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The collection chiefly comprises correspondence by Florence Nightingale, either in original or in copy form. The date-span covers the whole of her life and the subjects range from her attempts to become a nurse, service in the Crimea and subsequent work reforming the training and practice of nursing, through her other concerns such as Indian sanitation, cottage hospitals and the use of medical statistics, to personal and family matters. Well-represented correspondents include her family (particularly her sister Parthenope and brother-in-law Sir Harry Verney), Sir William Aitken (1825-1892), Professor of Pathology at the Army Medical School; George Hanby De'ath (c.1862-1901), Medical Officer of Health for Buckingham; William Farr (1807-1883), statistician; Miss Louisa Gordon, Matron at St Thomas' Hospital; Miss Amy Hughes, Superintendent of the Nurses' Co-operation; Sir John Henry Lefroy (1817-1890); Charles C. Plowden of the Sanitary Department of the India Office; and Mary Clarke Mohl (1793-1883). In addition, there is twentieth century material relating to Nightingale's legacy such as photographs of her grave (at MS.9101) and administrative papers relating to the compilation of A calendar of the letters of Florence Nightingale (Oxford, 1977) by Sue Goldie (MSS.9106-9109).

Midwifery records of Gertrude Mary Ethel Shannon constituting a relatively full record of midwifery training in the 1920s, and thus quite unusual. They are also of interest as Mrs Shannon trained under the pioneer medical woman Annie McCall at the Clapham Maternity Hospital (which was later renamed after Dr McCall), who supplied her with a testimonial (PP/SHA/1) and signed the certificates, PP/SHA/5/1-2. The exercise book includes notes on lectures by Dr McCall. The Central Midwives Board certificate is signed by Sir Francis Champneys.