Level of Description: Fonds
Extent and Medium of the unit of description: 0.30 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Macgregor, Sir Alexander (1881-1965), Medical Officer of Health for Glasgow
Administrative/Biographical History
Sir Alexander Macgregor was born in Arbroath in 1881, the son of a schoolmaster. He attended Hutcheson’s Grammar School, excelling in Classics. By 1908 he had achieved the qualifications MB ChB and MD from the University of Glasgow. Following this, in 1909, he achieved a diploma in Public Health from Cambridge. In 1926 he was admitted a Fellow of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He held positions in infectious disease at the Belvidere Fever Hospital, and as assistant to the Medical Officer of Health before he became the fourth Medical Officer of Health for Glasgow, in 1925. He retained this position until his retirement in 1946. After retirement Sir Alexander Macgregor became Chairman of the Western Regional Hospital Board and Chairmen of the Scottish Chairmen, embracing a key role in the new NHS.
Sir Alexander Macgregor was the recipient of many honours beginning with the rare Military Order of the British Empire for his services in Gallipoli. He was awarded the LLD by the University of Glasgow in 1940 and in the next year received the award of Knight Commander of the British Empire, for his services to Glasgow. In 1955 he was awarded a knighthood for services to the Health Boards in the West of Scotland. He was not only recognised by royalty in his own country, being appointed Honorary Physician to His Majesty the King, he was also honoured by King Haakon of Norway. This award was a token of appreciation for Sir Alexander Macgregor’s contribution to medical links between the two countries and particularly for making wards available during the Second World War.
Scope and content
Papers 1906-1967; photograph n.d.
Conditions governing access
Access to some items may be restricted. Please contact the Archivist at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
Conditions governing reproduction
Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Archivist. We will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the reader.
Language/scripts of material
English
Finding aids
Descriptive list available at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
Related units of description
RCPSG 52 Dr Alexander Dale (1901-1964), Superintendent of Mearnskirk Hospital. Medals in Museum Collection, 2003.66. Photographs of medals in Museum Collection, RCPSG 1/12/8/36/1-10
Publication Note
College Bulletin article on “Public Health and Sir Alexander Macgregor”, June 1994
Archivist's Note
Listed by Susan Fisher, Archives Assistant Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
Rules or Conventions
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description, International Council on Archives (2nd edition, 2000).
Date(s) of Descriptions
July 2003