MS 380325
Cousins; Ethel Constance (1882-1944); medical missionary
Papers of Dr Constance Cousins
1865-1974
4 boxes
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Constance (Ethel) Cousins was born on 22 September 1882, in Antananarivo (Tananarive), Madagascar. She was the daughter of the Rev. William Edward Cousins, missionary to Madagascar with the London Missionary Society, 1862-1899. By 1885, Constance and her siblings had returned to England, where they attended the Walthamstow Hall School for the daughters of missionaries. Constance then attended Oxford University, gaining first class honours in Physiology in 1904.
In 1911, Constance Cousins' application to serve with the London Missionary Society was turned down on the grounds that she displayed the symptoms of latent epilepsy (a diagnosis never subsequently confirmed). In November 1911, she went to the Almora Sanatorium for Tuberculosis in North India as an unpaid medical assistant. The Church of Scotland ran the Sanatorium and in November 1913 she transferred to the Church of Scotland's medical mission at Kalimpong (North India). Her appointment to the mission staff was confirmed in January 1914. During her period of service at Kalimpong (1913-1923) she was requested to help combat a cholera epidemic in neighbouring Bhutan. Thus, in August 1918, she and her assistant, Nurse Brodie, became the first European women to be admitted to that country. In 1923 Cousins returned as a permanent member of staff to the Almora Sanatorium. She also obtained a diploma from the School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London. She continued to work at Almora until her death in May 1944.
Papers, 1865-1974, of and relating to (Ethel) Constance Cousins, including correspondence with her family, photographs, press cuttings and the unpublished typescript biography by her niece Janet E. Cousins. Also includes letters dated 1893-1900 from her father, Rev. William Edward Cousins, chiefly from Madagascar.
The material has been arranged into seven sections: biography; family letters; education and life in England 1890-1911; early years in India: Almora, North India, 1911-1913; years in Kalimpong 1913-1923 (including a journey to Bhutan, August 1918); the second period at Almora 1923-1944; general.
Cousins; Ethel Constance (1882-1944); medical missionary
Cousins; Janet E (fl 1947-1974)
Cousins; William Edward (b 1840); missionary
Almora, Almora, Uttarakhand, India, Asia
Bhutan, Asia and the Pacific
Eastern Africa
Southern Asia
India, Asia
Kalimpong, Darjiling, West Bengal, India, Asia
Madagascar, Africa
Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia
West Bengal, India, Asia
Anglicanism
Anglicans
Asian cultures
Children of missionaries
Clergy
Diseases
Educational systems
Health services
Laity
Medical centres
Missionary work
Medicine
Missionaries
Pathology
Students
Travel abroad
Tuberculosis
Women
Open
Donated in 1980.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Unpublished handlist.
MS 380325/01
Biography
1947 - 1974
3 files
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Material relating to a biography of Constance Cousins.
Open
MS 380325/01/01
Unpublished typescript biography of (Ethel) Constance Cousins and postscript by her niece, Janet E.Cousins.
1965
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/01/02
Correspondence relating to the biography and another work by J.E. Cousins: publishers' letters of rejection.
1947 - 1974
3 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/01/03
Traced maps of Bhutan, Sikkim and North India used in the preparation of the biography.
[1965]
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/02
Family letters
1865 - 1911
5 files
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/02/01
Letter from Mary Abigail Cousins (nee Williams) to her mother and sisters from Amparibe, also a pamphlet and card commemorating the death of her first child in Madagascar.
1865 - Feb 1867
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Open
MS 380325/02/02
Letters from Ada Cousins, Mabel Cousins,Arnold Cousins, and Herbert Cousins chiefly to their father, Rev.William Edward Cousins during their schooldays and after.
Dec 1885 - Sep 1892
12 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Open
MS 380325/02/03
Letters from Revd William Edward Cousins to his daughters; Constance, Ada Cousins and Mabel Cousins, chiefly from Madagascar.
Apr 1893 - Sep 1900
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Open
MS 380325/02/05
Photographs from Madagascar.
1867 - 1911
2 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/02/07
Letters to Constance Cousins, chiefly from her sister, Mabel Cousins.
