Recent donations and acquisitions
In addition to the gifts below, we have digitised the following materials, which were kindly loaned to us by the Gowers family:
- several Gowers’ sketchbooks from the late 19th century. The sketchbooks include detailed drawings of St Ives, Dover, and Southwold, as well as collections of drawings of figures, and some watercolour landscapes.
- an extensive collection of correspondence, children’s journals and stories addressed to or written by Sir William Gowers, mainly written in the late 19th century. The digitised files of letters are available upon request or to view in the Library, while we obtain appropriate permissions to make these available online. Correspondents include Kipling, Lister, Jenner, and Hughlings Jackson, writing on a variety of topics, along with numerous letters of congratulations on Gowers’s knighthood. An inventory of these is available on request.
- Children’s Journals .
We have also launched a series of archive film footage featuring Queen Square staff.
Martin Kenig (grand nephew of Risien Russell’s daughter) has kindly provided some wonderful pictures which have now been digitised for Queen Square Archive. Selected images have been added to the website.
The following recent acquisitions are held in UCLH Archives in 250 Euston Road:
Bronze bust of Johanna Chandler by H.O. Wilson in 1875.
Please see our Acquisitions policy (PDF document) for further information on donating to Queen Square Archives.
Queen Square Archive are delighted to have received the following donations:
October 2024
Sir Victor Horsley papers donated by Serena Stephenson, including press cuttings, letters and other correspondence. Selected images will be added to the website. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
These complement existing collections of Horsley papers at Queen Square Archives and UCL Special Collections.
June 2024
Extensive materials relating to Dr John Steele’s research on lytico-bodig disease in Guam: including patient files and medical correspondence. Donated by Dr Steele’s family, with many thanks to Julia Steele. Available to view in the Library upon request.
September 2023
Photographs of J.H.Nichol (engineer at NHNN) at his wedding, and photograph of group of NHNN staff taken by J.H. Nichol in 1939/1940s. Available to view in the Library upon request.
July 2023
A copy of “Nursing a Nation: An anthology of African and Caribbean Contributions to Britain’s Health Services”. This book includes a chapter on Kathleen Pyne, who worked at the National Hospital in the late 1960s, and whose photo is featured in Queen Square: a History of the National Hospital and its Institute of Neurology. There is also a chapter on Risien Russell. Donated by Miranda Pyne, and available to view in the Library upon request.
June 2023
Copies of The Queen Square Screening Test for Cognitive Deficits translated into Dutch and Finnish. Donated by David Blundred. Available to view in the Library upon request.
May 2023
A copy of “E.Graeme Robertson: Physician, Photographer, Preserver” by Denis Robertson. Donated and signed by Denis Robertson, the son of E.Graeme Robertson, via Nadeem Toodayan. Available to view in the Library upon request. Graeme Robertson completed his Postgraduate training in Queen Square in the 1930s, and took the 1930s film footage which is also in the Archive collection referred to below. Film footage is available online.
August 2022
A personal copy of Thrombo-Phlebitis Cerebrales (Cerebral Venous Thrombophlebitis) by Raymond Garcin and Maurice Pestel (1949), sent by the authors to Dr Purdon Martin
The volume is autographed by Garcin, who was a well known Parisian neurologist of the time, with a nice note (in French) addressed to Dr. J. Purdon-Martin, who was a consultant neurologist at Queen Square for very many decades. Within the book, there is a carbon copy of a personal letter that Dr. Martin-Purdon wrote from The National Hospital to Dr. Garcin in 1960. There are also two hand-written notes by Dr. Purdon-Martin towards the end of the book.
Donated by Dr Peter Enevoldson, retired neurologist and Medical Director from the Walton Centre in Liverpool, who worked at NHNN as a senior registrar in 1992. Available to view in the Library upon request.
May 2022
Both volumes of Sir Henry Head’s book on “Aphasia and Kindred Disorders of Speech” (1926); and a copy of vol 46, part 4 of the journal Brain (1923) with an article by Sir Henry Head on “Speech and Cerebral Localization” stamped with Sir Henry Head’s name and address. Donated by Sir Henry Head’s great-great niece. Available to view in the Library upon request.
