Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1836-1967 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
22 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 2 folders, 2 parcels
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Career summary: Born 6 June 1850, at Hornsey, son of J W Schäfer of Highgate and Hamburg; educated University College London (medal for Physiology). 1871 first Sharpey Scholar, University College London. 1874 Assistant Professor of Physiology, University College London. 1877 published A course of practical Histology. 1878 elected a Fellow of the Royal Society; married Maud Dixey. 1878-1881 Fullerian Professor, Royal Institution. 1883 Jodrell Professor, University College London; published his first researches in cerebral localisation. 1885 published Essentials of Histology. 1894 discovery with George Oliver of the effect of extract of the suprarenal gland. 1895-1900 General Secretary, British Association for the Advancement of Science. 1896 death of Maud Schafer, his first wife. 1897 awarded the Baly Medal by the Royal College of Physicians. 1898-1902 edited Advanced textbook of Physiology, to which he also contributed. 1899 elected to the Edinburgh Chair of Physiology. 1900 married Ethel Maude Roberts. 1902 awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society. 1903 gave papers on artificial respiration to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 1908 founded the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology and edited it until 1933. 1909 awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Royal Life-Saving Society (for the Schafer method' of artificial respiration). 1911 awarded the De Cyon Prize by the Accademia della Scienza, Bologna. 1912 President, British Association for the Advancement of Science: gave a controversial address on
Life, its nature, origin and maintenance'; published Quain's Elements of Anatomy Vol II Pt I and Experimental Physiology. 1913 knighted; Lane Medical Lecturer, Stanford. 1915 death in action of his younger son Tom. 1916 published The endocrine organs; death of his elder son Jack at Jutland. c. 1916 death of elder daughter Marjory. 1918 added Sharpey to his name in memory of Professor William Sharpey. 1922 awarded the Neill Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 1923 President, International Congress of Physiology. 1924 awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society. 1927 published History of the Physiological Society; resigned his Chair at Edinburgh: became Emeritus Professor; Volume 23 of Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology produced in his honour with papers by his former pupils worldwide. Died 29 March 1935, aged 85.
Repository
Archival history
Some of the papers were formerly held by the family, some by Sharpey-Schafer's solicitors.
GB 0120 PP/ESS 1836-1967 Collection (fonds) 22 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 2 folders, 2 parcels Sharpey-Schafer , Sir , Edward Albert , 1850-1935 , Knight , physiologist
Career summary: Born 6 June 1850, at Hornsey, son of J W Schäfer of Highgate and Hamburg; educated University College London (medal for Physiology). 1871 first Sharpey Scholar, University College London. 1874 Assistant Professor of Physiology, University College London. 1877 published A course of practical Histology. 1878 elected a Fellow of the Royal Society; married Maud Dixey. 1878-1881 Fullerian Professor, Royal Institution. 1883 Jodrell Professor, University College London; published his first researches in cerebral localisation. 1885 published Essentials of Histology. 1894 discovery with George Oliver of the effect of extract of the suprarenal gland. 1895-1900 General Secretary, British Association for the Advancement of Science. 1896 death of Maud Schafer, his first wife. 1897 awarded the Baly Medal by the Royal College of Physicians. 1898-1902 edited Advanced textbook of Physiology, to which he also contributed. 1899 elected to the Edinburgh Chair of Physiology. 1900 married Ethel Maude Roberts. 1902 awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society. 1903 gave papers on artificial respiration to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 1908 founded the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology and edited it until 1933. 1909 awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Royal Life-Saving Society (for the Schafer method' of artificial respiration). 1911 awarded the De Cyon Prize by the Accademia della Scienza, Bologna. 1912 President, British Association for the Advancement of Science: gave a controversial address on
Life, its nature, origin and maintenance'; published Quain's Elements of Anatomy Vol II Pt I and Experimental Physiology. 1913 knighted; Lane Medical Lecturer, Stanford. 1915 death in action of his younger son Tom. 1916 published The endocrine organs; death of his elder son Jack at Jutland. c. 1916 death of elder daughter Marjory. 1918 added Sharpey to his name in memory of Professor William Sharpey. 1922 awarded the Neill Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 1923 President, International Congress of Physiology. 1924 awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society. 1927 published History of the Physiological Society; resigned his Chair at Edinburgh: became Emeritus Professor; Volume 23 of Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology produced in his honour with papers by his former pupils worldwide. Died 29 March 1935, aged 85.
