Richmond House Room

Ever dreamed of studying or Zooming by a fireplace in an 18th-century English estate? Good news—you can (sort of) at the Medical Center Library! 

Welcome to the Richmond House Room!

Here are a few fun facts about this unique space:       
Donated to Duke in 1956 by Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans and Karl Bock, the Richmond House Room is a 1730 period room containing pine paneling, bookcase doors, and fireplace surround removed from the Richmond House in Plaistow, England - once the seat of the Duke of Richmond. It was first reassembled in 1956 in the original Duke Hospital Library on the ground floor of the Davidson building and then moved to its current location in the Medical Center Library in 1975. Originally named the Trent Room, it housed our History of Medicine Collection for 50 years. Today, it displays historical artifacts from the Duke University Medical Center Library and Archives.

Sounds amazing, right? So how do you use the room?   
The Richmond House Room is located on Level 1 inside the Reading Room. It’s non-reservable and available on a drop-in basis from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Stop by soon and enjoy a cozy, quiet space with a little historical flair!