'Marie Celeste' Samaritan Society

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0387 SS
Held at	: Barts Health NHS Trust Archives (Royal London Hospital Archives)   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/barts-health-archives ›
Full title	: 'Marie Celeste' Samaritan Society
Date(s)	: 1834-2006
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 5 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Marie Celeste Samaritan Society
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

This Society was founded in 1791 by Sir William Blizard (1743-1835), a surgeon at the London Hospital, to provide social welfare services for patients of the hospital. The Society provided services that went beyond the London Hospital's resources, such as financial aid, assistance with lodging and travel, the supply of surgical appliances, artificial limbs, and the provision of convalescent facilities.
In 1898, the Society received a large annual subscription from James Hora (1826-1917), a Vice-President of the London Hospital, in memory of his first wife, Marie-Celeste. Hora wanted to honour her memory by donating to a good cause. The name of the Society was changed to the 'Marie Celeste' Samaritan Society in 1899. Hora left £120,000 to the Society in his will and donated money to endow the Marie Celeste maternity wards.
Each application for assistance that the Society received was reviewed by a committee responsible for the allocation of the funds and services, which met weekly to consider each application. The Society made a significant contribution to the work of the London Hospital throughout the years and is still in existence, continuing to apply the philanthropic ideals that led to its development.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Administrative records, financial records, photographs.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

See Scope and content.

Conditions governing access:

Some material is restricted. Please contact the repository in the first instance.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copying and digitisation services are available for unrestricted material. Researchers should contact the repository in the first instance.

Finding aids:

See 'Detailed catalogue' link above.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The records were transferred in 1984 from the Marie Celeste Samaritan Society.

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Originally compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Updated by Clare Button, Archivist, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
June 2001, updated April 2020.