Some of the papers were formerly held by the family, some by Sharpey-Schafer's solicitors.
The papers were received by the Wellcome Library from Miss Geraldine Mary Sharpey-Schafer, Sir Edward's younger daughter and only surviving child, in several batches between 1967 and 1971 (Acc Nos 70, 323, 884).
Sharpey-Schafer's correspondence is extensive. In addition to his own correspondence it includes papers of William Sharpey, saved by Sharpey-Schafer after his death, 1836-70 and n.d. There are significant numbers of letters from William Sharpey himself, Sir Michael Foster, Sir John Burdon-Sanderson, Sir William Osler, George John Romanes, Sir Victor Horsley, Sir James Paget, Lord Lister, Sir Charles Sherrington, Sir William Gowers, Thomas Henry Huxley, John Newport Langley, Sir Edwin Ray Lankester, Ernest Henry Starling, Allen Thomson, Sanger Monroe Brown, Sutherland Simpson, Francis Gano Benedict, Harvey Cushing, Albrecht Kossel, Karl Hugo Kronecker, Carl Ludwig, Charles Robert Richet, and Masaharu Kohima.
Material relating to Sharpey-Schafer's career at UCL includes correspondence on his controversy in the Neurological Society with Sir David Ferrier, 1887-88, and papers relating to the rebuilding of University College Hospital in 1895.
Material relating to Sharpey-Schafer's career at Edinburgh University includes correspondence on the forced resignation of William Cramer from the department of Physiology on grounds of German nationality, 1914, and papers on the opening of the department of Animal Genetics in 1930.
Other papers reflect various aspects of Sharpey-Schafer's scientific interests, including the history of the Physiological Society (with several letters from Archibald Vivian Hill), artificial respiration and bird migration. There are also numerous letters in response to his controversial address to the British Association in Dundee in 1912, and correspondence on the position of scientists in post-Revolutionary Russia, 1918-21.
There is a substantial correspondence on the various textbooks Sharpey-Schafer wrote or to which he contributed, 1910-34.
Sharpey-Schafer's personal papers include correspondence with his wives and children, 1876-1935, scrapbooks of press cuttings, c. 1899-1930, and a large collection of photographs, mainly portraits.
In ten sections as follows: B. British colleagues. A. American colleagues. C. Continental colleagues. F. Far-Eastern colleagues. J. Jodrell Professorship, University College London. E. Edinburgh Chair of Physiology. T. Textbooks. P. Personal. Q. Additional material. R. Reprints.
The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, by prior appointment with Archives and Manuscripts staff and after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Please note that access to several files (marked in the detailed list) is restricted. Readers wishing for access to such material may submit a formal application form to Archives and Manuscript staff.
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, German, French, Italian
Catalogued by Lesley Hall, CMAC, Wellcome Library, July 1982, additions May 1987. Catalogue revised by Lesley Hall, CMAC, Wellcome Library, December 1988, additions February 1990. Hard-copy catalogue with personal names index available in Wellcome Library.
Material held by Archives and Manuscripts, Wellcome Library: transcripts of lectures on Histology by Sharpey-Schafer at UCL can be found in the notebooks of W D Halliburton, 1878-79 (WMSS.2681-2682); the minutes of the Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research (WMS.5310) include inserted letters by Sharpey-Schafer, 1882-91; the papers of H R Silvester (WMS.4599) include material on the Schafer method of artificial respiration, 1898-1904, and the papers of Sir Walter Morley Fletcher (PP/WMF) include a file of correspondence and papers on the same subject, 1907-8; the records of the Physiological Society include Sharpey-Schafer's History of the Physiological Society during its first fifty years 1876-1926, 1927 (SA/PHY/R.1/1), and various photographs; the papers of Professor Ivan de Burgh Daly (PP/DBD) include biographical material on Sharpey-Schafer.
Material held elsewhere: there is further correspondence of Sharpey-Schafer in the Special Collections department of Edinburgh University Library.
