Glasgow University Archive Services Repository Code: GB 0248
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Glasgow University Archive Services Repository Code: GB 0248 University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ Tel: 0141 330 5515 Email: [email protected] Records of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science GB 0248 GUA FM Compiled by Monica Greenan, Archivist 03 February 2004 Introduction INTRODUCTION IDENTITY Reference Code GB 0248 GUA FM Title Records of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science Covering dates 1905-1984 Extent 271 cm of textual records, 839 photographs, and c. 800 glass slides Name of creator(s) Department of Forensic Medicine and Science CONTEXT Administrative history With the royal appointment of the Regius Chair of Medical Jurisprudence in 1839, the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science at the University of Glasgow was founded. Although teaching in forensic medicine had been provided in the Medical School of Glasgow prior to 1839, it had not been formally instituted in the University. The first appointment to the Chair was Robert Cowan, whose title appeared in Royal Warrant as Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Forensic Medicine, but was known in practice as Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Medical Police and was described as such in the University Calendars. Teaching was initially provided within the Faculty of Medicine and in 1864 forensic medicine also became a part of the law curriculum. Since its establishment, the department has existed for the purposes of teaching, research, and provision of services to the police and courts of law. During the tenure of the second Regius Professor, Harry Rainy, the chair was usually referred to as Forensic Medicine rather than Medical Jurisprudence. In 1894 the department itself became known as Forensic Medicine, but still offered teaching in medico-legal subjects and public health. Lectures were intended to elucidate the application of medical science to civil or criminal judicial proceedings. The department was housed in the new Gilbert Scott building (opened in 1870) in the East Quadrangle, occupying a lecture theatre and three rooms. When John Glaister was appointed in 1898, it was as Professor of Forensic Medicine and Public Health, teaching medical jurisprudence to law students and both medical jurisprudence and public health to medical students. In 1903 Professor Glaister began teaching the first Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degrees in Public Health at the University of Glasgow, but gave up teaching this subject in 1922, ending the relationship between public health and forensic medicine at the University. A new chair of public health was created in 1923 (Ordinance 113). In 1907, Forensic Medicine moved into purpose built accommodation in the new medical buildings. Glaister became a hugely influential figure in the Scottish legal system, after becoming Medico-legal Examiner in Crown cases in the West of Scotland and providing medical evidence in notable criminal trials in neighbouring and other districts. His son, John Glaister Jnr. joined the department in 1919 to work as an assistant, returning in 1931 as Regius Professor. The two men built one of the United Kingdom's leading Forensic Medicine and Science departments, and their impact and influence remains significant in the field due to their high profile work and their textbook, Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, which ran to thirteen editions between 1902 and 1973. In 1979 the department became known as Forensic Medicine and Science, the name it retains to this day. At the end of 1987, the department moved from 8 University Gardens (which it had occupied since 1955) to its present location in the Joseph Black building. The Department (the second oldest in the United Kingdom) is now one of the largest in Europe with twenty staff including teaching staff, researchers, and technicians, and is now part of the Division of Community-Based Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine. The Forensic Medicine and Science Department provides undergraduate teaching in the faculties of Medicine, Science and Law. Subspecialities within the department include forensic pathology, forensic toxicology, clinical forensic medicine, forensic haemogenetics and facial identification. The Forensic Pathology section of the department carries out post mortem examinations for the Procurator Fiscals of Glasgow and the surrounding regions under contract with the Crown Office (the central legal authority in Scotland). Pathologists within the Section carry out up to 2,500 examinations each year. The Forensic Toxicology service now provides one of the largest services of its kind in Western Europe, having developed over the last 35 years to provide a service to the police forces across Scotland, the Procurators Fiscal in Strathclyde and other regions, and the Armed Forces. CONTENT Scope and content The fonds is comprised of the records created by the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University in its roles of research, teaching, and medico-legal work for the Crown authorities. There are seven series reflecting the range of functions of the department. Series include departmental administrative records, case files relating to criminal and civil cases as well as enquiries made upon the department, police photographs, departmental photographs, and materials relating to the production of departmental publications including textbooks, articles, and reports. Arrangement The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received and is described in many instances to item level. CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE Conditions governing access Certain files are restricted in accordance with data protection legislation. Bona fide researchers should apply in writing to the University Archivist. Copyright/Conditions governing reproduction Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the University Archivist Any work based on the use of this material, which is intended for publication, must be submitted to the University Archivist for approval prior to that publication. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents Language of material English Physical characteristics and technical requirements None which affect the use of this material i Introduction ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Archival history Material from the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science was received directly. The material transferred by the Centre for the History of Medicine, University of Glasgow had been brought together in the research for the publication On Soul and Conscience: The Medical Expert and Crime (1988) by M Anne Crowther and Brenda White. Immediate source of acquisition or transfer Parts of the fonds were transferred to GUAS by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science in 1979 (Accession number 0020), 1988 (Accession number 1025), 1989 (Accession number 1075) and 2001 (Accession number 2133). The remainder of the material was transferred from the Centre for the History of Medicine at the University of Glasgow in 2002 (Accession number 2239). Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures Accruals None expected Existence and location of originals Some originals of reports submitted to the Crown authorities are held at the National Archives of Scotland Existence and location of copies No known copies Related material See GB-0248-DC 403: Papers of John Glaister Senior (1856-1932) and John Glaister Junior (1892-1971), Professors of Forensic Medicine Bibliography Crowther, M.A. White, Brenda On soul and conscience : the medical expert and crime : 150 years of forensic medicine in Glasgow . Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1988. Note Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated. Rules and conventions Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives, Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names Date(s) of descriptions Fonds level description compiled by Monica Greenan, Archivist, 03 February 2004. ii Table of contents TABLE OF CONTENTS REFERENCE TITLE PAGE GUA FM/1 Departmental administrative and teaching materials 1 1948-1984 .......................................................................................... GUA FM/2 Case Files 1906-1969 .................................................................... 2 GUA FM/2A Subject Files ca. 1931-1953 ....................................................................................... 2 GUA FM/2B Case Files 1906-1969 ................................................................................................. 28 GUA FM/2C Accidental Death Case Files 1926-1942 .................................................................... 35 GUA FM/2D Road Traffic Accident Case Files 1940-1943 ............................................................ 35 GUA FM/2E Blood Testing Case Files 1928-1943 ......................................................................... 36 GUA FM/3 Police Photographs 1940s-1960s .............................................. 37 GUA FM/4 Departmental Photographs ca 1909-ca 1962 ......................... 38 GUA FM/5 Departmental Publications- Textbooks 1936-1972 ............... 41 GUA FM/6 Departmental Publications- Reports and Articles 43 1906-1974 .......................................................................................... Catalogue CATALOGUE