GB 0120 PP/JCM - Moir, Professor John Chassar

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 PP/JCM

Title

Moir, Professor John Chassar

Date(s)

  • 1921-1977 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

6 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

John Chassar Moir was the first Nuffield Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Oxford, a post he held from 1937 to 1967. At University College Hospital, London, he and Dr Harold Ward Dudley had isolated the new drug ergometrine, responsible for the traditional clinical effects of ergot, which was rapidly and universally adopted for the prevention of haemorrhage after childbirth, and he had written a thesis on rotation of the foetus in childbirth for which he gained his MD and a gold medal from Edinburgh University. At Oxford, he built up the Radcliffe Infirmary, studied the use of diagnostic x-rays in obstetrics, and made an outstanding contribution to gynaecological surgery, the repair of vesico-vaginal fistulae. He was for several years the co-editor and for the sixth edition sole editor, of Munro-Kerr's well-known textbook Operative Obstetrics. He became president of the obstetrics and gynaecology section of the Royal Society of Medicine, and in 1974 was made an honorary fellow. Further biographical details can be found in the obituaries in the British Medical Journal and the Lancet.

Archival history

GB 0120 PP/JCM 1921-1977 Collection (fonds) 6 boxes Moir , John Chassar , 1900-1977 , Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

John Chassar Moir was the first Nuffield Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Oxford, a post he held from 1937 to 1967. At University College Hospital, London, he and Dr Harold Ward Dudley had isolated the new drug ergometrine, responsible for the traditional clinical effects of ergot, which was rapidly and universally adopted for the prevention of haemorrhage after childbirth, and he had written a thesis on rotation of the foetus in childbirth for which he gained his MD and a gold medal from Edinburgh University. At Oxford, he built up the Radcliffe Infirmary, studied the use of diagnostic x-rays in obstetrics, and made an outstanding contribution to gynaecological surgery, the repair of vesico-vaginal fistulae. He was for several years the co-editor and for the sixth edition sole editor, of Munro-Kerr's well-known textbook Operative Obstetrics. He became president of the obstetrics and gynaecology section of the Royal Society of Medicine, and in 1974 was made an honorary fellow. Further biographical details can be found in the obituaries in the British Medical Journal and the Lancet.

These papers were given to the Wellcome Library in April and October 1990 by Professor Moir's daughter, Miss Jane Moir.

The collection consists of miscellaneous material pertaining to Professor John Chassar Moir's career which was retained in the family, 1921-1977. This includes biographical material; research files, including on ergot, vesico-vaginal fistula, and history of obstetrics; a few case notes; correspondence; and two films of operations.

A small amount of re-arrangement has been necessary, and the removal of original file covers.

Arranged in sections as follows: Research files; Case notes and clinical material; Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford; Miscellaneous correspondence; Biographical and career; Portrait photographs; Films; Specimens; Obituaries and letters of condolence received by Moir's widow; Volume of notes by Jane Moir, including biographical details and reminiscences, and lists of the authors of the congratulatory letters in section.

The bulk of the papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Certain files are closed as they contain sensitive information, these files are as follows: PP/JCM/10/1 closed until January 2029, PP/JCM/10/2 closed until January 2043, PP/JCM/10/3 closed until Janary 2033, PP/JCM/10/4 closed until January 2057, PP/JCM/12/2 closed until January 2056.

Material at the Wellcome Library: papers of Moir's successor in the Nuffield Chair, Sir John Stallworthy (Ref. PP/JAS). Material at other repositories: other papers of Professor Moir's are held by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Special Collections, reference S/02). These include professional notes and correspondence with Sir Henry Dale on ergot, c.1930-1938, and with others. Forceps and other items are held in the College Museum. The Wellcome Galleries of the Science Museum hold Professor Moir's domiciliary deliveries case.

English

The catalogue is available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).

Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Jan 2009 Moir , John Chassar , 1900-1977 , obstetrician and gynaecologist Information sources Documents Medical records Hospitals Health services Medical institutions Obstetrics Health occupations Occupations Medicine Specialties, surgical Gynecology Medical sciences Surgery Radcliffe Infirmary , Oxford University of Oxford East Asia Far East East Africa Primary documents

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

These papers were given to the Wellcome Library in April and October 1990 by Professor Moir's daughter, Miss Jane Moir.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The collection consists of miscellaneous material pertaining to Professor John Chassar Moir's career which was retained in the family, 1921-1977. This includes biographical material; research files, including on ergot, vesico-vaginal fistula, and history of obstetrics; a few case notes; correspondence; and two films of operations.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

A small amount of re-arrangement has been necessary, and the removal of original file covers.

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged in sections as follows: Research files; Case notes and clinical material; Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford; Miscellaneous correspondence; Biographical and career; Portrait photographs; Films; Specimens; Obituaries and letters of condolence received by Moir's widow; Volume of notes by Jane Moir, including biographical details and reminiscences, and lists of the authors of the congratulatory letters in section.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The bulk of the papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Certain files are closed as they contain sensitive information, these files are as follows: PP/JCM/10/1 closed until January 2029, PP/JCM/10/2 closed until January 2043, PP/JCM/10/3 closed until Janary 2033, PP/JCM/10/4 closed until January 2057, PP/JCM/12/2 closed until January 2056.

Conditions governing reproduction

Material at the Wellcome Library: papers of Moir's successor in the Nuffield Chair, Sir John Stallworthy (Ref. PP/JAS). Material at other repositories: other papers of Professor Moir's are held by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Special Collections, reference S/02). These include professional notes and correspondence with Sir Henry Dale on ergot, c.1930-1938, and with others. Forceps and other items are held in the College Museum. The Wellcome Galleries of the Science Museum hold Professor Moir's domiciliary deliveries case.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

The catalogue is available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

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

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; 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