University of Sheffield Library. Special Collections and Archives Ref: MS 370 Title: Walter Freer Documents Scope: Documents relating to the career of Walter Careless Freer, surgeon and early graduate of the Sheffield Medical School Dates: 1835-1882 Level: Fonds Extent: 1 box Name of creator: Walter Careless Freer Administrative / biographical history: The collection consists of certificates and letters of recommendation relating to the career of Walter Careless Freer from his entry into apprenticeship at the Sheffield Medical School in 1835 through a range of courses, applications and appointments. Walter Careless Freer (1819-?) of 71 New Hall Street, Birmingham, was born on 9 th March 1819. His father was Edward Freer, of Digbeth and Edgbaston, bapt. 1788, himself the son of William Leacroft Freer, surgeon, of Stourbridge, bapt. 1755 in Birmingham. Walter Freer s mother was Mary Careless, of Hereford. Walter Freer entered his apprenticeship at the Sheffield Medical School under Robert Ernest in 1835, and served his full five years until 1840. From 1840 to 1842, the documents indicate that he attended lectures by Sir William Lawrence and others at St. Bartholomew s Hospital in London. He then applied for a post at Hereford Infirmary, but appears to have been unsuccessful. The following year, he took courses in Dublin in midwifery, obstetrics and diseases of women and children. In 1843, he was successful in obtaining the post of Hon. Surgeon at Birmingham General Hospital, and in 1848 applied for the post of House Surgeon. The documents suggest that Freer continued to work in Birmingham until 1882. Source: Donated by Professor Frank Woods in May 2007 System of arrangement: Chronological Names: Freer, Walter Careless; Sheffield Royal Infirmary; University of Sheffield Medical School Conditions of access: Academic researchers by appointment Restrictions: None 1
Copyright: According to document Finding aids: Listed 2
MS 370 Itemised Listing 370/1 Apprentice indenture between Walter Careless Freer, son of Edward Freer of Digbeth, Birmingham, and Robert Ernest, House Surgeon of the Sheffield General Infirmary. 1835 May 6. Ms. 2 l. 370/2 Certificate stating that Mr. W.C. Freer hath diligently attended to the practice of Physic and Surgery at this [Sheffield General] Infirmary for Five Years last past. Signed by Corden Thompson, G.C. Holland, Charles F. Favell, Wilson Overend, Henry Jackson, Henry Thomas, Robert Ernest. Includes engraving of Sheffield General Infirmary. 1840 May 6. Printed & ms. 370/3 Certificate stating the term of apprenticeship expired this 6 th day of May 1840 and that Mr. Walter Careless Freer hath faithfully and diligently attended to his professional duties in all respects during his apprenticeship to me for five years last past. Signed by Robert Ernest. Includes engraving of Sheffield General Infirmary. [1840 May 6]. 370/4 Certificate recording Freer s attendance at one course of my lectures on surgery. Signed by William Lawrence of St. Bartholomew s Hospital, London. 1841 Nov 29. Printed & ms. 1 l. 370/5 Certificate from the Board of the National Vaccine Establishment, London, appointing Freer as vaccinator. 1842 May 23. Printed & ms. 1 l. 370/6 Certificate stating that Freer had completed the course on Obstetrics at the Dublin Lying-in-Hospital. Signed by C. Johnson, R. Johns, S.L. Hardy, J.G. Strickland. Includes engraving of Dublin Lying-in-Hospital. On vellum with a wafer seal in a tin box attached by a red silk ribbon. 1843 Mar 16. Printed & ms. 1 l. 370/7 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures on Materia Medica at the Sheffield Medical Institution during the session 1837-8. Signed by George Turton. [n.d.]. 370/8 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures on Chemistry at the Sheffield Medical Institution during the session 1837-8. Signed by Charles F. Favell. [n.d.]. 3
370/9 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures on Midwifery and the Diseases of Women & Children at the Sheffield Medical Institution during the session 1838-9. Signed by George Turton. [n.d.]. 370/10 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at Anatomical demonstrations during the sessions 1838-9 and 1839-40. Signed by Edward Thompson and Edward Martin. [n.d.]. 1 l. 370/11 Letter from Robert Ernest of Sheffield General Infirmary to Edward Freer, Walter Freer s father, discharging Walter from his apprenticeship. 1840 May 5. 370/12 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures on the principle and practice of physic during the sessions of 1838-9 and 1839-40. Signed by Corden Thompson. 1841 Nov 2. 370/13 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures on Physiology during the sessions 1838 and 1839. Signed by G.C. Holland. 1841 Nov 24. 370/14 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures on Surgery during the sessions 1839 and 1840. Signed by Henry Thomas. 1841 Nov 25. 370/15 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures on the principles and practice of physic during the sessions of 1838-9 and 1839-40. Signed by Corden Thompson, Senior Physician to the Sheffield General Infirmary. 1842 Jan 3. 370/16 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Charles F. Favell, Physician to the Sheffield General Infirmary and Public Dispensary, Lecturer in Chemistry at the Medical Institute. 1842 Jan 3. 370/17 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Henry Jackson, one of the Surgeons to the Sheffield General Infirmary. 1842 Jan 4. 370/18 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Henry Thomas, Surgeon of the Sheffield General Infirmary. 1842 Jan 4. 370/19 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by G. Calvert Holland. 1842 May 3. 4
