Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1720] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3 volumes: Vol. i (98A) 227 folios; Vol. ii (98B) 237 folios; Vol. iii (98C) 284 folios.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Charles Alston was born at Eddlewood (now part of Hamilton, just to the west of Chatelherault). He was educated in Glasgow, but on the death of his father the Duchess of Hamilton became his patron and wished him to study law. Alston however wanted to study medicine and went to Leyden to study under Hermann Boerhaave (1668-1738). In Leyden, he met Dr. Alexander Monro, primus (1697-1767). On their return to Edinburgh he revived medical lectures at the University with Alston being appointed Lecturer in Botany and Materia Medica. He also became Superintendent of the Botanic Garden. Alston published various medical papers and an index to the plants in the Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. In his Tirocinium Botanicum Edinburgense (1753), he attacked the Linnaean system of classification. Charles Alston died on 22 November 1760.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0120 MS.MSL.98 (A-C) [1720] Collection (fonds) 3 volumes: Vol. i (98A) 227 folios; Vol. ii (98B) 237 folios; Vol. iii (98C) 284 folios. Alston , Charles , 1683-1760 , physician and botanist
Charles Alston was born at Eddlewood (now part of Hamilton, just to the west of Chatelherault). He was educated in Glasgow, but on the death of his father the Duchess of Hamilton became his patron and wished him to study law. Alston however wanted to study medicine and went to Leyden to study under Hermann Boerhaave (1668-1738). In Leyden, he met Dr. Alexander Monro, primus (1697-1767). On their return to Edinburgh he revived medical lectures at the University with Alston being appointed Lecturer in Botany and Materia Medica. He also became Superintendent of the Botanic Garden. Alston published various medical papers and an index to the plants in the Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. In his Tirocinium Botanicum Edinburgense (1753), he attacked the Linnaean system of classification. Charles Alston died on 22 November 1760.
The three volumes, which are paged continuously from 1 to 1497 are throughout written in the autograph of Charles Alston (1683-1760), Professor of Botany from 1720-1760. The heading is "Lectures on the Materia Medica. Begun in November 1720 and since several times revised, corrected and enlarg'd. By C. A." Wide margins have been left throughout, in which later additions have been inserted. The latest date is 1754.
By volume.
The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.
Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
English
4to. 25 × 19 cm. Modern binding.
Described in: Warren R. Dawson, Manuscripta medica. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the Library of the Medical Society of London (London, 1932).
For a student's abregée of these lectures, see MS. No. 101.
Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections (Ref: Gen 659-97; Dc 8 12; La III 375); Glasgow University Library, Special Collections Department; Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Compiled by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: The Archives Hub Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Jul 2008 Teaching materials Chemistry Botany Higher science education Medical education Alston , Charles , 1683-1760 , physician and botanist
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The three volumes, which are paged continuously from 1 to 1497 are throughout written in the autograph of Charles Alston (1683-1760), Professor of Botany from 1720-1760. The heading is "Lectures on the Materia Medica. Begun in November 1720 and since several times revised, corrected and enlarg'd. By C. A." Wide margins have been left throughout, in which later additions have been inserted. The latest date is 1754.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
By volume.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
For a student's abregée of these lectures, see MS. No. 101.
Finding aids
Described in: Warren R. Dawson, Manuscripta medica. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the Library of the Medical Society of London (London, 1932).
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections (Ref: Gen 659-97; Dc 8 12; La III 375); Glasgow University Library, Special Collections Department; Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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Notes area
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Description control area
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Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English