LEWIS, Thomas Lofthus Townshend (1918-2004)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1538 S67
Held at	: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/library-services/archives-and-heritage/archives/ ›
Full title	: LEWIS, Thomas Lofthus Townshend (1918-2004)
Date(s)	: 1960s-1980s
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 1 box; 2 slide boxes; 3 reels of film
Name of creator(s)	: Lewis | Thomas Lofthus Townshend | 1918-2004 | obstetrician and gynaecologist

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Tom Lewis was born in Hampstead, London, 27 May 1918. He spent his early childhood with his grandfather, A J S Lewis, a civil servant and later mayor of Cape Town, South Africa, where Tom attended the Diocesan College, Rondebosch. In 1933 he moved to London to live with his father, the artist Neville Lewis, and was educated at St Paul's School. He studied medicine at Jesus College, Cambridge and at Guy's Hospital, London, qualifying in 1942. He obtained the Gold Medal in Obstetrics. In 1943 Lewis returned to Cape Town and enlisted in the South African Air Force, but was seconded to the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served in Egypt, Italy and Greece. After the Second World War, Lewis returned to Guy's Hospital, gaining the FRCS in 1946 and the MRCOG in 1948. He was appointed consultant at Guy's in 1948 and at Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital for Women in 1950. He also developed a thriving private practice. Lewis was a keen supporter of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He served three times on the College Council, was Honorary Secretary, 1961-1968, and Senior Vice-President, 1975-1978. He was also active in the obstetric section of the Royal Society of Medicine and a member of the Gynaecological Club. He was awarded the CBE in 1979. Lewis died aged 85, 9 April 2004.
Publications: Progress in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology (London: Churchill, 1956).

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Thomas Lewis, 1960s-1980s, including papers relating to Lewis' tour of the Soviet Union visiting obstetric and gynaecological facilities, including the Moscow and Leningrad Institutes of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Leningrad Medical School, Feb 1978; papers relating to abortion law reform including correspondence, press-cuttings and other papers, including on the views of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; lectures; speeches; unpublished papers; offprints and myomectomy films.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in sections as outlined in the Scope and Content.

Conditions governing access:

Conditions governing reproduction:

Finding aids:

Detailed catalogue available in the RCOG archives.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated by the family, 2007.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Guardian obituary, 15 June 2004; BMJ obituary, 2004; 328:1570 (26 June); obituary, Guy's, King's & St. Thomas' Hospital Rugby Football Club, http://www.guysrugby.com/obits.asp (accessed 11/07/2005).

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:
Jul 2008