GB 0120 MSS.2001-2025 and 6054-6060 - Cyriax, Edgar Ferdinand (1874-1955)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 MSS.2001-2025 and 6054-6060

Title

Cyriax, Edgar Ferdinand (1874-1955)

Date(s)

  • 1887-1948 and undated (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

25 volumes, 5 files and 1 framed document

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Edgar Ferdinand Cyriax was born in 1874 and was originally Swedish. He was the son-in-law of [Jonas] Henrik Kellgren, who was an important figure in the late-nineteenth century spread of Swedish remedial gymnastics and massage to other parts of Europe. Like Kellgren, Cyriax based himself in London, where in addition to practising he studied the bibliography and history of manipulative treatment. He lectured in physiology at the Central Institute for Swedish Gymnastics, London. At his death in 1955 he left a large collection of books, pamphlets and papers on the subject.

Archival history

Following Cyriax's death in 1955 this material and the rest of his collection of material on medical gymnastics was presented by his family to the Royal Society of Medicine.
GB 0120 MSS.2001-2025 and 6054-6060 1887-1948 and undated Collection (fonds) 25 volumes, 5 files and 1 framed document Cyriax , Edgar Ferdinand , 1874-1955 , practitioner and bibliographer of Swedish medical gymnastics and manipulative treatment

Edgar Ferdinand Cyriax was born in 1874 and was originally Swedish. He was the son-in-law of [Jonas] Henrik Kellgren, who was an important figure in the late-nineteenth century spread of Swedish remedial gymnastics and massage to other parts of Europe. Like Kellgren, Cyriax based himself in London, where in addition to practising he studied the bibliography and history of manipulative treatment. He lectured in physiology at the Central Institute for Swedish Gymnastics, London. At his death in 1955 he left a large collection of books, pamphlets and papers on the subject.

Following Cyriax's death in 1955 this material and the rest of his collection of material on medical gymnastics was presented by his family to the Royal Society of Medicine.

Purchased from the Royal Society of Medicine in 1956 (acc.303950).

The material focuses chiefly upon bibliography, comprising notes on writings about gymnastics and manipulative treatment, and Cyriax's collations of authors cited in various works on the subject. In addition to this there are some writings upon manipulative treatment itself and related issues (MSS.2001, 2006-2007), a syllabus of lectures to be delivered by Cyriax at the Central Institute for Swedish Gymnastics (MS.6054), writings on massage by authors other than Cyriax (MSS.6056-6059) and an acknowledgement by the Museum of Practical Geology for specimens presented by another member of the Cyriax family (MS.6060).

Material within the block MSS.2001-2025 is held in chronological order of composition. The arrangement within the block 6054-6060 is thematic, moving from material on Cyriax's own practice, through Cyriax's notes on gymnastic writings and then copies of other individuals' writings, to a document (on geological specimens) that is not related to gymnastics at all.

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 and Swedish.

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973) and Richard Palmer, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine: Western Manuscripts 5120-6244 (London: The Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine, 1999).

MSS.5406-5409 and 7869-7872 comprise papers of Cyriax's father-in-law, [Jonas] Henrik Kellgren (also a practitioner of Swedish medical gymnastics and manipulative treatment); MS.3348 comprises a work on Swedish medical gymnastics by Amalia Lundgren; and MSS.5027-5028 works on the same subject by Anna Justina Augusta Wilson. All these were acquired by the Wellcome Library with Edgar Cyriax's papers.

"Medical gymnastics and the Cyriax Collection" by Sarah Bakewell (in Medical History, Vol. 41 (1997)) sets out the history of the Cyriax collection and gives background information on the history of gymnastics.

description compiled by Christopher Hilton based upon those in the Library's published finding aids by S.A.J. Moorat and Richard Palmer. Biographical information drawn from "Medical gymnastics and the Cyriax Collection" by Sarah Bakewell (in Medical History, Vol. 41 (1997)). 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. February 2001 Bibliographies Bibliography compilation Central Institute for Swedish Gymnastics , London Curriculum Cyriax , Edgar Ferdinand , 1874-1955 , physiotherapist Cyriax , family , of Sweden and London Europe Geology Lectures (teaching method) Leisure Leisure time activities Medical personnel Medical profession Medical sciences Museum collections Museum facilities Museum of Practical Geology , London Museums Northern Europe Paramedical personnel Personnel Physiotherapists Science museums Secondary documents Specialized museums Sport Surgery Sweden Syllabus Teaching methods Therapy Vocational education Western Europe People by occupation People Collections Cultural resources

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Purchased from the Royal Society of Medicine in 1956 (acc.303950).

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The material focuses chiefly upon bibliography, comprising notes on writings about gymnastics and manipulative treatment, and Cyriax's collations of authors cited in various works on the subject. In addition to this there are some writings upon manipulative treatment itself and related issues (MSS.2001, 2006-2007), a syllabus of lectures to be delivered by Cyriax at the Central Institute for Swedish Gymnastics (MS.6054), writings on massage by authors other than Cyriax (MSS.6056-6059) and an acknowledgement by the Museum of Practical Geology for specimens presented by another member of the Cyriax family (MS.6060).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Material within the block MSS.2001-2025 is held in chronological order of composition. The arrangement within the block 6054-6060 is thematic, moving from material on Cyriax's own practice, through Cyriax's notes on gymnastic writings and then copies of other individuals' writings, to a document (on geological specimens) that is not related to gymnastics at all.

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 and Swedish.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

MSS.5406-5409 and 7869-7872 comprise papers of Cyriax's father-in-law, [Jonas] Henrik Kellgren (also a practitioner of Swedish medical gymnastics and manipulative treatment); MS.3348 comprises a work on Swedish medical gymnastics by Amalia Lundgren; and MSS.5027-5028 works on the same subject by Anna Justina Augusta Wilson. All these were acquired by the Wellcome Library with Edgar Cyriax's papers.

Finding aids

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973) and Richard Palmer, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine: Western Manuscripts 5120-6244 (London: The Wellcome Library for the History & Understanding of Medicine, 1999).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Wellcome Library

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area