Abernethy, Christine Calder, 1896-1987, medical student, University of Glasgow, Scotland,

Christine Calder Abernethy was born on 25 May 1896 , at Aberthorne, Biggar, in Scotland. Her father, Archibald Abernethy, was a butcher. She was a medical student at the University of Glasgow , where she graduated MBChB in 1919 . She studied at Queen Margaret College, University of Glasgow, between 1915 and 1919.

In her first year she had taken classes in botany, zoology, physics and chemistry. In her second year she studied anatomy and physiology. She then took materia medica and therapeutics and pathology, before taking surgery, clinical surgery, practice of medicine, clinical medicine, midwifery, medical jurisprudence and public health in her final year. She registered with the Scottish branch of the General Council of Medical Education and Registration of the United Kingdom on 25th July 1919, at which time her address was in Milngavie, Glasgow.

In c.1921 Dr Abernethy moved to Mickleover, Derby before moving to City Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool in c.1927. While in Liverpool she gained a Diploma in Public Health. In 1935 she gained a Diploma in Medical Radiology, Eng. In c.1938 she moved to Crosby Hall, Cheyne Walk, London. The Hall was moved stone by stone from Bishopsgate to Chelsea in 1910 in order to rescue it from proposed demolition. It was then incorporated into the buildings of the British Federation of University Women and used as a dining hall (source http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/InterestingPlaces/localarchitecture/crosby.asp ).

In c.1945 she started working at the Radium Institute, 138 Hill Street, Glasgow, a small hospital specialising in the care and treatment of cancer patients. When the NHS was introduced in 1948 the hospital became Royal Beatson Memorial Hospital.

She returned to the University Women's Club in London in the mid 1950s and moved to Stanhope Rd., London in c.1957 before moving to Cheltenham, Gloucester in c.1966. She passed away on 25th July 1987, aged 91. This collection was deposited by Ruth E. Claydon, a friend of hers, from Cheltenham.

From the guide to the Papers of Christine Calder Abernethy, 1896-1987, medical student, University of Glasgow, Scotland, c1918-1987, (Glasgow University Archive Services)