He first worked as Surgeon for the City Line Ltd shipping company; then
acted as Assistant to Dr Gowans in South Shields, where he was also the
Assistant Medical Officer on the HMS Wellesley Tyne training ship for boys and
Green's Home. On returning to Glasgow he was appointed Senior Assistant
Resident Medical Officer in the Victoria Infirmary in
In 1914 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, whereupon he acted as Officer-in-Charge of the Medical Division in the Auxiliary Hospital, Woolwich and the Royal Herbert Hospital. In France he became Registrar of the No.72 General Hospital, Deauville then rose to the rank of Major and was twice mentioned in dispatches.
From 1920 until his death he held the
appointment of Regional Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health. Dr Duncanson
had been Secretary and Vice-President of the Therapeutical Section of the Royal
Society of Medicine, and for some years he was a member of the National
Formulary Subcommittee of the Insurance Acts Committee. He was also a medical
referee for the Miners' Phthisis Board Union South Africa. He died on 24
June
Sources: Glasgow University student records;
Arranged chronologically within record series.
In the custody of the creator's family before gifting to GUAS
Gifts : Miss Duncanson : 2006 : ACCN 2853 and 2014 : ACCN 3827
This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures
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Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents
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This material is original
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Digital file level list available in searchroom
GB 0248 ACCN 3827, Papers of Dr John Cunningham Duncanson.
No known publications
Description compiled in line with the following international
standards:
Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.
Fonds level compiled by MD Abraham, Archive Volunteer, 22 May 2006; lower levels compiled by M D Abraham, Archive Volunteer, May 2006 and Sarah Beckinsale, Archive Assistant, 01 March 2007. Revisions to EAD by Alma Topen, Senior Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing), June 2014. Amended by Sam Maddra, Assistant Archivist (cataloguing), 30 June 2014.
Pre-printed cards. The information includes list of classes, times of classes and names of professors and lecturers, on the reverse.
Chronological
Card No. 83. Former reference DC064/50/24.
Card No. 394. Former reference DC064/50/25.
Card No. 154. Former reference DC064/50/26.
Admission tickets to allow James Gray Duncanson to attend classes at the University of Glasgow and the Western Infirmary as part of his medical studies. The cards include the name of the class, but not always the name of the lecturer or professor.
Chronological
Professor F O Bower's class. Student No. 43. Former reference DC64/50/9.
Professor F O Bower 's class. Student No. 12. Former reference DC64/50/8.
Class of Professor John G McKendrick, MD, LLD, FRS. Student No. 39.
Signed by AW Russell, Superintendent. Student No. 742.
Signed by A W Russell, Superintendent. Student No. 1283. Former reference DC64/50/23.
Class of Professor John G McKendrick, MD, LL.D, FRS. Student No. 16.
Student No. 80. Former reference DC64/50/4.
Signed by Prof Joseph Coats. Former reference DC64/50/16.
Certificate of attendence on the reverse, signed by J A Ferguson, MD that James Duncanson had attended very regularly. Student No. 31, bench 2.
Lectures by William Leishman, MD. Certificate of attendance on the reverse, signed by William Leishman, MD. Student No. 77. Former reference DC64/50/11.
For class of William Leishman, MD. Student No. 6. Certificate of attendance on reverse, Apr 1891.
Class tickets and certificates confirming, and rating, Duncanson's attendance at classes, examinations, lectures and tutorials. Signed by the Professor for that class. The tickets and forms are pre-printed and are filled out by the professor for that particular class.
Chronological
Signed by Professor John Young, MD, certifying that Duncanson's attendance was very regular and he had attended all the examinations. Former reference DC64/50/13.
Signed by Professor John Ferguson, certifying that Duncanson had attended all lectures, tutorial classes and examinations most regularly. Former reference DC64/50/18.
Signed by Professor John Cleland, MD, LLD, DSc, FRS, certifying that Duncanson's attendance was most regular and he had been present at all examinations. Former reference DC64/50/14.
Signed by Professor John Cleland, certifying that Duncanson had dissected an upper limb and a head and neck. Former reference DC64/50/5.
Signed by Prof F Orpen Bower, certifying that Duncanson had attended 11 of 13 lectures.
Signed by Prof F Orpen Bower, certifying that Duncanson had attended a class of Practical Botany in the Botanical Laboratory.
Signed by Prof John Ferguson, certifying that Duncanson had attended the class from 2nd May and the examinations "with perfect regularity". Former reference DC64/50/19.
Signed by Professor John G McKendrick, certifying that Duncanson had attended his course of 100 lectures during the winter session of 1888-1889. Former reference DC64/50/2.
Signed by Professor John Cleland, certifying that Duncanson had dissected a head and neck, thorax and abdomen. Former reference DC64/50/15.
