| Description | This collection contains over seventy individual medals, mostly of medical interest, and four mounted presentations of medals which are primarily commemorative. Many of the medals are from Polish Medical Academies and Societies, while some others commemorate well-known Poles who had connections to Edinburgh or to the University, such as Chopin, who stayed in the Edinburgh home of a Polish-born doctor, Adam Lyszczynski, at 10 Warriston Crescent and Marie (Sklodowska) Curie who was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Edinburgh in 1909. The oldest medal in the collection was struck in bronze in 1900 to mark the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Jagiellonian University. Created by Wincenty Trojanowski, it depicts a beautifully realised royal scene of three figures with coronation regalia. Some medals were created to mark anniversaries of the Polish School. These include the Professor Crew Medal commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Founding of the Polish School of Medicine, which was created by Ewa Olszewska Borys, and the bronze medallion commemorating the inauguration of the founding of the Polish School of Medicine, created by Edward Gorol and presented to the University by the graduates of the School on its 45th anniversary in 1986. The Polish School of Medicine was established at Edinburgh University in 1941 and ran until 1949. It was originally intended to meet the needs of students and doctors in the Polish armed forces, but opened its doors to civilians from the outset. Students followed a Polish curriculum, were taught mainly in Polish, and were awarded a Polish degree. Only a few graduates returned to Poland after the war - most remained in Britain. Graduates and their families maintained their link with the University and continue to do so to this day. |
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