We’re delighted to launch a series of archive film footage.
‘A divine right to photograph’: E. Graeme Robertson’s historical motion pictures of National Hospital staff in 1933.
These remarkable films contain images of several historically significant neurologists, including Gordon Morgan Holmes (1876–1965), Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (1878–1937), Derek Denny-Brown (1901–1981), Macdonald Critchley (1900–1997), and several others. The article provides a contextual summary of the many clips recorded alongside an in-depth inventory of all the personalities represented in the 1933 film. Selected photographs are used to indicate the contents of these remarkable films.
- Toodayan, N., Robertson, D. G., Anderson, N. E., & Lees, A. J. (2024). ‘A divine right to photograph’: E. Graeme Robertson’s (1903–1975) historical motion pictures of National Hospital staff in 1933. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964704X.2024.2371801
- Film inventory
- Photographs
Film of Queen Square staff in 1930s
We are very grateful to Denis Robertson and Neil Anderson 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 below. We hold two DVD copies and one VHS video tape of the footage. We also hold a copy of “E.Graeme Robertson: Physician, Photographer, Preserver” by Denis Robertson. Signed by Denis Robertson, the son of E.Graeme Robertson, and donated via Nadeem Toodayan.
A gift to the archives from Nadeem Toodayan; with captions by Nadeem Toodayan, original unedited film donated by Denis Graeme Robertson in 2021.
John “Jock” Caughey’s copy of Square video filmed by E. Graeme Robertson. Captions by Professor Andrew Lees with the assistance of Dr Nadeem Toodayan. A gift to the archives from Professor Andrew Lees; original unedited film donated by Dr Neil Anderson in 2012; Neil received the DVD in August 2011 from Jock Caughey’s daughter Patricia Peterson.
Film of neurologists in 1950s
Additional film footage of neurologists taken by E.Graeme Robertson, including National Hospital staff, many of whom are now household names in the history of neurology, including Brinton, Bull, Davies, Denny Brown, Gordon Holmes, Greenfield, Hamilton Patterson, and Jefferson. A gift to the Archives by Professor Andrew Lees with assistance in identification by Dr Nadeem Toodayan and Dr Christoper Boes.
Queen Square past doctors
Three minute silent colour film footage focusing on individual staff members working at the National Hospital, many of whom are now household names in the history of neurology. Includes footage in Queen Square, at home, and overseas. Taken by E. Graeme Robertson in the 1950s. Captions by Professor Andrew Lees with the assistance of Dr Nadeem Toodayan.
Dr James Purdon Martin
Series of films depicting Dr James Purdon Martin and his research into patients with post-encephalitic Parkinsonism at the Highlands Hospital, Winchmore Hill in the 1960s.
* A film on balance and posture in patients with post-encephalitic Parkinsonism made by Dr James Purdon Martin in the 1960s
* Short film of Dr James Purdon Martin
* Patients with post-encephalitic Parkinson’s Disease at Highlands Hospital in Winchmore Hill in the 1960s
* A film of a patient with marche à petits pas
Professor William Ian McDonald in Queen Square and overseas
Six minute colour film of Professor McDonald talking about MS and drug treatments in 1993, attending a Queen Square Alumnus’ wedding in Brazil in 1994, and visiting Yerevan as a guest of the Russian Neurological Association in 2004.
National Hospital, Queen Square, 1949
This two minute B&W film features the National Hospital, Queen Square in 1949, shortly after the formation of the NHS. It shows a laboratory, outpatients waiting room and views of the Hospital entrance. An edited film from the British Pathe collection with captions by Professor Andrew Lees.
Queen Square: A Mike Dineen-Bedford Productions Film for the National Hospital Development Foundation, 1988
13 minute colour fundraising film featuring patients and staff of the National Hospitals and the Institute of Neurology, including a visit from Diana, Princess of Wales.
Christmas at Queen Square: A film of National Hospital staff and patients celebrating Christmas in 1951
Nine minute silent film footage focusing on nurses’ and patients’ Christmas celebrations in the National Hospital in 1951. Staff featured include Matron Ling, Sir Francis Walshe and Sir Ernest Gowers.
A film of patients with movement disorders made by Samuel Kinnier Wilson in Queen Square, London in the Mid-1920s
The 20-min silent film includes patients with senile tremor, Parkinson’s disease and postencephalitic parkinsonism, hemiballismus, Huntington’s chorea, Sydenham’s chorea, hysterical palsy and tremor, multiple sclerosis, and progressive lenticular degeneration. Created by Samuel Kinnier Wilson, with new captions by Professor Andrew Lees.
Gait : a film of patients with disorders affecting gait made by Dr E.A. Carmichael in Queen Square in 1953
This 32 minute colour film is a classic and remains a fitting memorial to Dr Carmichael (1896-1978) who was Director of the MRC neurological research unit in Queen Square, as well as a physician at the National Hospital. The film includes description and video of patients with defects of muscle, loss of peripheral nerve, damage to spinal cord, disturbance of pyramidal function, defects in sensation, cerebellar disturbance and abnormal movements. It was widely used in teaching until 1969.
A film of patients with Wilson’s Disease made by Professor Marsden
A 9 minute B&W and colour silent film showing five patients in the 1950s and 1960s with Wilson’s Disease (hepatolencticular degneration) including lack of arm mobility and articulation, involuntary movements, and impairments of walking and balance.
Three minute silent film footage of delegates from the National Hospital attending the First International Congress of Neurology, Berne, 1931
Features Gordon Holmes, Greenfield, Purdon Martin, Collier, Adie, Kinnier Wilson, Fergusson, Critchley, Purves Stewart.
Additional archive film footage will be added to a compilation on this website.
Stills from film footage of Queen Square staff in 1930s.
