Pickles, William (1886-1969) papers - AIM25

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2134 B/PIC

Title

Pickles, William (1886-1969) papers

Date(s)

1912-1972 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

5 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

William Pickles (1885-1969)

Biographical history

William Norman Pickles, general practitioner and epidemiologost, was born on the 6 March 1885 in Leeds where his father, John Jagger Pickles was in general practice. Pickles went to Leeds Grammar School and afterwards studied medicine at the medical school of the then Yorkshire College and at the Leeds General Infirmary, where he qualified as a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries in 1909. After serving as resident obstetric officer at the Infirmary, he began a series of temporary jobs in general practice. In 1910 he graduated MB BS London and became MD in 1918.

His first visit to Aysgarth was as a locum for Dr Hime in 1912. After serving as a ship's doctor on a voyage to Calcutta, he returned to Aysgarth later that year as second assistant to Dr Hime. In 1913 he and the other assistant Dean Dunbar were able to purchase the practice. Pickles was to remain in Aysgarth until he retired in 1964, interrupted only by the first world war during which he served in the Royal Naval Volunteers.

In 1926 Pickles read The Principles of Diagnosis and Treatment in Heart Affections by Sir James Mackenzie who had made many important contributions to medical knowledge from his general practice in Burnley. Pickles was inspired by Mackenzies work. An epidemic of catarrhal jaundice broke out in Wensleydale in 1929 affecting two hundred and fifty people out of a population of five thousand seven hundred. Pickles was able to trace the whole epidemic to a girl who he had seen in bed on the morning of a village fete and who he never thought would get up that day. In this enclosed community Pickles was able to trace time and again the short and only possible contact and to establish the long incubation for this disease of twenty six to thirty five days. He published an account of the epidemic in the British Medical Journal 24 May 1930. Two years later he also published record of an outbreak of Sonne dysentry and in 1933 he recorded in the British Medical Journal the first out break of Bornholm disease.

In 1935 Pickles described some of his work to the Royal Society of Medicine . After this meeting a leading article in the British Medical Journal stated "It may mark the beginning of a new era in epidemiology". Major Greenwood, an outstanding epidmeiologist of the time, suggested that he shold write a book on his observations, which was published in 1939 as Epidemiology in Country Practice . This became a medical classic [and is still in print today], and established Pickles's reputation. It showed how a country practice could be a field laboratory with unique opportunities for epidemiologists.

Pickles had by now become famous and was showered with honours. He was Milroy lecturer at the Royal College of Physicians of London (1942) and Cutter lecturer at Harvard (1948). In 1946 he shared the Stewart prize of the BMA with Major Greenwood and in 1955 he was elected an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and was awarded the first James Mackenzie medal. He became the first president of the College of General Practitioners in 1953.

In 1917 he married Gertrude Adelaide, daughter of Harry Tunstill, a wealthy mill owner from Burnley. Pickles died 2 March 1969, his wife died later the same year.

Repository

Royal College of General Practitioners

Archival history

GB 2134 B/PIC 1912-1972 Fonds 5 boxes William Pickles (1885-1969)
William Norman Pickles, general practitioner and epidemiologost, was born on the 6 March 1885 in Leeds where his father, John Jagger Pickles was in general practice. Pickles went to Leeds Grammar School and afterwards studied medicine at the medical school of the then Yorkshire College and at the Leeds General Infirmary, where he qualified as a licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries in 1909. After serving as resident obstetric officer at the Infirmary, he began a series of temporary jobs in general practice. In 1910 he graduated MB BS London and became MD in 1918.

His first visit to Aysgarth was as a locum for Dr Hime in 1912. After serving as a ship's doctor on a voyage to Calcutta, he returned to Aysgarth later that year as second assistant to Dr Hime. In 1913 he and the other assistant Dean Dunbar were able to purchase the practice. Pickles was to remain in Aysgarth until he retired in 1964, interrupted only by the first world war during which he served in the Royal Naval Volunteers.

