Salvation Army personal papers collections: Colonel (Dr) Percy and Mrs Minnie Turner

These are the personal papers of Colonel (Dr) Percy and Mrs Minnie Turner (nee Mayger), also known by the Indian names Dayanasen and Dayanasie.

The records are arranged as follows:

PT/1 UK, 1892-1901

PT/2 India, 1901-1922

PT/3 UK, 1922-1955

Percy Turner (1870-1955) qualified as a surgeon and physician in 1893 before becoming a Salvation Army officer in 1894. He served as a commanding officer at several London corps before undertaking further medical study and qualifications from 1895-1900. He was transferred to South India to establish medical work in 1901; he established and served at Catherine Booth Hospital, Nagercoil, from 1901 until 1922 when he returned to the UK. From 1922 he served as Chief Medical Officer at International Headquarters until his retirement in 1937.

Minnie Turner, nee Mayger, (1872-1948) worked as an assistant housekeeper in a London medical centre and later was in charge of a hospital children's ward before training as a Salvation Army officer in 1901. She obtained the Hospital Certificate of a Maternity Nurse and served at two London based Women's Social Work homes: Ivy House Maternity Home [IVY] and The Nest Home for Mothers with Young Children [TN] before being transferred to India in 1902 to marry Percy Turner. In India she served as a nurse at Catherine Booth Hospital.

Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

A multi-level description of this collection can be accessed in the International Heritage Centre's online catalogue: http://www.calmview.eu/SalvationArmy/CalmView/. A paper catalogue is available in the reading room of the International Heritage Centre.