GB 0120 WTI/SGB - Browne, Stanley George (1907-1986)

26 boxes, 6 oversize items

The records were given to the Wellcome Tropical Institute in 1987 by Dr Derek Browne, Stanley Browne's son.
GB 0120 WTI/SGB 1909-1986 Collection (fonds) 26 boxes, 6 oversize items Browne , Stanley George , 1907-1986 , medical missionary

Stanley George Browne (CMG, OBE, MD, FRCS, FRCP, DTM) was born on 8 December 1907 in London, and studied medicine at King's College Hospital, London, graduating in 1933. He combined house appointments at King's with postgraduate study, and became Member, Royal College of Physicians, London in 1934 and Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1935. After being accepted by the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) for work in the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Browne studied French and tropical medicine at the Institute de Médecine Tropicale Prince Léopold, Antwerp, obtaining the Diploma in Tropical Medicine in 1936.

From 1936 to 1959 he worked at the BMS hospital in Yakusu, working to control trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis in the surrounding area. His rural surveys showed a high incidence of leprosy, and he endeavoured to find the cause and cure for this disease, establishing a leprosarium at Yalisombo. While at the hospital he oversaw an area of 10,000 square miles, in which he developed a programme of community care based on 18 health centres and 36 treatment centres. This pioneering programme became a model in Africa for the control of endemic diseases.

From 1959 to 1966 Browne was Director of the Leprosy Research Unit, Uzuakoli, Eastern Nigeria (becoming known in West Africa as Mr Leprosy' and sometimesBonganga'), after which he became Director of the Leprosy Study Centre, London, 1966-1980.

Browne's outstanding skills in leprosy were in great demand throughout the world, and his very many advisory roles included Consultant Advisor in Leprosy, Department of Health and Social Security, 1966-1979, and Medical Consultant to the Leprosy Mission, 1966-1978. Similarly, he was involved with numerous leprosy organisations, including LEPRA (Medical Secretary, 1968-1973, Vice-President, 1984-1986) and the International Leprosy Association (Secretary-Treasurer, 1966-1984, Honorary Vice-President, 1984-1986). His contributions to tropical medicine were recognised by many awards, including the British Medical Association's Stewart Prize for Epidemiology, 1975, the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine's JN Chaudry gold medal, 1978, and the Fellowship of King's College Hospital Medical School, also in 1978.

He was a dedicated and active Christian, and was president of the Christian Medical Fellowship of Great Britain, 1969-1971, and of the Baptist Union 1980-1981. He married Ethel Marion Williamson (known as Mali) in 1940. He died on 29 January 1986.

For further biographical material on Browne see his obituaries in The Lancet, 22 Feb 1986, p 455 and the British Medical Journal, vol 292, 15 Feb 1986, p 491; Munk's Roll, vol 8, p 59; and Who Was Who, 1981-1990, p 98.

The records were given to the Wellcome Tropical Institute in 1987 by Dr Derek Browne, Stanley Browne's son.

The records were transferred to the Wellcome Library from the Wellcome Tropical Institute on its closure in 1989 (Accession No WTI/3). The publication Health & the developing world by John Bryant (1969), which accompanied the archive, was transferred at that time to the Wellcome Library's printed collection.

The archive spans Browne's career from school onwards, but the core series of records focus on his work as a medical missionary at the BMS hospital in Yakusu, Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Section B comprises records for the period 1938-1958, including registers of leprosy sufferers, case records and photograph albums documenting various symptoms. Section K contains further photographs (mainly clinical) for the period 1938-1977, the most important series of which dates from Browne's time at the Baptist Mission Hospital and comprises over 900 negatives and prints together with supporting documentation, 1954-1958.

Section C contains a small number of files compiled by Browne during his research into leprosy, yaws, onchocerciasis and ainhum, 1946-1983. Particularly notable are the files on the anti-leprosy drug B663 (now known as clofazimine), into the use of which Browne conducted pioneering studies whilst director of the Leprosy Research Unit, Uzuakoli, Eastern Nigeria, 1959-1966.The remaining records comprise personal and biographical material, 1923-1985 (section A); general subject files containing correspondence, reprints etc. on a wide variety of topics, 1948-1986 (section D); writings by Browne, 1935-1985 (section E); records of Browne's involvement with the International Leprosy Association, 1909-1985 (section F) and various other organisations, 1959-1986 (section G); records on foreign visits, 1965-1985 (section H); and a few files on religious matters, 1959-1984 (section J).

By section as follows: A. Personal and Biographical Material, 1923-1985; B. Baptist Missionary Hospital, Yakusu, Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), 1936-1958; C. Research Files, 1946-1983; D. General Subject Files, 1948-1986; E. Writings by S G Browne, 1935-1985; F. International Leprosy Association, 1909-1985; G. Other International Bodies, 1959-1986; H. Foreign Visits, 1965-1985; J. Religious Matters, 1959-1984; K. Photographs, 1938-1977, n.d.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, by prior appointment with Archives and Manuscripts staff and after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Please note that access to several files is restricted as they contain sensitive personal data (the relevant files are marked `Restricted Access' in the detailed list). Readers wishing for access to such material may submit a formal application form to Archives and Manuscript staff.

