MEDICS IN THE ARCHIVES GENNY SILVANUS

MEDICS IN THE ARCHIVES

BY GENNY SILVANUS RGS SCHOOL ARCHIVIST

RGS has a long tradition of ONs studying medicine and its branches. Indeed, between 1870 and 1890, nearly a third of all our pupils who continued their studies at university went to study medicine at the nearby College of Medicine, then part of Durham University. In this edition we are going to showcase some of the medical related items in the archive.

Brass, Atlas of Human Histology, translated by R A Young (1897). Plate B4: The Skin: Nerves and Sensory End Organs George Pallister (26-66) taught Biology and was the teacher in charge of the Sixth Form Medicals for many years. In the archive, we hold a series of named ‘Upper Sixth Medicals’ group photographs from 1949 until 1964 which he collected and deposited.

From the mid nineteenth century the school began to actively improve and diversify its library, and several scientific and natural world texts have survived. Possibly the prettiest of these is Dr Arnold Brass’ 1897 book Atlas of Human Histology with detailed colour plates. Stamped with ‘Plender Library’, which officially opened in 1931, it was clearly kept readily accessible for some time.

From the mid nineteenth century the school began to actively improve and diversify its library, and several scientific and natural world texts have survived.”

Our Novo magazine ran a series of articles entitled ‘What to do after leaving school’ between February 1891 and December 1892 (we ran to five issues a year at this time) with detailed advice. The careers suggested included a special focus on the newly regulated profession of dentistry (after the Dentists’ Act of 1878) and electrical engineering, which both ran to two parts. Medicine, veterinary surgeon, civil service, accountant and architect were also featured, along with the more established professions of law, church and teaching.

We also hold a VHS In Conversation with Dr C N Armstrong on his 100th Birthday, made in 1997. Charles Nathaniel or ‘Natty’ Armstrong (09-14) was a physician and endocrinologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary between 1928 and 1962, when he was appointed regional director of postgraduate education until 1970.

Aside from photographs and plans of past science rooms in the archive, we have a newly enhanced frieze in the corridor just outside the archive. Dating from the original building in 1906, it has been re-contextualised by the latest building works. Interestingly, it isn’t included in our book of ‘Estimates’ which includes the costs (and sketches) of every cornice and lintel, but it lists four pioneering scientists (Newton, Kelvin, Curie, Spencer—three of them highly contemporary with the opening of the Eskdale Terrace site).

Lastly, we keep a file of Old Novos, with details of their careers after they left school. If you would like to add your own career, medical or otherwise, then please get in touch!