Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1951-1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1.5 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
James Alexander Chalmers (known as Hamish) was born in Inverness in 1912 and qualified in medicine in Edinburgh in 1934. Following service in the Air Force Medical Branch during the Second World War and posts at Bath, Birmingham, Inverness and Edinburgh, he was senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Ronkswood Hospital, Worcester from 1951-1977. He obtained his MRCOG in 1940 and became an FRCOG in 1954.
Chalmers is best known for introducing the vacuum extractor (ventouse) to British obstetric practice, as an alternative to forceps. He was introduced to the method by Professor Snoeck during a visit to Belgium in 1957 and went on to undertake vacuum deliveries at Worcester and to become an advocate for the apparatus.
He also researched widely on the history, development and current use of the procedure and accumulated a collection of publications from around the world on the topic. He visited key practitioners abroad, including V Finderle in Yugoslavia and T Malmstrom in Sweden. In 1971 he published a key work on the technique: The Ventouse-The Obstetric Vacuum Extractor (London: Lloyd-Luke, 1971).
Chalmers died in 1998.
Archival history
Most of the papers were donated to the College Library by Chalmers in 1995.
GB 1538 S65 1951-1979 Collection (fonds) 1.5 boxes Chalmers , James Alexander , 1912-1998 , obstetrician and gynaecologist
James Alexander Chalmers (known as Hamish) was born in Inverness in 1912 and qualified in medicine in Edinburgh in 1934. Following service in the Air Force Medical Branch during the Second World War and posts at Bath, Birmingham, Inverness and Edinburgh, he was senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Ronkswood Hospital, Worcester from 1951-1977. He obtained his MRCOG in 1940 and became an FRCOG in 1954.
Chalmers is best known for introducing the vacuum extractor (ventouse) to British obstetric practice, as an alternative to forceps. He was introduced to the method by Professor Snoeck during a visit to Belgium in 1957 and went on to undertake vacuum deliveries at Worcester and to become an advocate for the apparatus.
He also researched widely on the history, development and current use of the procedure and accumulated a collection of publications from around the world on the topic. He visited key practitioners abroad, including V Finderle in Yugoslavia and T Malmstrom in Sweden. In 1971 he published a key work on the technique: The Ventouse-The Obstetric Vacuum Extractor (London: Lloyd-Luke, 1971).
Chalmers died in 1998.
Most of the papers were donated to the College Library by Chalmers in 1995.
Transferred to the College Archive by the Head of Information Services in 2006.
Papers of James Alexander Chalmers, 1951-1979, including draft articles, unpublished papers and reprints by Chalmers both on the history of the vacuum extractor and on his use of it in obstetric practice at Worcester Royal Infirmary; Chalmers' personal copy of The Ventouse - The Obstetric Vacuum Extractor (London: Lloyd-Luke, 1971) and press cuttings of reviews; reprints, photographs, illustrations and other material gathered by Chalmers during the course of his research into the history and development of the vacuum extractor.
Arranged in sections as follows: Reprints of Chalmers' published papers; J A Chalmers, The Ventouse-The Obstetric Vacuum Extractor (London:Lloyd-Luke, 1971); Drafts and upublished papers by Chalmers; Collected reprints and other published material; Photographs and illustrations.
English
Detailed catalogue available in the RCOG archives.
Compiled by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Medical Directory; Obituary notice, Worcester Evening News, 14 Oct 1998.
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 History Chalmers , James Alexander , 1912-1998 , obstetrician and gynaecologist History of medicine Medical sciences Obstetrics Worcester Royal Infirmary
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Transferred to the College Archive by the Head of Information Services in 2006.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of James Alexander Chalmers, 1951-1979, including draft articles, unpublished papers and reprints by Chalmers both on the history of the vacuum extractor and on his use of it in obstetric practice at Worcester Royal Infirmary; Chalmers' personal copy of The Ventouse - The Obstetric Vacuum Extractor (London: Lloyd-Luke, 1971) and press cuttings of reviews; reprints, photographs, illustrations and other material gathered by Chalmers during the course of his research into the history and development of the vacuum extractor.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged in sections as follows: Reprints of Chalmers' published papers; J A Chalmers, The Ventouse-The Obstetric Vacuum Extractor (London:Lloyd-Luke, 1971); Drafts and upublished papers by Chalmers; Collected reprints and other published material; Photographs and illustrations.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue available in the RCOG archives.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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