Monday 1 August 2011

Collection of the month: Ross Institute and Hospital for Tropical Diseases

Luncheon at the Ross Institue for the 34th Mosquito Day celebration , 20 August 1931

The 20 August is World Mosquito Day, which marks the day in 1897 that Sir Ronald Ross made the discovery of the mosquito transmission of malaria in man. With the commemoration of Ross’ work in mind we have chosen the Ross Institute and Hospital for Tropical Diseases as our collection of the month.

The Ross Institute was opened in 1926 on Putney Heath as a memorial to and in recognition of the work of Sir Ronald Ross. The main focus of the Institute was the study of the nature and treatment, propagation and prevention of tropical disease. Due to financial problems arising after Ross' death in 1932, the Institute was incorporated into the London School in 1934, eventually to become the School's Department of Tropical Hygiene.

The Ross Institute collection includes: correspondence, minutes, press cuttings and papers concerning the foundation and history of the Institute; volumes of manuscripts and published articles on tropical medicine; records of Ross Institute branches in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and East Africa; papers of George MacDonald, Director of the Ross Institute, 1947-1967 and photographs of buildings, expeditions, staff members and mosquito day celebrations (see above photograph).

If you would like to find out more about the Ross Institute or any other collections in our archive visit our webpage here or email us at archives@lshtm.ac.uk

LSHTM Malaria Centre will be celebrating World Mosquito Day with afternoon tea and dancing in the Library on Friday 19 August, for more information click here.

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