IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0387 MC
Held at: Royal London Hospital
Title: LONDON HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLEGE RECORDS
Date(s): 1752-1996
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 80 linear metres
Name of creator(s): London Hospital Medical College
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The London Hospital Medical College was established by the efforts of William Blizard and Dr James Maddocks, who in 1783 proposed to the Hospital House Committee that a proper medical school should be established in connection with the London Hospital. At this time, the training of a physician or surgeon consisted of two elements; the practical, which meant "walking the wards" of a hospital, as the pupil of a member of the staff, and the theoretical, which consisted of lectures on a number of subjects. Lectures were normally given by individual physicians or surgeons, either in their own premises, or in private medical schools. The Medical College was to enable students to receive practical and theoretical training at the same place, organised along the lines of a University. The Committee allowed Blizard and Maddocks a piece of land at the east end of the hospital on which to build a lecture theatre and museum. The Hospital made no financial contribution, as the Committee did not feel that medical education should be funded by hospital finances, nor would it allow the lecturers' private pupils into the wards. The new building was opened in October 1785.
From its opening in 1785 until 1831, the College appears to have been run by the physicians and surgeons in an informal manner, probably largely under the influence of Blizard. In 1831 the medical practitioners teaching in the College formed themselves into an association of "Lecturers and Teachers of Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy and other Sciences connected therewith at the Theatre attached to the London Hospital", which became the Medical Council of the London Hospital School in 1847. The old premises were now proving inadequate and in 1854 the Hospital Governors agreed to erect a new college building. The building housed two large lecture theatres, two museums, a library, dissecting room and two smaller lecture rooms. In the resultant administrative changes, the Medical and Surgical Officers of the Hospital took over the management of the College from the Medical Council, as the London Hospital College Council. In practice, the Medical Council and the College Council consisted of the same people. The management of the College was in the hands of the College Council (called, by 1868, the Medical Council of the London Hospital School) from 1855 to 1876. In 1876, after several years of negotiation, the House Committee of the Hospital took a hand in the administration and regular financial support of the College. Management was given over to a College Board consisting of nine members of the House Committee and six of the Medical Council. In 1879, at the end of a three year trial period and further negotiation, a new College Board was formed, consisting of six members from the House Committee and six from the Medical Council. In 1900 the College became a School of the University of London, although this change made no real difference to its administrative arrangements.
The Dental School of the London Hospital Medical College opened in 1911 to provide specialised treatment to patients and training and research opportunities. Surgeon Dentists had been appointed by the Hospital from 1857, and a Dental Department established. William Wright, Dean of the Medical College, was instrumental in the founding of the Dental School supported by the Dental Surgeon to the Hospital, Francis Farmer. It was managed by the Dental Council, which developed from the Dental School Committee formed in 1911. The Dental Council became known as the London Hospital Dental Board from 1913 to 1921, and from 1922 onwards the Dental Council. The Dental Education Committee was established by resolution of the College Board in March 1945. Originally accommodated in the Hospital's Out-Patients Department, the Dental School moved to new premises in Stepney Way in 1965.
With the introduction of the National Health Service in 1948, the College Board was abolished. The overall management of the Medical College passed to a Council of Governors and its standing Committee which was, in effect, the continuation of the Finance Committee of the College Board. Education matters were the concern of the Academic Board. In 1989 the pre-clinical teaching of the London Hospital Medical College merged with that of St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School as the Central and East London Confederation (CELC). It was re-sited at the Basic Medical Sciences Building at Queen Mary & Westfield College, Mile End. The Hospital was granted a royal title in 1990 and the College became known as the Royal London Hospital Medical College. Following the recommendations of the Tomlinson Report (1992) and the governmental response to it (Making London Better, 1993), the medical colleges of the Royal London and St Bartholomew's hospitals were united with Queen Mary & Westfield College, in December 1995. The resulting institution became known as St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine & Dentistry.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Royal London Hospital Medical College and Dental School, 1740-1996, comprising administrative records, 1752-1996, notably minutes of the Medical Council, 1846-1880; College Board, 1876-1947; minutes, reports and papers of College Board Ad hoc and Special Committees, 1880-1957; minutes of the Council of Governors, including minutes of some Ad Hoc Committees and agenda papers, 1948-1995; minutes of the Council of Governors Standing Committee, 1947-1994; Academic Board, 1947-1995; Academic Board Committees, 1961-1995; minutes of the Dental School Committee, later the Dental Council, 1911-1955; Dental Education Committee, 1945-1976; annual reports, 1882-1990; prospectuses, 1868-1996; Medical and Dental Directories, 1912-1965; miscellaneous papers, 1752-1947, notably correspondence of various members of staff, 1847-1944; Charter of Incorporation of the Hospital, 1758; register of bodies used for anatomical examination, 1884-1933;
