The Historical Room and Gallery has reopened its doors to staff, patients and friends of the RCH. To mark the occasion, we spoke to Archives Coordinator Emma Dacey about her role in preserving the hospital’s rich history.

What is the role of an archives coordinator?
My role is to manage and care for the RCH Archives and Collections, which encompass a wide variety of materials including historical photographs, films, documents, ephemera, manuscripts and notebooks, ledgers, medical and surgical equipment, uniforms, artworks, and more! Caring for the collections is a balance between preservation and access; I respond to research requests and work on cataloguing to aid finding items, and manage the physical environment of the collections and their housing. I also receive collection offers from near and far — I never know what might be waiting for me each day.

How did you find yourself in this field?
I studied photography at art school and afterwards worked at an art gallery, which led me to work on archiving the body of work of one photographer, then to museum studies in collection and museum management. I have recently completed a masters in cultural materials conservation, which has equipped me with in-depth knowledge of the preservation of paper and photographic items.

What drew you to working at the RCH?
I initially came on board to assist with re-establishing the Historical Room for the 150^th anniversary. We’re all familiar with how the pandemic interrupted the celebrations in various ways, but I’m grateful I was able to contribute to our online exhibitions and eventually have the Historical Room open to the public!

Why is it important to hold onto records and artefacts from the hospital’s past?
Archives are important for corporate recordkeeping as well as social and cultural memory, and at the RCH there are so many stories to be told from the 150+ years of the hospital’s history. Records and artefacts are preserved for posterity and serve as a resource for research and reflection — there’s so much to learn from the past and great value in recognising how vital innovations and improvements are to providing the best possible care.

What are some of the more interesting or unusual items that people can expect to find in the collection?
This is so hard to answer, I think it’s possible to look at all parts of the collection from different perspectives and find something fascinating! That said, I do think that the old uniforms we hold are really special. They represent many different decades from the hospital’s history and are a great way to interpret the roles and status of RCH staff at the time. The names of the original owners are often inscribed or embroidered on the fabric and the signs of wear and tear give you a real sense of the fact that another person inhabited this outfit in their role at the hospital. A small selection of the uniforms are on display in the Historial Room!

The collection would be full of personal histories from various nurses and clinicians, are there any common themes among the records that appear again and again?
Absolutely. I am always fascinated by what people choose to photograph and document, the decisions they make when framing or staging a photograph. I think the fact that our collections of personal albums and photographs focus on and capture daily life at the hospital demonstrates that RCH staff have long held a real sense of pride in their work.

What do you hope people take away from their visit to the Historical Room?
Every conversation I have with others while in the Historical Room enriches my understanding of the hospital’s history and its significance to Victorians. I hope that visitors have a similar experience when they come in, and recognise that they have a role in contributing to the continued story of the RCH.

The Historical Room and Gallery is generously supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. The room is open to visitors each Tuesday, from 10am to 12.30pm and is located on Level One in the West Building, accessible from Main St via the stairs or the Yellow Lifts.