Signed by Professor John Cleland, certifying that Duncanson 's attendance was regular. Former reference DC64/50/17.
Signed by Sir George MacLeod, Surgeon to the Infirmary, certifying that Duncanson had acted as a dresser in the surgical wards under his charge from Nov to April, that his attendance was regular and that he performed all the duties of the office satisfactorily.
Signed by Professor John Cleland, certifying that Duncanson had attended lectures on comparative anatomy, embryology, surgical anatomy and had dissected a lower limb. Former reference DC64/50/1.
Signed by Professor McKendrick, certifying that Duncanson had attended instruction in Practical Physiology, including Histology. Former reference DC64/50/3
Signed by George Beatson and J Crawford Renton that Duncanson had attended for three months.
Signed by Sir George MacLeod, certifying that Duncanson had attended a course of instruction on the cases of patients, including two lectures in each week from Nov 1888 to April 1889 equivalent to a six months' qualifying course.
Signed by Sir George MacLeod, with notes on reverse about his attendance, oral examinations, written work. Former reference DC64/50/21.
Signed by Professor M Charteris, MD, certifying that Duncanson had attended the class regularly. Former reference DC64/50/6.
Signed by Professor T McCall Anderson, certifying that Duncanson had attended a course of instruction on the cases of patients in the Infirmary including two lectures in each week from May to July 1889 equivalent to a three months' qualifying course.
Signed by Professor M Charteris certifying that Duncanson's attendance was very regular, he had attended all the examinations and that he was awarded a second class merit certificate. Former reference DC64/50/7.
Signed by Professor John Cleland, certifying that Duncanson had dissected an upper limb, thorax and abdomen. Former reference DC64/50/20.
Signed by Prof Gairdner that Duncanson had attended this course regularly.
Signed by Wm Dun and John Alexander that Duncanson had attended for three months.
Signed by James W Allan, Physician -Superintendent, that Duncanson attended the course regularly. Former reference DC64/50/22.
Signed by Joseph Coats, MD that Duncanson had attended during the session 1889-1890.
Signed by George Buchanan, Surgeon to the Infirmary, that Duncanson had acted as Reporter from May till July, that his attendance was regular and that he performed all the duties of the office well. Former reference DC64/50/31.
Signed by George Buchanan, Surgeon to the Infirmary, that Duncanson had acted as dresser from May till July, that his attendance was regular and that he performed all the duties of the office well. Former reference DC64/50/32.
Signed by G P [illegible], MD, that Duncanson had attended a course of instruction on the cases of patients from Nov 1889-April 1890, equivalent to a six months' qualifying course.
Signed by George Buchanan, that Duncanson had attended a course of instruction on the cases of patients, including two lectures in each week from May to July 1890, equivalent to a three months' qualifying course.
Signed by Professor W T Gairdner, that Duncanson had attended a course of instruction on the cases of patients in the Infirmary, including two lectures in each week, from Nov 1890 to April 1891, equivalent to a six months' qualifying course.
Signed by Sir George Macleod, that Duncanson had attended the class and that his work was very good.
Signed by Prof Gairdner, that Duncanson had attended the course regularly for session 1890-1891.
Signed by Professor W T Gairdner, Physician to the Infirmary, that Duncanson had acted as Clinical Clerk from Nov 1890 to April 1891 and that he had performed all the duties of the office to his entire satisfaction.
Signed by Sir George MacLeod, that Duncanson had attended a course of special instruction in the administration of anaesthetics and had acquired a satisfactory knowledge of the subject. Former reference DC64/50/30.
Signed by George Macleod that Duncanson had attended a course of instruction on the cases of patients, including two lectures in each week, from May 1891 to July 1891 equivalent to a three months' qualifying course. Former reference DC64/50/10.
Signed by Mr Cameron, MD, Physician, that Duncanson was a student in Nov 1890 and that he attended twelve cases of midwifery.
Signed by Sir George MacLeod that Duncanson had attended the class. Former reference DC64/50/12
Certificates awarded to James Gray Duncanson for proficency in class work, performance in examination and merit in classes. Signed by the professors.
Chronological.
Signed by George Macleod. Certificate of high commendation for general proficiency in the work of the class. Former reference DC64/50/27.
Second class certificate for distinguished merit in the various examinations in the winter session. Signed by Professor M Charteris. Former reference DC64/50/35.
Certificate of distinction of the second class. Signed by W T Gairdner, Professor of Medicine. The class was conducted in the Western Infirmary on behalf of the University of Glasgow. Former reference DC64/50/33.
Certificate of merit of the second class. Signed by Professor William Leishman. Former reference DC64/50/34.