Description compiled by Richard Aspin based on the typescript catalogue to the collection by Lesley Hall 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. June 2001 Academic teaching personnel Animal ecology Animal migration Animals Associations Benedict , Francis Gano , 1870-1957 , American chemist Biology Bird migration Birds Books British Association for the Advancement of Science Brown , Sanger Monroe Building operations Circulatory and respiratory physiology Construction engineering Cramer , William , 1878-1945 , physiologist Cushing , Harvey William , 1869-1939 , American neurosurgeon East Asia Eastern Europe Ecosystems Educational personnel Europe Ferrier , Sir , David , 1843-1928 , Knight , physician and neuropathologist Foster , Sir , Michael , 1836-1907 , Knight , physiologist Germany Gowers , Sir , William Richard , 1845-1915 , Knight , physician Guides Health services Hill , Archibald Vivian , 1886-1977 , physiologist Horsley , Sir , Victor Alexander Haden , 1857-1916 , Knight , physiologist and surgeon Hospitals Huxley , Thomas Henry , 1825-1895 , scientist and educationist International conflicts Kohima , Masaharu Kossel , Albrecht , 1853-1927 , German biochemist Kronecker , Karl Hugo , 1839-1914 , German physiologist Langley , John Newport , 1852-1925 , physiologist Lankester , Sir , Edwin Ray , 1847-1929 , Knight , zoologist Learned societies Lister , Joseph , 1827-1912 , 1st Baron Lister , surgeon x Lister , 1st Baron Ludwig , Carl Friedrich Wilhelm , 1816-1895 , German physiologist Medical institutions Medical sciences Medical treatment Nationality Neurological Society Neurology Newspaper press North America Organizations Osler , Sir , William , 1849-1919 , Knight , physician Paget , Sir , James , 1814-1899 , 1st Baronet , surgeon Photographs Physiological Society Physiology Press Press cuttings Publications Public law Reconstruction (buildings) Respiration Richet , Charles Robert , 1850-1935 , physiologist Romanes , George John , 1848-1894 , scientist Sanderson , Sir , John Scott , Burdon- , 1828-1905 , 1st Baronet , physician x Burdon-Sanderson , Sir , John Scott Schafer , Ethel Maude , fl 1900 , née Roberts , second wife of Edward Schafer (later Sharpey-Schafer) x Roberts , Ethel Maude Schafer , family x Schafer , family , Sharpey- x Sharpey-Schafer , family Schafer , Maud , d 1896 , née Dixey , first wife of Edward Schafer (later Sharpey-Schafer) x Dixey , Maud Schafer , Sir , Edward Albert , Sharpey- , 1850-1935 , Knight , physiologist , formerly Schafer x Sharpey-Schafer , Sir , Edward Science administration Scientific organizations Scientific personnel Scientists Sharpey , William , 1802-1880 , physiologist Sherrington , Sir , Charles Scott , 1857-1952 , Knight , pathologist Simpson , Sutherland Social sciences Social welfare South East Asia Starling , Ernest Henry , 1866-1927 , physiologist Surgery Teachers Textbooks Therapy Thomson , Allen , 1809-1884 , biologist University College Hospital University College London , Jodrell Professor University of Edinburgh , Department of Animal Genetics x Edinburgh University , Department of Animal Genetics University of Edinburgh , Professor of Physiology x Edinburgh University , Professor of Physiology University of Edinburgh x Edinburgh University USA USSR Visual materials War Western Europe World War One (1914-1918) World wars (events) Zoology Communications media Wars (events) Information sciences Personnel People by occupation People Vertebrates Organisms
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The papers were received by the Wellcome Library from Miss Geraldine Mary Sharpey-Schafer, Sir Edward's younger daughter and only surviving child, in several batches between 1967 and 1971 (Acc Nos 70, 323, 884).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Sharpey-Schafer's correspondence is extensive. In addition to his own correspondence it includes papers of William Sharpey, saved by Sharpey-Schafer after his death, 1836-70 and n.d. There are significant numbers of letters from William Sharpey himself, Sir Michael Foster, Sir John Burdon-Sanderson, Sir William Osler, George John Romanes, Sir Victor Horsley, Sir James Paget, Lord Lister, Sir Charles Sherrington, Sir William Gowers, Thomas Henry Huxley, John Newport Langley, Sir Edwin Ray Lankester, Ernest Henry Starling, Allen Thomson, Sanger Monroe Brown, Sutherland Simpson, Francis Gano Benedict, Harvey Cushing, Albrecht Kossel, Karl Hugo Kronecker, Carl Ludwig, Charles Robert Richet, and Masaharu Kohima.
