Papers of Donald Elms Core

This collection consists of a small number of surviving paper of the Manchester neurologist Donald Core. These include a bound volume of examination papers, a photograph album, a notebook and sketchbook relating to blood and bone marrow cells and a bundle of letters and cuttings. Former reference: GC 1283

Donald Elms Core, neurologist, was the son of Thomas Hamilton Core, professor of physics at Owens College. He was born in Manchester on 14 October 1882 and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. Core received his medical education at Owens College and MRI; he won many prizes and qualified MB ChB in 1906. After qualifying, Core held junior positions at MRI, Christie Hospital and Derby Royal Infirmary. In 1907 Core went to Paris to do postgraduate work, attending hospital clinics at the University of Paris. Core gained an MD with distinction in 1910 at the University of Manchester. The previous year he had been elected Member of the Royal College of Physicians, London, (he was made a Fellow in 1927).

In 1912 Core returned to Paris where he worked on the morphology and physiology of cells of the blood and bone marrow at the Pasteur Institute under Elie Metchnikoff (1845-1916). Core served with the RAMC during the 1914-18 War in Mesopotamia. An attack of pleurisy and malaria left him with a debilitating illness from which he never entirely recovered. Core returned to Manchester and was appointed honorary assistant physician at MRI. At this time Core began to specialize in neurology and was put in charge of the neurology department at the Second Western General Hospital (a military hospital).

Core became a significant neurologist and psychiatrist. He was a lecturer in clinical medicine and neurology at Manchester University. Core wrote two books, Functional nerve disorders (1922) and Examination of the central nervous system (1928). The first was a scholarly work beyond the comprehension of most medical students, but the second aimed to bring understanding of neurology to those without neurological training. Core was noted for the degree of attention he gave his patients, and was considered an effective teacher. Although Core suffered ill health for many years, his death on 8 February 1934 was unexpected.

As there was no discernible original arrangement the items have been arranged in approximate chronological order. DEC/6 became detached form the collection after the deposit at the Library, but was reunited in 2016.

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

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.

Core's papers were kept with his library after his death; both the library and his papers were donated to the Library in 1971.

None expected.

The Manchester Medical Collection contains a publications file MMC/1/Core and biographical file MMC/2/Core  for Core.