H S Raper Papers

This material is held atUniversity of Manchester Library

  • Reference
    • GB 133 HSR
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1890s-1930s
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 0.3 li.m. 25 items
  • Location
    • Collection available at University Archive and Records Centre, main University Library.

Scope and Content

A small collection of papers of the physiologist H. S. Raper, mainly containing research notes.

HSR/1 includes notebooks of research and teaching undertaken at the University of Leeds, University of Toronto, Lister Institute, University of Strasbourg and Manchester. HSR/2 contains mainly typescript/manuscript drafts of Raper's published papers, plus some miscellaneous research notes. Most of this material dates from the inter-war period.

Some of this material is difficult to decipher, but overall it does provide information, albeit fragmentary, on the development of Raper's research activities from the early 1900s to the 1930s.

Administrative / Biographical History

Herbert Stanley Raper studied chemistry at Yorkshire College Leeds, and graduated with first class honours in 1903. He then worked at the Lister Institute in London before returning to Leeds to read for a medical degree. He qualified in 1910, and was awarded the D.Sc in the same year. He was lecturer in pathology at Toronto University from 1910-13, but in 1913 returned to Leeds as lecturer in physiology and biochemistry. Raper was appointed professor of physiology at Leeds in 1918, having worked during the war at the Royal Engineers Anti-Gas Establishment.

In 1923 he was elected to the Brackenbury chair of physiology at the University of Manchester. He remained in this post until 1946, when he transferred to the chair of chemical physiology. He was also honorary advisor in physiology at MRI from 1923-1951 and served as dean of the University Medical School on several occasions. Raper was member of the Medical Research Council from 1933-9, and of the General Medical Council from 1943-51. He was president of the Manchester Medical Society in 1938.

Raper was a member of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board from inception in 1948 until his death, and was chairman of the Manchester Dental Hospital in the same period. He was elected FRS in 1929 and was a member of the Society's Council from 1939-41. Raper's research interests were in biochemistry, particularly the metabolism of fats, the formation of melanin and tyrosinase-tyrosine reactions. Raper played a significant role in developing the University's capability for medical research, and was considered one of the leading biochemists of his day.

Arrangement

Divided into two series:

  • HSR/1 - notebooks
  • HSR/2 - draft publications and associated materials

Access Information

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

The collection includes material which is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998. Under Section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) holds the right to process personal data for research purposes. The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2000 enables the JRUL to process sensitive personal data for research purposes. In accordance with the DPA, the JRUL has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately. Users of the archive are expected to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, and will be required to sign a form acknowledging that they will abide by the requirements of the Act in any further processing of the material by themselves.

Acquisition Information

Unknown - presumably transferred to the Medical Library after Raper's death.

Conditions Governing Use

Photocopies and photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.

Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.

Custodial History

Unknown.

Accruals

None expected.

Related Material

Publications and Biographical files for Raper in the Manchester Medical Collection (MMC/1/Raper; MMC/2/Raper).