GB 0120 MSS.3417, 6129-6132 and 7245 - Manson, Sir Patrick (1844-1922)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 MSS.3417, 6129-6132 and 7245

Title

Manson, Sir Patrick (1844-1922)

Date(s)

  • 1856-1922 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

2 volumes and 5 files

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Patrick Manson was born in 1844 and studied medicine at Aberdeen University, passing M.B. and C.M. in 1865. In 1866 he became medical officer of Formosa for the Chinese imperial maritime customs, moving to Amoy in 1871. Here, while working on elephantoid diseases, he discovered in the tissues of blood-sucking mosquitoes the developmental phase of filaria worms. From 1883 to 1889 he was based in Hong Kong, where he set up a school of medicine that developed into the university and medical school of Hong Kong. Returning to London, he became physician to the Seaman's Hospital in 1892. He played a central role in the development of tropical medicine as a distinct discipline, publishing on tropical diseases, being instrumental in the setting up of the London School of Tropical Medicine in 1899, and becoming physician and advisor to the Colonial Office in 1897. He propounded the theory that malaria was propagated by mosquitoes, a theory to be proved by Sir Ronald Ross (1857-1932). He was made F.R.S. in 1900 and K.C.M.G. in 1903; he died in 1922.

Archival history

GB 0120 MSS.3417, 6129-6132 and 7245 1856-1922 Collection (fonds) 2 volumes and 5 files Manson , Sir , Patrick , 1844-1922 , Knight , physician, parasitologist, tropical medicine specialist

Patrick Manson was born in 1844 and studied medicine at Aberdeen University, passing M.B. and C.M. in 1865. In 1866 he became medical officer of Formosa for the Chinese imperial maritime customs, moving to Amoy in 1871. Here, while working on elephantoid diseases, he discovered in the tissues of blood-sucking mosquitoes the developmental phase of filaria worms. From 1883 to 1889 he was based in Hong Kong, where he set up a school of medicine that developed into the university and medical school of Hong Kong. Returning to London, he became physician to the Seaman's Hospital in 1892. He played a central role in the development of tropical medicine as a distinct discipline, publishing on tropical diseases, being instrumental in the setting up of the London School of Tropical Medicine in 1899, and becoming physician and advisor to the Colonial Office in 1897. He propounded the theory that malaria was propagated by mosquitoes, a theory to be proved by Sir Ronald Ross (1857-1932). He was made F.R.S. in 1900 and K.C.M.G. in 1903; he died in 1922.

MSS.3417 and 6129-6132 presented by Sir Philip Manson-Bahr in 1961 (accession number 312264) and 1966 (accession number 312767). MS.7245/1-2 purchased Sotheby's, London, May 1930 (acc.52792); MS.7245/3-4, accession details not recorded.

The collection comprises case notes of patients in Amoy and Hong Kong, correspondence, including a typed copy of one to Sir David Bruce (1855-1931) and some miscellaneous papers; the correspondence includes some letters neither to nor from Manson but kept by him, including one from David Livingstone (1813-1873) to his family. Particularly noteworthy is MS.6133, typescript copies of letters from Ronald Ross to Manson written during the former's period of malaria research in India (1897-1899).

MSS.3417 and 6129 comprise case notes, the latter spanning Manson's times in Amoy and Hong Kong and the former covering only Hong Kong. MSS.6130, 6132-6133 and 7245 comprise correspondence; MS.7245 letters by Manson; MS.6130 original letters to Manson; MS.6132 letters by figures connected with tropical medicine, probably written to Manson; and MS.6133 copies of letters to Manson from Ronald Ross. MS.6131 comprises miscellaneous papers including letters neither to nor from Manson, one of them from David Livingstone (1813-1873) to his family.

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, some Chinese.

holograph and typescript material; bound volumes and files of loose papers.

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); 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); and subsequent typescript supplementary finding aids by Richard Aspin, Christopher Hilton, Keith Moore and Richard Palmer.

Collection level description available on-line on the [ Wellcome Library website](http://archives.wellcome.ac.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=(AltRefNo=='MSS.3417, 6129-6132 & 7245'))

Wellcome Library also holds archives of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (WTI/RST), which include Manson papers. MS.6931, papers of Sir James Cantlie, includes some Manson material.

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Library holds papers of Manson, 1865-1964, including Manson's diaries, 1865-1879, including notes on the discovery of mosquitoes as carriers of malaria; bound notes of his discovery of filaria; original drawings of eggs of bilharzia, and the embryos of guinea worms and filaria; photographs of Manson.

Description compiled by Christopher Hilton based upon those in the Library's published finding aids by S.A.J. Moorat and Richard Palmer and subsequent typescript supplementary finding aids by Richard Aspin, Christopher Hilton, Keith Moore and Richard Palmer. 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. December 2000; updated Jun 2001. Amoy Bruce , Sir , David , 1855-1931 , Knight , Major General , pathologist China Colonial countries Diseases East Asia Health services Hong Kong India Infectious diseases Livingstone , David , 1813-1873 , missionary and explorer Malaria Manson , Sir , Patrick , 1844-1922 , Knight , physician, parasitologist, tropical medicine specialist Medical personnel Medical profession Medical research Medical sciences Pathology Patients Personnel Physicians Political systems Ross , Sir , Ronald , 1857-1932 , Knight , physician, parasitologist, tropical medicine specialist Social sciences Social welfare South Asia Surgery Tropical diseases Xiamen People by occupation People

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

MSS.3417 and 6129-6132 presented by Sir Philip Manson-Bahr in 1961 (accession number 312264) and 1966 (accession number 312767). MS.7245/1-2 purchased Sotheby's, London, May 1930 (acc.52792); MS.7245/3-4, accession details not recorded.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The collection comprises case notes of patients in Amoy and Hong Kong, correspondence, including a typed copy of one to Sir David Bruce (1855-1931) and some miscellaneous papers; the correspondence includes some letters neither to nor from Manson but kept by him, including one from David Livingstone (1813-1873) to his family. Particularly noteworthy is MS.6133, typescript copies of letters from Ronald Ross to Manson written during the former's period of malaria research in India (1897-1899).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

MSS.3417 and 6129 comprise case notes, the latter spanning Manson's times in Amoy and Hong Kong and the former covering only Hong Kong. MSS.6130, 6132-6133 and 7245 comprise correspondence; MS.7245 letters by Manson; MS.6130 original letters to Manson; MS.6132 letters by figures connected with tropical medicine, probably written to Manson; and MS.6133 copies of letters to Manson from Ronald Ross. MS.6131 comprises miscellaneous papers including letters neither to nor from Manson, one of them from David Livingstone (1813-1873) to his family.

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, some Chinese.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Wellcome Library also holds archives of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (WTI/RST), which include Manson papers. MS.6931, papers of Sir James Cantlie, includes some Manson material.

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); 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); and subsequent typescript supplementary finding aids by Richard Aspin, Christopher Hilton, Keith Moore and Richard Palmer.

Collection level description available on-line on the [ Wellcome Library website](http://archives.wellcome.ac.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=(AltRefNo=='MSS.3417, 6129-6132 & 7245'))

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Library holds papers of Manson, 1865-1964, including Manson's diaries, 1865-1879, including notes on the discovery of mosquitoes as carriers of malaria; bound notes of his discovery of filaria; original drawings of eggs of bilharzia, and the embryos of guinea worms and filaria; photographs of Manson.

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