In 1926 Pickles read The Principles of Diagnosis and Treatment in Heart Affections by Sir James Mackenzie who had made many important contributions to medical knowledge from his general practice in Burnley. Pickles was inspired by Mackenzies work. An epidemic of catarrhal jaundice broke out in Wensleydale in 1929 affecting two hundred and fifty people out of a population of five thousand seven hundred. Pickles was able to trace the whole epidemic to a girl who he had seen in bed on the morning of a village fete and who he never thought would get up that day. In this enclosed community Pickles was able to trace time and again the short and only possible contact and to establish the long incubation for this disease of twenty six to thirty five days. He published an account of the epidemic in the British Medical Journal 24 May 1930. Two years later he also published record of an outbreak of Sonne dysentry and in 1933 he recorded in the British Medical Journal the first out break of Bornholm disease.

In 1935 Pickles described some of his work to the Royal Society of Medicine . After this meeting a leading article in the British Medical Journal stated "It may mark the beginning of a new era in epidemiology". Major Greenwood, an outstanding epidmeiologist of the time, suggested that he shold write a book on his observations, which was published in 1939 as Epidemiology in Country Practice . This became a medical classic [and is still in print today], and established Pickles's reputation. It showed how a country practice could be a field laboratory with unique opportunities for epidemiologists.

Pickles had by now become famous and was showered with honours. He was Milroy lecturer at the Royal College of Physicians of London (1942) and Cutter lecturer at Harvard (1948). In 1946 he shared the Stewart prize of the BMA with Major Greenwood and in 1955 he was elected an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and was awarded the first James Mackenzie medal. He became the first president of the College of General Practitioners in 1953.

In 1917 he married Gertrude Adelaide, daughter of Harry Tunstill, a wealthy mill owner from Burnley. Pickles died 2 March 1969, his wife died later the same year.

Donated by Pickles' daughter Mrs Patience Clayton 1970

Certificates; paptients lists; correspondence; photographs; medals; annotated copies of own works; epidemiological charts, research notes, manuscripts of articles and speeches. 1912-1972

None expected

By document type and date

Access is at the discretion of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Requests for access should be made in writing to The Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU.

For further information on reproduction contact The Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU.
English

Handlist

James Mackenzie papers (1853-1925) GB 2134 B/MAC; John Hunt papers GB 2134 B/HUN;RCGP Fellowship and Award papers GB 2134 ACE E.

Epidemiological charts at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Will Pickles of Wensleydale by John Pemberton. RCGP 1984 Epidemiology In Country Practice. RCGP 1984 (reprint)

Since 1968 The Royal College of General Practitioners has had an annual eponymous lecture named after Pickles on an educational theme. It is given at the Spring meeting and is published in The British Journal of General Practice. The Royal College of General Practitioners owns a portrait of Pickles by Christopher Sanders.
Compiled by Claire Jackson, College Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners. Rules or conventions: National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000. June 2002 College of General Practitioners Disasters Disasters (by type) Disease control Diseases England Epidemics Epidemiology Europe Greenwood , Major , 1880-1949 , medical statistician Health Health policy Health statistics Leeds University Mackenzie , Sir , James , 1853-1925 , Knight , physician Medical personnel Medical profession Medical research Medical sciences Pathology Personnel Physicians Pickles , William , 1885-1969 , general practitioner Royal College of General Practitioners Royal College of Physicians of London Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Society of Medicine Royal Society of Musicians Surgery UK Western Europe West Riding Yorkshire People by occupation People London

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated by Pickles' daughter Mrs Patience Clayton 1970

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Certificates; paptients lists; correspondence; photographs; medals; annotated copies of own works; epidemiological charts, research notes, manuscripts of articles and speeches. 1912-1972

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

None expected

System of arrangement

By document type and date

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access is at the discretion of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Requests for access should be made in writing to The Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU.

Conditions governing reproduction

For further information on reproduction contact The Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU.

Language of material

English

Script of material

Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

James Mackenzie papers (1853-1925) GB 2134 B/MAC; John Hunt papers GB 2134 B/HUN;RCGP Fellowship and Award papers GB 2134 ACE E.

Finding aids

Handlist

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Epidemiological charts at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Since 1968 The Royal College of General Practitioners has had an annual eponymous lecture named after Pickles on an educational theme. It is given at the Spring meeting and is published in The British Journal of General Practice. The Royal College of General Practitioners owns a portrait of Pickles by Christopher Sanders.

Notes area

Note