Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Coimbra > Coimbra > Coimbra > Alta
The Pharmaceutical Documentation Centre is located in Coimbra, in the Alta area. It is next to the Central Regional Section of the Order of Pharmacists. This location offers a quieter environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the historic city centre, yet still within the city of Coimbra.
Opened in 2012, this centre is dedicated to preserving and disseminating the long and rich history of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical profession in Portugal. Its vast documentary collection traces the path of pharmaceutical associativism in the country, from the early 19th century, when pharmacists organised themselves to defend their interests and the progress of science. It is possible to follow the evolution of several precursor entities, such as the Sociedade Farmacêutica Lusitana (Lusitanian Pharmaceutical Society) and the Sindicato Nacional dos Farmacêuticos (National Union of Pharmacists), up to the formation of the current Order of Pharmacists, which now houses this heritage. The Centre is a testament to the dedication and organisation of a professional class over almost two centuries.
The collection of the Documentation Centre is a true repository of national pharmaceutical memory. Its holdings include an impressive diversity of materials, from meeting minutes and correspondence, to lists of pharmacists and pharmacies that existed in Portugal. One can also find collections of old photographs, engravings, and advertising leaflets, which illustrate the evolution of the profession and pharmacy education. Among the Centre's treasures is a rare collection of Farmacopeias Portuguesas (Portuguese Pharmacopoeias), spanning from the 18th century, including a Farmacopeia manuscrita de 1777 (manuscript Pharmacopoeia from 1777), which was carefully restored and offers a unique insight into the pharmaceutical practices of the era. It is further complemented by a vast digital newspaper and magazine archive, full of newspapers and journals published by Portuguese pharmacists' associations throughout time.
More than a mere archive, the Pharmaceutical Documentation Centre is a living and constantly growing project, committed to collecting and preserving all information related to the history of pharmacy. Although the initial documentary collection dates back almost two centuries, the collection continues to expand through donations. One of its most notable aspects is the fact that a large part of this vast collection is, for the first time, accessible to the general public, offering a unique opportunity to explore unpublished sources and deepen knowledge about pharmacy and pharmacists in Portugal.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.2075225,-8.4207407
Coordinates DMS: 40°12'27.1"N 08°25'14.7"W
Weather Coimbra
On-duty Pharmacy Coimbra