Aug 1894 - Sep 1900
5 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Open
MS 380325/03
Education and Life in England
1890 - 1911
5 files
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/03/01
Diary of Constance Cousins whilst a student at Oxford.
Jan - Dec 1901
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/03/02
Account book of Constance Cousins.
Sep 1904 - Sep 1906
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/03/04
Correspondence to Constance Cousins from the London Missionary Society concerning her unsuccessful application to become a missionary with the society.
Jan - Apr 1911
6 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/03/05
Documents relating to the life, educational achievements and qualifications of Constance Cousins.
1884 - 1905
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/03/11
Correspondence addressed to Constance Cousins from family and friends, congratulating her on examination success.
Jan - Aug 1904
10 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/04
Early Years in India; North India.
1911 - 1913
3 files
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Material relating to Cousins' time in Almora, North India.
Open
MS 380325/04/01
Letters from Constance Cousins written during her first term of duty in Almora.
Nov 1911 - Apr 1913
51 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
.
Open
MS 380325/04/02
Typescript copy of letter addressed to Constance Cousins by the Church of Scotland Mission, concerning her appointment to Kalimpong.
May 1912
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/04/03
Photographs from Almora.
1911 - 1913
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/05
Years in Kalimpong
1913 - 1923
6 files
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Material relating to Cousins' time in Kalimpong, North India; including her Journey to Bhutan, Aug 1918.
Open
MS 380325/05/01
Letters from Constance Cousins to her family, written during her period of service at Kalimpong (including accounts of her travels to Sikkim and Darjeeling).
Nov 1913 - Oct 1921
20 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Also a cutting from `Guild Life and Work' concerning the death of fellow worker, Miss Waugh, and an example of the literature produced for the Tibetan mission at Kalimpong.
Open
MS 380325/05/02
Letters and sketch maps of Constance Cousins relating to her mission to Bhutan to help combat a cholera epidemic.
Aug 1918 - Feb 1919
7 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Also a translation and xerox copy of the letter of thanks subsequently sent by the King of Bhutan to Constance Cousins, and a cutting from `Guild Life and Work' describing the mission.
Open
MS 380325/05/03
Letters of appreciation and gratitude referring to the services of Constance Cousins at Kalimpong; addressed to Constance, to her father, the Revd. W.E. Cousins, her brother, C.W. Cousins and W.M.M. Lachlan, Secretary of the Church of Scotland.
Jan 1914 - Sep 1923
6 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Also a typescrypt copy of the resolution confirming the appointment of Constance Cousins to the permanent staff of the Almora sanatorium, and a letter addressed to her by W. M. M. Lachlan.
Open
MS 380325/05/04
Letter to Constance Cousins from her brother Arnold Cousins, also a letter addressed to her by the India Office whilst in England.
Jul 1914 - Dec 1917
2 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
.
Open
MS 380325/05/05
Qualifications gained by Cousins during her period of service at Kalimpong.
1913 - 1923
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/05/06
Photographs from Kalimpong, Sikkim, Bhutan,Tibet and Darjeeling.Also a watercolour sketch of a Tibetan woman and child.
1913 - 1923
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/06
Second Period at Almora
1923 - 1945
4 files
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/06/01
Letters and airgraphs from Constance Cousins to her family.
Mar 1939 - Apr 1944
26 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
English
Open
MS 380325/06/02
Typescript copy of a letter sent by Constance Cousins to Dr.Cuthbert at Kalimpong, objecting to the siting of a tuberculosis sanatorium there, and a copy of a subsequent memorandum.
Mar - Apr 1935
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/06/03
Documents and letters relating to the death of Constance Cousins on 10 May 1944.
May 1944 - Feb 1945
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/06/04
Photographs from Almora.
1923 - 1944
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/07
General
1911 - 1939
3 files
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/07/01
Miscellaneous photographs of Constance Cousins and her family.
1911 - 1939
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/07/02
Newspaper cuttings relating to an attack made on C.W. Cousins, brother of Constance Cousins in Cape Town.
n.d.
2 items
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open
MS 380325/07/03
Miscellaneous items: map of the Federated Malay States Railways.
1930
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
Open