Bartolom Papers

Documents relating to the history of the de Bartolomfamily of Sheffield

The collection consists of documents relating to the history of the de Bartolomfamily, which has a close connection with Sheffield and its University through two of its members, Dr Mariano Alejo Martin de Bartolom (1813-1890) and Dr Stephen Martin de Bartolom(1919-2001). It also includes a scrapbook dating from the earlier period, formerly in the possession of Dr Mariano Martin de Bartolom's family, and two 19th-century printed books on Spanish subjects. Two embroidered Spanish waistcoats which came with the documents are now in the care of the University's Heritage Officer. Mariano's grandson, Dr Stephen Martin de Bartolom, has contributed a collection of his own speeches as Master Cutler, University officer and Chairman of a variety of business concerns to the collection. In 1998 one of the University buildings was named 'BartolomHouse' in honour of the family and its connection with this institution.

The centenary history of the Sheffield General Infirmary by J.D. Leader and S. Snell (an institution honoured in 1897 with the title 'Royal Infirmary', the year in which the history was published by the Infirmary Board), contains a portrait of that eminent physician together with an account of his life, describing him thus: 'Dr. Bartolom, or to give him his full name, Dr Mariano Martin de Bartolom, was a Spaniard by birth and came of an old Castilian family. He was born at Segovia... His father was Governor of the province, and in the troublous political times his family were driven out of the country in 1832'. Before arriving in England he spent some time in exile in Jersey, and there 'met and married Miss [Mary] Parker, a Sheffield lady, and it was through this marriage that his association with this city was brought about... He apparently visited Sheffield in the same year' - the year that cholera came to Sheffield. He went to Edinburgh to study medicine and graduated there as a Doctor of Medicine in 1837. The following year he returned to Sheffield as a medical practitioner, joining the staff of the Dispensary (which later became the Royal Hospital) in 1840. From 1846 Dr Bartolomwas attached to the Infirmary as a physician, a role which continued for forty-three years, and at the same time to the Medical School, of which he subsequently became President. He was also a prominent Sheffield Freemason. In 1848 he was granted British citizenship. His first marriage was childless, but after the death of his wife he remarried in 1860, his second wife being Mary Jackson - one of their sons becoming Admiral Sir Charles Bartolom, one-time 3rd Sea Lord. Due to ill health Bartolomresigned from the Infirmary in May 1889. Following his death in June 1890 he was interred at Ecclesfield Churchyard.

Mariano de Bartolom's grandson, Dr Stephen M. de Bartolom, carried on the Sheffield connection, although at the time of his birth (4th May 1919) his father's family had left the city. His own father was the third son of Mariano (who had eight children). At one-time a student at Sheffield University, though not taking a degree, he came to Sheffield to work for the tool manufacturing firm Spear and Jackson, of which he became Chairman, and established a notable business career as Chairman or Vice-Chairman in a succession of companies in the Sheffield area: Spear & Jackson, Sheffield; Carlton Holdings, Wakefield; Pegler Hattersley, Doncaster (Vice-Chairman); Clay Cross Co., Clay Cross; Stephenson Blake, Sheffield; Wagon Finance, Sheffield. In addition he was a non-executive Director in the North of England of both the Trustee Savings Bank and the Yorkshire and Lancashire Investment Trust. Other prominent roles in Sheffield included membership of the Council of the University for a full half-century from 1950 onwards, with service on many of the University's committees; the Cutlers' Company (as Master Cutler 1962-63); Sheffield Town Trust; Radio Sheffield (Chairman at its commencement in 1967); Yorkshire and Humberside Development Board (Chairman). Honours awarded include a CBE (1979), and the Honorary degree of LL.D, University of Sheffield (1981). His death occurred in August 2001.

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Donated by Dr Stephen Martin de Bartolom

Entry prepared by Lawrence Aspden

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