papers of Wardens and Deans, 1876-1995, including proposed admission of women students; annual files relating to applications for Board of Education grants, 1910-1949; joint academic units and chairs, 1943-1984, largely with St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College; letter from George Washington to Dr John Greenwood, 1795, in receipt of dentures made for him by Greenwood (a fragment of one denture is held at the Museum); papers of William Wright concerning his analysis of bodies found in the Tower of London (thought to be the Princes in the Tower); papers and correspondence of Sir John Ellis, 1968-1981;
copies of the London Hospital Gazette, 1894-1996;
financial records of the Medical College and Dental School, 1846-1990, including annual accounts, 1873-1990; records of students' hostels, 1920-1960, including building of a new hostel; photographs, pictorial material and plans, 1795-1985, notably photographs of buildings, group photographs, photographs and printed portraits of medical and dental teaching staff, plans of the Medical College, 1897-1935;
student records, 1740-1995, notably registers of pupils, 1740-1952; registers of Dental students, [1914]-1968; examination registers, 1870-1957;
records of the clubs and societies of the London Hospital, 1875-1986, notably Medical Clubs Union, 1893-1986; affiliated clubs and societies, 1875-1978; records of the London Hospital Medical College Students' Club, 1911-1960; records of the Blizard Club, comprising minutes of the Management and Wine Committees, 1991-1995;
published research records of London Hospital and Medical School staff, 1864-1985; records of the Medical Unit, comprising published research papers from the wards and laboratories of the London Hospital, 1929-1937, and relating to renal disease, [1930s-1950s];
records of London Hospital Pathological Institute, [1900]-1960, comprising lecture notes of Hubert Maitland Turnbull, [1900-1946]; post mortem reports, [1922]-1932; pathological reports and correspondence with clinicians of Dorothy Stuart Russell, [1945]-1960; records of the London Hospital Medical College Forensic Medicine Department, 1936-[1980], notably research papers, including post mortem reports by Professor Francis Camps, 1936-1964; glass negatives and glass lantern slides of Professor Camps, [1930-1965]; research papers, 1943-1956; papers relating to the case of John Christie, murderer, 1953; photograph albums of Sir William Bentley Purchase [and Professor Camps] of scenes of violent and sudden deaths, [1930-1965]; 35mm slides of J Malcolm Cameron, [1965-1980]; forensic medicine microscope slides of Sir Bernard Spilsbury, [1900]-1930, some relating to the murder committed by Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen; glass negatives and glass lantern slides of Professor Camps of injuries and microscopic images, [1930-1965]; records of the Neonatal Research Unit, comprising films relating to neonatal research, [1955-1975]; records of the Medical Statistics Department, [1970-1979], comprising research papers relating to the use of health services by different ethnic groups and sudden deaths in infancy;
16mm films [1930-1985] from various sources, accumulated by the London Hospital Medical School for teaching, largely of surgical operations and medical conditions; records of the Photographic Department, comprising negatives and slides, 1947-1971, used for teaching, of charts, diagrams, x-rays and patients.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The records are arranged as follows; administrative, title deeds, financial, photographs and pictorial material, plans, students, related associations and activities.
Conditions governing access:
Researchers wishing to consult the archives should first contact the Trust Archivist, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, for an appointment.
Conditions governing reproduction:
A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
A list is available at the Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
The Medical College began to transfer its archives to the Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum in 1986.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
The 16mm films are deposited at the London Film Archive, 78 Mildmay Park, Newington Green, London, N1 4PR.
Existence and location of copies:
Some VHS copies of the 16mm films are held at the Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum.
Related material:
Records of the London Hospital Medical Council, 1868-1991 (reference: LM), Royal London Hospital, 1740-[1999] (reference: LH), London Hospital Dental Club, 1951-1991 (reference: DC), are held by the Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum.
Publication note:
LHMC 1785-1985: The Story of the London Hospital Medical College John Ellis (London Hospital Medical Club, 1986); The Dental School of the London Hospital Medical College, 1911-1991 S Francis Fish (The London Hospital Dental Club and London Hospital Medical College, 1991).
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Sources: Catalogue of the Royal London Hospital Archives and Museum; LHMC 1785-1985: The Story of the London Hospital Medical College John Ellis (London Hospital Medical Club, 1986); The Dental School of the London Hospital Medical College, 1911-1991 S Francis Fish (The London Hospital Dental Club and London Hospital Medical College, 1991); The London Hospital Illustrated. 250 years (The Bath Press, Bath, 1990) edited by Claire Daunton; Who's Who 1897-1996, CD-ROM (A & C Black); Historical Manuscripts Commission On-line National Register of Archives. Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.
Date(s) of descriptions: July 2001