Withering Collection: Papers of T.W. Peck and K.D. Wilkinson

The collection comprises the papers of T.W. Peck and K.D. Wilkinson relating to their research on William Withering and their resulting publication 'William Withering of Birmingham' (Bristol, 1950). It includes typescripts; engravings of contemporaries of Withering; printed items mostly relating to Withering; documents, wills and papers of the Withering Family; correspondence comprising typed copies of originals in the Royal Society and Birmingham Assay office; miscellaneous printed items.

Biographical information about Withering's biographers:
Thomas Whitmore Peck became interested in researching and tracing the Withering family tree in about 1912. He collaborated with (Kenneth) Douglas Wilkinson (1886-1951), who had acquired a number of Withering letters and documents, in research for a biography of William Withering. However, according to the Preface of the published volume written by Wilkinson, a serious illness 'overwhelmed' Peck in early 1944 and consequently, the actual writing and general plan of the book must be attributed to Wilkinson. Wilkinson was educated at Birmingham University (MB, Ch.B 1909; MD 1912; MRCP 1914; FRCP 1929) and from 1925 was physician to the Birmingham United Hospital and consulting physician to Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Professor of Therapeutics in the University of Birmingham, 1929-1946. In addition to the Withering book, his publications include 'The History of the Birmingham Medical School', 1925, and various articles in professional journals.

Reference: Who was who, 1951-1960

Biographical information about Withering:
William Withering, botanist and physicist, is credited with the introduction of digitalis into the practice of medicine. Withering was born in Wellington, Shropshire, in 1741. He followed in the medical footsteps of his father who was an apothecary-surgeon. Withering received his degree in 1766 from the University of Edinburgh. Withering published 19 articles during his lifetime. After fighting a long battle with tuberculosis, he died on 6 October 1799, at the age of 58. Digitalis purpurea in Withering's 18th century was a blessing for people with dropsy. At the same time, foxglove concotions began to appear in an attempt to cure, albeit unsucessfuly, illnesses such as asthma, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, insanity and others. The 18th century brought foxglove into medical light, but it would take several hundred years before its true healing powers could be harnessed completely.

Reference: Hand Kocher, Digitalis Purpurea Cardia Glycoside (http://www.csoll.tamu.edu/FLORA/wilson/481/medbot/bot2.htm )

The collection is arranged chronologically within the sequences described above.

Open, access to all registered researchers.

This collection was deposited as a gift in 1971 by Wilkinson's wife.

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department also hold the Withering Letters, a collection of original letters of William Withering (GB 0150 WL).