Papers of Sir Thomas Richard Fraser (1841-1920)

The collection is composed of: lecture notes on material medica, 1881-1890; synopsis of lectures on material medica, 1891; detail about experiments on frog's heart with bodies of digitalin group, 1886; and, a communication based on a memorandum on the subject of transient albuminuria.

Thomas Richard Fraser was born in Calcutta, India, on 5 February 1841. He was educated at public schools in Scotland and then studied at Edinburgh University, graduating with the degree of M.D. in 1862. He was appointed as an Assistant Physician at the city's Royal Infirmary in 1869 and in 1877 he succeeded to the Chair of Materia Medica, and in 1878 the Chair of Clinical Medicine. Fraser published many papers in practical medicine, particularly on the action and therapeutic uses of medicinal substances, and also on serpent's venom. In addition to his academic work, he was President of the Indian Plague Commission, 1898-1901, President of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Edinburgh, 1901-1903, and representative of the University on the General Medical Council from 1905. He was knighted in 1902, and was an Honorary Physician to the King in Scotland. Sir Thomas Richard Fraser died on 4 January 1920.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Easterbrook lectures acquired June 1972, Accession no. E72.26. Communication on albuminuria, acquired November 1967, Accession no. E67.22.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Rice, D. Talbot (comp.). The university portraits. pp.81-82. Edinburgh: The University Press, 1957. (2) Who was who 1916-1928.3rd edition. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1962.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The local Indexes show other references to Fraser related material (check the Indexes for more details): a notice of, in Sir J.S. Flett's account of his student days, 1886-1894, at Dc.6.116, ff.46-47; a letter about from W. C. Sillar to Professor J. H. Gaddum, at Dk.7.27, iii; and, a photograph (carte de visite). In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes: lecture notes, circa 1910, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Ref. Fraser NRA 16015 Coll of Physicians