Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1908-1980 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
14 boxes, 3 large boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Frederick Gordon Spear (1895-1980) MRCS, LRCP, DTM and H, DPH, was a radiologist. Spear originally studied tropical medicine, and spent some time at the Baptist Mission Hospital at Yakusu in the Belgian Congo in the early 1920s. In 1923 he returned to England and joined the Strangeways Research Laboratory, where he worked until his retirement, serving latterly as Deputy Director.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0120 PP/FGS 1908-1980 Collection (fonds) 14 boxes, 3 large boxes Spear , Frederick Gordon , 1895-1980 , radiologist
Frederick Gordon Spear (1895-1980) MRCS, LRCP, DTM and H, DPH, was a radiologist. Spear originally studied tropical medicine, and spent some time at the Baptist Mission Hospital at Yakusu in the Belgian Congo in the early 1920s. In 1923 he returned to England and joined the Strangeways Research Laboratory, where he worked until his retirement, serving latterly as Deputy Director.
These papers of Dr Spear were given to the Wellcome Library in 1986 by his daughter, Mrs G.M. Carpenter. Some additional material (originally in Mrs Carpenter's possession) was received from David Cantor in April 1991. A bound set of "tissue culture" reprints belonging to Spear was received from Dr. R. Lawrence of the Strangeways Research Laboratory in November 1995 (Acc. 601: PP/FGS/C.59-65).
Papers of Frederick Gordon Spear, 1908-1980. These papers fall naturally into several distinct groups; items pertaining to his radiological research conducted in Cambridge at the Strangeways Laboratory, materials about the Strangeways Laboratory as an institution, presumably accumulated during his many years as deputy director, papers relating to his connections with other bodies associated with radiology, such as the Hospital Physicists Association and the British Institute of Radiology, of which he was president in 1961, publications and unpublished papers by him, and also some publications by others on subjects related to the work he was doing.
A very small amount of material, not classifiable under these headings, has been put together in a 'Personal' section.
While Spear originally studied tropical medicine, and spent some time at the Baptist Mission Hospital at Yakusu in the Belgian Congo in the early 1920s this aspect of his career is not represented in these papers.
Received along with Spear's papers were a number of notebooks formerly belonging to his first wife Ada Louisa Sowerby, which she kept during her nurse and midwifery training in London in the later 1920s.
The collection is divided into sections as follows:
A Personal [1/2 box]
B Radiological research at the SRL [11/2 boxes + 1 oversize]
C Strangeways Research Laboratory: historical items [4 boxes, 2 oversize]
D Other bodies [2 boxes]
E Writings: by Spear [3 boxes] and by others [11/2 boxes]
F A. Sowerby's notebooks [11/2 boxes]
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
The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:
PP/FGS/C.18, 'Lady le Bec' in Strangeways Research Laboratory, standing by noticeboard, 4 Mar 1937, L30339
PP/FGS/C.18, 'Lady le Bec' in Strangeways Research Laboratory, shaking hands with Honor Fell, 4 Mar 1937, L30340
PP/FGS/C.18, 'Lady le Bec' in Strangeways Research Laboratory, with Honor Fell laughing, 4 Mar 1937, L30341
In the Wellcome Library:
The archives of the Strangeways Research Laboratory are held as SA/SRL. The papers of Dr A. Glucksmann (GC/91) also have relevant material.
In other repositories:
Additional Spear papers on radiation martyrs are held at the British Institute of Radiology.
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 Migrants Refugees Pathology Diseases Neoplastic processes Neoplasms Biology Radiobiology Personnel management Conditions of employment Working conditions Occupational health and safety Literature Literary forms and genres Poetry Energy resources Nonrenewable energy sources Nuclear energy Therapy Medical sciences Radiotherapy Pathological conditions, signs and symptoms Pathologic processes British Institute of Radiology Hospital Physicists Association Strangeways Research Laboratory , Cambridge x Cambridge Research Hospital Spear , Frederick Gordon , 1895-1980 , radiologist Radiology Nursing Midwifery Health services Community health nursing Organization and administration Health services administration Public administration Government
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
These papers of Dr Spear were given to the Wellcome Library in 1986 by his daughter, Mrs G.M. Carpenter. Some additional material (originally in Mrs Carpenter's possession) was received from David Cantor in April 1991. A bound set of "tissue culture" reprints belonging to Spear was received from Dr. R. Lawrence of the Strangeways Research Laboratory in November 1995 (Acc. 601: PP/FGS/C.59-65).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Frederick Gordon Spear, 1908-1980. These papers fall naturally into several distinct groups; items pertaining to his radiological research conducted in Cambridge at the Strangeways Laboratory, materials about the Strangeways Laboratory as an institution, presumably accumulated during his many years as deputy director, papers relating to his connections with other bodies associated with radiology, such as the Hospital Physicists Association and the British Institute of Radiology, of which he was president in 1961, publications and unpublished papers by him, and also some publications by others on subjects related to the work he was doing.
A very small amount of material, not classifiable under these headings, has been put together in a 'Personal' section.
While Spear originally studied tropical medicine, and spent some time at the Baptist Mission Hospital at Yakusu in the Belgian Congo in the early 1920s this aspect of his career is not represented in these papers.
Received along with Spear's papers were a number of notebooks formerly belonging to his first wife Ada Louisa Sowerby, which she kept during her nurse and midwifery training in London in the later 1920s.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection is divided into sections as follows:
A Personal [1/2 box]
B Radiological research at the SRL [11/2 boxes + 1 oversize]
C Strangeways Research Laboratory: historical items [4 boxes, 2 oversize]
D Other bodies [2 boxes]
E Writings: by Spear [3 boxes] and by others [11/2 boxes]
F A. Sowerby's notebooks [11/2 boxes]
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
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
In the Wellcome Library:
The archives of the Strangeways Research Laboratory are held as SA/SRL. The papers of Dr A. Glucksmann (GC/91) also have relevant material.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:
PP/FGS/C.18, 'Lady le Bec' in Strangeways Research Laboratory, standing by noticeboard, 4 Mar 1937, L30339
PP/FGS/C.18, 'Lady le Bec' in Strangeways Research Laboratory, shaking hands with Honor Fell, 4 Mar 1937, L30340
PP/FGS/C.18, 'Lady le Bec' in Strangeways Research Laboratory, with Honor Fell laughing, 4 Mar 1937, L30341
Related units of description
In other repositories:
Additional Spear papers on radiation martyrs are held at the British Institute of Radiology.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Migrants
- Migrants » Refugees
- Pathology
- Pathology » Diseases
- Biology
- Biology » Radiobiology
- Personnel management
- Personnel management » Conditions of employment
- Personnel management » Conditions of employment » Working conditions
- Literature
- Literary forms and genres
- Literary forms and genres » Poetry
- Energy resources
- Energy resources » Nonrenewable energy sources
- Energy resources » Nonrenewable energy sources » Nuclear energy
- Therapy
- Medical sciences
- Medical sciences » Nursing
- Health services
- Government » Public administration
- Government
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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