victor G Plarr.

Card catalogue and Access database.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The 3 volumes were purchased from the Old Curiosity Shop on Portugal Street (which stands near to the site of the Black Jack) by Dr Albert E Jones of Crickhowell, who donated them to the Library of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1923. A fourth volume is known to have existed but has not been traced.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Anya Turner.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Aug 2008