Certificate of high commendation. Signed by Sir George MacLeod. Former reference DC64/50/28.
Certificate for Reporting Cases connected with the class. Signed by Sir George MacLeod. Former reference DC64/50/29.
Includes examination certificates, examination papers and correspondence
Chronological.
Printed. Passes in Latin, Arithmetic, Euclid Bk I and Algebra, Euclid Bks II and III, Greek, and Logic. Signed by John G McKendrick, Clerk to the Examining Board. Former reference DC64/50/48.
Printed. Passes in English, Mechanics and Natural Philosophy. Signed by John G McKendrick, Clerk to the Examining Board. . Former reference DC64/50/49.
Printed, with handwritten annotations. Former reference DC64/50/40.
Printed. Former reference DC64/50/41.
Printed. Former reference DC64/50/43.
Printed. Former reference DC64/50/36.
Printed. Former reference DC64/50/37.
Printed. Former reference DC64/50/38.
Printed. Former reference DC64/50/39.
Printed letter, with handwritten entries. Former reference DC64/50/47.
Printed list of students and awards, including a commendation in the Junior Division for Duncanson. Former reference DC64/50/44.
Printed list of students and awards in Sir George H B Macleod's class, including a high commendation in the Junior Division for Duncanson . Former reference DC64/50/45.
Printed, with handwritten annotations. Former reference DC64/50/42.
Printed.
Letter is printed, with handwritten entries. Former reference DC64/50/46.
Printed list of students and awards, including a high commendation for Duncanson in the Senior Division.
Printed list of students and awards. James Duncanson's name is not on this list.
Printed certificate to confirm Duncanson 's instruction, and capability, in public vaccination, signed by William MacLennan.
Testimonial letters from various medical practitioners and professors to recommend James Gray Duncanson for medical posts.
Chronological
Envelope has "Leishman, Reid, Beatson "written at the top.
Commenting that Dr Duncanson "has been an intelligent and industrious student and that I feel sure he will be found and able and successful practitioner of medicine and surgery."
Commenting that Dr Duncanson "was highly distinguished in the department of gynaecology".
Commenting that Dr Duncanson "was one of the best students of his year in the University of Glasgow, and he not only acquitted himself with great credit in the medical classes but took a leading position in Hospital work" and that the late Sir George Macleod had thought highly of him.
Senior Clinical Assistant to the Prof of Medicine, Glasgow University. He commented that Dr Duncanson had a distinguished College career, receiving the degrees of MB and CM with commendation and that he was unusually well qualified for the position of resident medical officer in a hospital or allied institution.
With advice on applying for medical posts. This seems to be a covering letter sent with the testimonial ref GB 0248 UGC 140/6/4.
He comments particularly about his work at the Victoria Hospital, Glasgow, where, "during the absence of the Superintendent he took entire charge of the Victoria Infirmary, assisted at operations, and attended to most of the urgent cases. "
Commenting on his work at The Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, and that Dr Duncanson "is unusually well qualified to undertake the responsibility of medical and surgical practice.
Dr Gibson was formerly Superintendent and Resident Medical Officer, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow. Dr Duncanson stood in for him for a month while he was on holiday.
Physician to the Victoria Infirmary and Examiner in Clinical Medicine at Glasgow University. He comments favourably on Dr Duncanson's time as his assistant in the medical wards, and standing in for the Medical Superintendent.
Commenting favourably on Dr Duncanson' s time as House Surgeon at the Victoria Infirmary in 1893 and that he acted for one month as Medical Superintendent.
Recommending Dr Duncanson for the appointment of House Surgeon to Alnwick Infirmary. "He was a diligent and distinguished student in my class of Clinical Surgery, was Dresser and Clinical Clerk in my wards & performed all the duties of these offices to my entire satisfaction."
Commenting favourably on Dr Duncanson's time assisting Dr Maylard with his surgical work at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.
17 printed testimonials. Most are printed versions of the holograph letters in GB 0248 UGC 140/6/1-10. Testimonials from William Tennant Gairdner MD, LLD; William Leishman MD, LRCS, FFPS; George S Middleton MA, MD; George S Beatson BA, MD; M Cameron, MD; Prof Matthew Charteris, MD, LRCS, FFPS; William MacLennan MB, CM; C O Hawthorne, MB; H Baynham, RN, FRAS, Captain Superintendent of the Tyne Training Ship
A certified copy of the entry in the Medical Students' Register. This is pre-printed form, with handwritten entries. Information includes the number of the certificate, date of registration, name, date of preliminary examination in Arts and date, and place of study. Signed by James Robertson, Registrar.
Pre-printed form with handwritten entries. The subscription ran from 1 Nov 1887 to 30 April 1888. Signed by Alexander Sloan, Secretary.