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Royal Free Hospital Archives Centre

SYMONS, Cecil (1921-1987)

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 1530 D7

Held at: Royal Free Hospital Archives Centre

Title: SYMONS, Cecil (1921-1987)

Date(s): 1972-1988

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 2 files

Name of creator(s): Symons | Cecil | 1921-1987 | physician and cardiologist

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Cecil Symons (1921-1987) was a physician and cardiologist at the Royal Free Hospital. In 1946 he was appointed Casualty Medical Officer at Hampstead General Hospital. He became Senior Medical Registrar at Hampstead General in 1951, and First Assistant to the Cardiac Department at the Royal Free in 1956. In 1961 he was appointed Consultant Physician at New En Hospital, and in 1968 he also became Consultant Physician and Cardiologist at the Royal Free. On his retirement in 1987 he became Honorary Consultant Physician and Cardiologist, but died a few days later. He is best remembered for his wide-ranging interests, and his activities in the fields of art and collecting of antique medical equipment. He was involved in many extra-mural activites both within the hospital and the local community, and instituted the Works of Art committee and the annual Marsden lecture. He also commissioned the artist Peter Jones in 1972 to make a series of pictorial representations of the old hospitals which were to be demolished to make way for the building of the new Royal Free. These are now held in the Archives Centre, and known as the Symons Bequest.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Cecil Symons, cardiologist, 1972-1988, comprising:
Correspondence on the commissioning of Peter Jones' pictorial representations of the Royal Free Group of Hospitals, 1972-1973, and the subsequent bequest to the Hospital in 1987-1988. Copies of the paintings are exhibited in the RFH Committee Room, and the originals are held in the Archives Centre, and known as the Symons bequest.
Correspondence on the commissioning of the 150th Anniversary group portrait of the RFH Consultants, 1978.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

2 files

Conditions governing access:

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the Archivist, Royal Free Hospital Archives Centre, 'The Hoo', 17 Lyndhurst Gardens, London NW3 5NU, for an appointment

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be provided for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

None

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

After Symons death his widow Jean donated many of his possessions to the institutions in which he had worked. His medical instruments were given to the Royal College of Physicians and much of the material relating to the Royal Free to the Archives Centre.

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled Mar 2001, revised by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.