370/20 Letter of recommendation for Freer to the Governors of the Hereford Hospital. Signed by Thomas Haslehurst, Surgeon to the Bridgenorth Infirmary. 1842 May 9. 370/21 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Bell Fletcher, Senior Physician to the General Dispensary Birmingham. 1842 May 9. 370/22 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by the physicians and surgeons of the General Dispensary Birmingham, including Peyton Blakiston, Bell Fletcher, Samuel Wright, George Elkington, S.H. Amphlett, D.W. Crompton, S.A. Bindley, Edwin Cheshire. 1842 May 10. 370/23 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by J. Hodgson, Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. 1842 May 11. 370/24 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by William Henry Hill, Lecturer, St. Martin s Vestry. 1842 May 16. 370/25 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by William Lawrence. 1842 May 16. 370/26 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Edward Rigby, Physician to the General Lying-in Hospital & Lecturer in Midwifery at St. Bartholomew s Hospital. 1842 May 16. 370/27 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Arthur Farre, Professor of Midwifery in Kings College London and late Lecturer in Medical Jurisprudence in St. Bartholomew s Hospital. 1842 May 23. 370/28 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Frederic J. Farre, Assistant Physician and Lecturer in Botany at St. Bartholomew s Hospital. 1842 May 23. 370/29 Certificate recording Freer s attendance at the practice of the Institution for Diseases of Children, Dublin from August to December 1842. Signed by W. Marsh, Charles Johnson, Charles Philips Croker, Cathcart Lees, Henry Law Dwyer, Richard McLelland. [n.d.]. Printed & ms. 1 l. 5
370/30 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Edward Hatton, Surgeon, Richmond Hospital. 1843 Mar 15. 370/31 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by James D. Basire, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. 1843 Mar 16. 370/32 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Robert Adams, Professor of Surgery, Richmond Hospital. 1843 Mar 16. 370/33 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Robert Johns, Lying-in Hospital, Dublin. 1843 Mar 17. 370/34 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by J. MacDonnell, one of the Surgeons to the Richmond, Whitworth & Hardwicke Hospitals, Dublin. 1843 Mar 19. 370/35 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Samuel L. Hardy, Dublin Obstetrical Faculty 1843 Mar 20. 370/36 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Charles Johnson, Midwifery, Dublin. 1843 Mar 22. 370/37 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Richard Carmichael, Consulting Surgeon, Richmond Hospital. 1843 Mar 13. 370/38 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by Samuel Holmden Amphlett, Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. 1848 Apr 28. 370/39 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by Bell Fletcher. 1848 Apr 28. 370/40 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by Dickinson W. Crompton. 1848 Apr 29. 370/41 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by James Johnstone. 1848 Apr 29. 6
370/42 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by George F. Evans. 1848 Apr 29. 370/43 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by John Eccles, Physician to the General Hospital and Professor of the Practice of Medicine at Queen s College, Birmingham. 1848 Apr 29. 370/44 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by J. Hodgson. 1848 Apr 30. 370/45 Letter of recommendation for the post of Honorary Surgeon to the Birmingham General Hospital. Signed by Richard Wood, Senior Surgeon of the Birmingham General Hospital. 1848 May 1. 370/46 Letter of recommendation for Freer. Signed by Thomas Mosely, Rector of St. Martin s, Birmingham. [n.d.]. 370/47 Letter certifying Freer s attendance at lectures at the Richmond and Whitworth Hospitals and the Hardwicke Fever Hospital, Dublin. Signed by George Greene, Professor of Physic, School of Physic, Ireland. [?] Feb 14. 370/48 Resolution of the Birmingham & Midland Counties Orthopaedic & Spinal Hospital thanking Mr. Freer for his very valuable services for a period of upwards of 30 years. [n.d. c.1882]. Also japanned tin cylinder in which whole collection was originally stored. 7