Museum pieces: essays in ophthalmic history

Historical Significance: This book reprints 42 articles originally published between 2007 and 2017 in the quarterly College News produced by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. The author, Richard Keeler, is honorary curator of the College's Museum in London and the author of numerous ophthalmic history papers, many of which were published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. He is a descendent of the Keeler family that set up Keeler Co in England. Charles Davis Keeler (1876 - 1937) was the founder. He was born in Pemberton, New Jersey, USA but came to Britain to represent Standard Optical in 1905. He was accompanied by his wife and young family, including his son Charles Henry. An optical craftsman by training, Charles Davis Keeler set up Reiner & Keeler, dispensing opticians (1910-1916) in partnership with John Rayner. Then after the break-up of the partnership, he established the first C. Davis Keeler practice in the West End of London in 1917. His son, Charles Henry Keeler (1903 - 1993) was an innovator of ophthalmological and ophthalmic instruments, contact lenses, low vision aids, even veterinary equipment. He registered his first patent in 1926. Under his direction, C Davis Keeler Ltd became a national group of optical dispensing practices. as well as a maker and supplier of often ground-breaking ophthamic instruments.