Material relating to Sharpey-Schafer's career at UCL includes correspondence on his controversy in the Neurological Society with Sir David Ferrier, 1887-88, and papers relating to the rebuilding of University College Hospital in 1895.
Material relating to Sharpey-Schafer's career at Edinburgh University includes correspondence on the forced resignation of William Cramer from the department of Physiology on grounds of German nationality, 1914, and papers on the opening of the department of Animal Genetics in 1930.
Other papers reflect various aspects of Sharpey-Schafer's scientific interests, including the history of the Physiological Society (with several letters from Archibald Vivian Hill), artificial respiration and bird migration. There are also numerous letters in response to his controversial address to the British Association in Dundee in 1912, and correspondence on the position of scientists in post-Revolutionary Russia, 1918-21.
There is a substantial correspondence on the various textbooks Sharpey-Schafer wrote or to which he contributed, 1910-34.
Sharpey-Schafer's personal papers include correspondence with his wives and children, 1876-1935, scrapbooks of press cuttings, c. 1899-1930, and a large collection of photographs, mainly portraits.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In ten sections as follows: B. British colleagues. A. American colleagues. C. Continental colleagues. F. Far-Eastern colleagues. J. Jodrell Professorship, University College London. E. Edinburgh Chair of Physiology. T. Textbooks. P. Personal. Q. Additional material. R. Reprints.
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, by prior appointment with Archives and Manuscripts staff and after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Please note that access to several files (marked in the detailed list) is restricted. Readers wishing for access to such material may submit a formal application form to Archives and Manuscript staff.
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, German, French, Italian
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Material held by Archives and Manuscripts, Wellcome Library: transcripts of lectures on Histology by Sharpey-Schafer at UCL can be found in the notebooks of W D Halliburton, 1878-79 (WMSS.2681-2682); the minutes of the Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research (WMS.5310) include inserted letters by Sharpey-Schafer, 1882-91; the papers of H R Silvester (WMS.4599) include material on the Schafer method of artificial respiration, 1898-1904, and the papers of Sir Walter Morley Fletcher (PP/WMF) include a file of correspondence and papers on the same subject, 1907-8; the records of the Physiological Society include Sharpey-Schafer's History of the Physiological Society during its first fifty years 1876-1926, 1927 (SA/PHY/R.1/1), and various photographs; the papers of Professor Ivan de Burgh Daly (PP/DBD) include biographical material on Sharpey-Schafer.
Finding aids
Catalogued by Lesley Hall, CMAC, Wellcome Library, July 1982, additions May 1987. Catalogue revised by Lesley Hall, CMAC, Wellcome Library, December 1988, additions February 1990. Hard-copy catalogue with personal names index available in Wellcome Library.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Material held elsewhere: there is further correspondence of Sharpey-Schafer in the Special Collections department of Edinburgh University Library.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Educational personnel » Teachers » Academic teaching personnel
- Ecosystems » Animal ecology
- Ecosystems » Animal ecology » Animal migration
- Zoology » Animals
- Organizations » Associations
- Biology
- Zoology » Animals » Birds
- Books
- Construction engineering » Building operations
- Construction engineering
- Ecosystems
- Educational personnel
- Books » Guides
- Health services
- Health services » Hospitals
- International conflicts
- Organizations » Associations » Learned societies
- Medical sciences
- Therapy » Medical treatment
- Public law » Nationality
- Medical sciences » Neurology
- Press » Newspaper press
- Organizations
- Visual materials » Photographs
- Physiology
- Press
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Public law
- Construction engineering » Building operations » Reconstruction (buildings)
- Science administration
- Science administration » Scientific organizations
- Scientific personnel
- Scientific personnel » Scientists
- Social sciences
- Social welfare
- Medical sciences » Surgery
- Educational personnel » Teachers
- Books » Guides » Textbooks
- Therapy
- Visual materials
- International conflicts » War
- Zoology
- Information sciences
- Personnel
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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