Richard Bailey Library

Home About us History and heritage Richard Bailey Library

Perusing a volume from within the Richard Bailey Library one sometimes discovers more than the published text. Many of the volumes contain inscriptions or autographs and some have inserted associated letters, reviews or articles.

  • Our library is a specialty collection of over 3000 publications covering the history of anaesthesia providing a unique opportunity in Australia for research specifically into our profession. 
  • To search our collection visit our eHive account.

Our collection has a variety of books, from early textbooks to rare volumes such as an original copy of John Snow’s monograph On the Inhalation of Ether, to more recent international journals. It also holds instructional manuals and manufacturer’s brochures. 

A highlight of the library is a rare collection of 300 books on Mesmerism (hypnotism), including the first translation of Anton Mesmer’s Memoire sur la decouverte du Magnetisme Animal, 1779.

Plan your visit

We welcome visitors to the Harry Daly Museum and Richard Bailey Library, free of charge. To ensure that we can accommodate your visit, appointments must be made in advance.

Operating hours: Monday to Wednesday, 10am-4pm. 

Location: Australian Society of Anaesthetists, 86 Chandos Street, Naremburn 2065, Sydney, New South Wales.

Support and Donate

Our collection is primarily sourced from donations made by our members.

To donate an item, please download, complete and return the donation form below to curator@asa.org.au.

HALMA Committee

The History of Anaesthesia Library, Museum and Archives Committee (HALMA) formerly the History of Anaesthesia Research Unit (HARU), was formed in June 1996.

HALMA serves as a steering committee for the ASA’s historical trio, the Harry Daly Museum, Richard Bailey Library and Gwen Wilson Archives.