September 2021
Set of polaroid photographs from a QS Alumni Association meeting at AAN, donated by Michael Finkel. Photographs include Dr Steiner (Chile), Dina Sleeman, Rolf Nyberg-Hansen (Norway), Oswaldo Furtinoni (Argentina), Ian McDonald and Michael Finkel. Photographs will be digitised and available on request from the Library.
April 2021
Two volumes written by Geoffrey Robinson, Secretary of the National Hospital (1959-1980): “Hospital Accountancy and Finance : including the requirements of the National Health Service Act, 1946” and “Hospital Administration”. Donated by Valerie Pedlar (nee Robinson). Available to view in the Library upon request.
January 2021
Film footage of Queen Square staff in 1930s
We are very grateful to Denis Robertson for supplying Queen Square Archives with digitised cine film footage taken by E Graeme Robertson in 1933, and to George Kaim for creating a set of stills, which we are making available on our website.
December 2019
A collection of materials relating to nursing at the National Hospital. Includes a file of articles, 2 copies of 1970 postgraduate nursing school prospectus, a copy of Lady Superintendent’s report 1902-3, a set of laminated photographs, 3 copies of nursing lectures notes, and exhibition materials on the massage school, and on male nurses and the first nurse at the National Hospital. Donated by Alree Marsh, Matron, Specialist Services, UCLH. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
October 2019
A year in Queen Square 1967-68. Memories of Jock Murray, Professor Emeritus, Dalhousie University, of his time in - and the people of - the National Hospital, Queen Square. Available for reference in the Library upon request.
September 2019
Remembering Gerald Stern. Donated by Professor Andrew Lees. The book is available for reference in the Library upon request.
August 2019
IMPACT! Brain Injuries and WWI: An overview of the research with interpretations of the experiences of soldiers treated for brain injuries in WW1 by the Headway Research Group. Includes visit to Queen Square Archives in July 2018. The book is available for reference in Queen Square Library upon request. it is also available on the Headway Cambridgeshire website
January 2019
Book of photographs of NHNN, focusing on the Postgraduate School of Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing class of 1963. Donated by Nancy Merson (nee Wheaton) who was a member of the 1963 class. The book is available for reference in the Library upon request, and photographs have been added to our website.
October 2018
Queen Square: a VHS video film for the NHDF written and directed by Mike Dineen Converted to DVD. Features: John Young, Diana Princess of Wales, Sister Swan, Andrew Lees, Peter Gautier Smith, David Marsden, David McManus, David Miller, Ian MacDonald, Mark Noble, Anita Harding, Martin Rossor, Elizabeth Warrington, Philippa Bartlett, Linda Luxon, John Marshall, Richard Frackowiak, Leslie Iverson, Daniel Jeanmonod, David Thomas, Lyndsey Symon, Doreen Jewkes, Annette O’Hare, Mark Wiles.
Available to view in the Library by appointment.
September 2018
Needlepoint National Hospital logo from a cushion, donated by Thomas Aird. On display in the Library.
July 2018
A transcription of Gowers’ shorthand diaries which has been diligently transcribed by Ann Scott. Two hard copies are available in the Library.
This includes two diaries kept while he was a medical apprentice and a great deal of detail about daily life in Coggeshall, Essex, in the 1860s. The most interesting of the entries were incorporated into the following book: William Richard Gowers 1845-1915, Exploring the Victorian Brain Ann Scott, Mervyn Eadie, and Andrew Lees. OUP, 2012
A plaque commemorating the Prince of Wales opening the Gilbert Macdonald NMR suite on 7th February 1984. Donated by David McManus and available to view in the Library by appointment.
