The Florentine Medical Guild in the Early Modern Era: Structures, Sources, and a Proposal for a Digital Census

Abstract

This analysis examines archival sources related to the Arte dei Medici e Speziali – the Florentine guild that encompassing healthcare professionals – and its associated Collegio Medico. Although many records are missing, the surviving documentation still offers valuable insight into the guild’s regulatory functions in licensing, professional oversight, and continuing education. The study focuses on key sources, including statutes, membership registers, disciplinary records, and examination archives held at the State Archives of Florence and the University Biomedical Library. Particular attention is paid to the guild and examination registers (the latter recently digitised), which together offer a detailed account on the qualifications, restrictions, and careers of healthcare practitioners under the Medici Grand Duchy. The paper proposes a methodological framework for constructing a comprehensive digital census of these professionals, encouraging interdisciplinary research. A searchable and annotated database would significantly enhance the study of medical, surgical, and midwifery practices in early modern Tuscany, supporting historians and scholars in related