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.
The majority of records are in English, but there is some material in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Lingala, Portuguese and Swedish.

Catalogued by Shirley Dixon, Wellcome Library, September 1998, and revised by Helen Wakely, Wellcome Library, March 2001. Hard-copy catalogue available in Wellcome Library.

Material held by Archives and Manuscripts, Wellcome Library: see Sources Leaflet No. 11 Tropical Medicine and Western Manuscripts Subject Guides No. 4 Africa and No.6 Asia.

Material held elsewhere: London University School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine holds further papers of Browne (lecture notes and papers on leprosy, c1960-69).

Description compiled by Helen Wakely 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. May 2001 Abia Africa Ancient religions Baptist Missionary Society Baptist Mission Hospital , Yakusu, Belgian Congo Baptists Belgian Congo Browne , Stanley George , 1907-1986 , medical missionary Central Africa Christianity Christians Clinical medicine Diseases Drugs Health services Hospitals Infectious diseases International Leprosy Association Leprosy Leprosy Research Unit , Uzuakoli, Eastern Nigeria Medical institutions Medical missionaries Medical missionary work Medical personnel Medical profession Medical research Medical sciences Medical treatment Missionaries Missionary work Mission hospitals Nigeria Pathology Patients Personnel Pharmacology Photographs Physicians Protestant nonconformists Protestants Religions Religious activities Religious groups Science administration Scientific facilities Scientific organizations Scientific publications Social sciences Social welfare Surgery Therapy Travel Travel abroad Tropical diseases Tropical medicine Uzuakoli Visual materials West Africa Yakusu Zaire People by occupation People Publications Communications media Information sciences Nonconformists

The records were transferred to the Wellcome Library from the Wellcome Tropical Institute on its closure in 1989 (Accession No WTI/3). The publication Health & the developing world by John Bryant (1969), which accompanied the archive, was transferred at that time to the Wellcome Library's printed collection.

The archive spans Browne's career from school onwards, but the core series of records focus on his work as a medical missionary at the BMS hospital in Yakusu, Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Section B comprises records for the period 1938-1958, including registers of leprosy sufferers, case records and photograph albums documenting various symptoms. Section K contains further photographs (mainly clinical) for the period 1938-1977, the most important series of which dates from Browne's time at the Baptist Mission Hospital and comprises over 900 negatives and prints together with supporting documentation, 1954-1958.

Section C contains a small number of files compiled by Browne during his research into leprosy, yaws, onchocerciasis and ainhum, 1946-1983. Particularly notable are the files on the anti-leprosy drug B663 (now known as clofazimine), into the use of which Browne conducted pioneering studies whilst director of the Leprosy Research Unit, Uzuakoli, Eastern Nigeria, 1959-1966.The remaining records comprise personal and biographical material, 1923-1985 (section A); general subject files containing correspondence, reprints etc. on a wide variety of topics, 1948-1986 (section D); writings by Browne, 1935-1985 (section E); records of Browne's involvement with the International Leprosy Association, 1909-1985 (section F) and various other organisations, 1959-1986 (section G); records on foreign visits, 1965-1985 (section H); and a few files on religious matters, 1959-1984 (section J).

By section as follows: A. Personal and Biographical Material, 1923-1985; B. Baptist Missionary Hospital, Yakusu, Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), 1936-1958; C. Research Files, 1946-1983; D. General Subject Files, 1948-1986; E. Writings by S G Browne, 1935-1985; F. International Leprosy Association, 1909-1985; G. Other International Bodies, 1959-1986; H. Foreign Visits, 1965-1985; J. Religious Matters, 1959-1984; K. Photographs, 1938-1977, n.d.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, by prior appointment with Archives and Manuscripts staff and after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Please note that access to several files is restricted as they contain sensitive personal data (the relevant files are marked `Restricted Access' in the detailed list). Readers wishing for access to such material may submit a formal application form to Archives and Manuscript staff.

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

• Latin

The majority of records are in English, but there is some material in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Lingala, Portuguese and Swedish.

Material held by Archives and Manuscripts, Wellcome Library: see Sources Leaflet No. 11 Tropical Medicine and Western Manuscripts Subject Guides No. 4 Africa and No.6 Asia.

Catalogued by Shirley Dixon, Wellcome Library, September 1998, and revised by Helen Wakely, Wellcome Library, March 2001. Hard-copy catalogue available in Wellcome Library.

Material held elsewhere: London University School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine holds further papers of Browne (lecture notes and papers on leprosy, c1960-69).

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.

• English