January 2018
Several items of nursing uniform from NHNN in the 1970s, including a cape and aprons, belonging to Anne Nicholson. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
December 2017
Photograph album of polaroids of IoN elective students 2011-14. This completes the set from 1989-2014. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
September 2016
Sir Victor Horsley photographs
Fourteen photos donated by the Horsley family, including Horsley and colleagues, Horsley in uniform, group photographs and Horsley’s grave; Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
September 2016
IoN Education Unit materials
Alumni newsletters, teaching programmes, student group photographs and inaugural lecture correspondence. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
July 2016
Sir Walter Morley Fletcher’s collection of World War 1 case notes, 1915-1917
Sir Walter Morley Fletcher was a physiologist and the first Secretary of the Medical Research Council. He collected these case notes, which were sent to him by various physicians, in his role for the Committee for the Medical History of the War.
The case notes record information including the name, age, rank, regiment, civilian address, patient’s conditions/injuries, and in some cases diagrams and drawings reflecting these. Also includes reports. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
January 2016
Original article manuscript with hand coloured plates by Dr Charles Beevor from a landmark 1909 paper : On the Distribution of the Different Arteries Supplying the Human Brain. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Includes related correspondence and articles. Donated by Professor Alastair Compston. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
Oil painting by Sophie Gresswell donated by the National Brain Appeal. The painting, It’s Not Brain Surgery (Mind-Blown) was completed at a paint-a-thon at The National Hospital. Available to view in the Library by appointment.
December 2015
Papers, photographs and objects relating to the history of nursing education at the National Hospital, including: course handbooks; nursing certificates; annual reports; recruitment material ; files of correspondence and lecture notes, including Matron Ling and Sister Rubin ; diagrams and plans; video material; photographs of students, Queen Square buildings and equipment; brooches. Donated by Thomas Aird. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
November 2015
Device for making embossed Maida Vale Hospital logos. Donated via the Joint Research Office, UCL. Available to view in the Library.
July 2015
One file of Queen Square correspondence and research information belonging to Sir Victor Horsley, donated by Sophia Heseltine. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
February 2015
Over 40 volumes of operation books (including ones bound by surgeon, e.g. McKissock) from National Hospital theatres department. Covering 1940s-1990s. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of a case note request form (subject to authorisation).
January 2015
Glass plaques featuring the National Hospital logo and the Institute of Neurology logo, and a painting of Sir Geoffrey Jefferson. Donated by the National Brain Appeal. Available to view in the Library by appointment on completion of an access request form.
August 2014
Framed honorary degree awarded by the previous King of Italy to Hughlings Jackson. Elaborate parchment in Latin. The degree was awarded during the Octocentenary Festival of the University of Bologna, June 1888. Accompanied by the great seal of Bologna University. Donated by George Harwood. On display in the Louise Shepherd Room in Queen Square Library.
Meryvn Peake’s case notes from the National Hospital, donated by Andrew Lees. The material has been catalogued, and is available to view in the Library by appointment, on completion of a case note request form (subject to authorisation).
Box of black and white and colour photographs donated by National Brain Appeal, including Princess Diana and other royal visits, Institute of Neurology and National Hospital staff and volunteers, both group and individual photographs. These have been digitised and are available to view in the Library by appointment, or upon completion of an image request form.
March 2014
A set of old laboratory scales, which were used in the Maida Vale laboratory since it opened in the late 1940s, donated by Professor Tamas Revesz. This is on display in the Modern Classics room in Queen Square Library.
September 2013
Photographs, drawings and plans of Queen Square, East Finchley and Maida Vale buildings from 1890s-1960s, along with a banner to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the hospital, and a National Hospital plaque, all donated by Derek Mason.
Includes 12 black and white photos of Queen Square buildings in the 1960s, 20 colour photos of the chapel which was at No.33 Queen Square, 8 drawings of East Finchley in 1997, over 20 plans of East Finchley from 1890s-1920s, 11 bound plans of Queen Mary Wing from 1930s, 2 plans of National Hospital buildings in Queen Square from 1930s, 1 plan of Maida Vale buildings from 1916.
The above materials have been catalogued and are available to view in the Library via appointment on completion of an access request form. National Hospital plans have been digitised and some are available on the Queen Square Archives website
Please contact neuroarchives@ucl.ac.uk for further details.