Queen Square Archives

Scope and Content

The Queen Square Archives are housed in and managed by the Queen Square Library. They comprise the archives belonging to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) (this was named The National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic during the period covered by the Archive) and those of UCL Institute of Neurology (IoN).

The archive collections of the NHNN include:

  • An extensive collection of 1500 bound volumes of case notes covering the years 1863-1946 including many examples of early medical photography.
  • Extensive administrative records for the Hospital from 1859 - 1946.
  • Employment records from 1860-1946;
  • Patient admission registers and other health records;
  • Approximately 3000 photographs

Administrative / Biographical History

The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery has been described as the "cradle of British Neurology". It was founded in 1860 for the alleviation initially of epilepsy and paralysis and its early physicians included John Hughlings Jackson (1835-1911), Sir David Ferrier (1843-1928), Sir William Gowers (1845-1911), and Sir Victor Horsley (1857-1916). The National Hospital was amalgamated with Maida Vale Hospital in 1948, and the Maida Vale Hospital archives are also housed in the collection. The National Hospital now forms part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

Access Information

To view the archives please make an appointment:Opening hours: 9am-7pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Some materials, e.g. case notes, have restricted access. Please see our webpages for further details: www.queensquare.org.uk/archives/visiting/visiting

Other Finding Aids

Most of the archives have been catalogued and some parts have also been digitised. The Browse/Search options on our website currently allows you to view a selection of scanned images, digitised records and records of the archives that have been catalogued