GB 0120 PP/FGS - Spear, Frederick Gordon, (1895-1980)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 PP/FGS

Title

Spear, Frederick Gordon, (1895-1980)

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.

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Physicists Association and the British Institute of Radiology, of which he was president in 1961, publications and unpublished papers by him, and also some publications by others on subjects related to the work he was doing.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.

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

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