Guide to the Papers of J. H. L. Cumpston, 1852-1981

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 613
Creator:
J. H. L. Cumpston
Extent:
3.15 metres and (3 ms boxes + 10 archive boxes + 3 small folio boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of J. H. L. Cumpston, National Library of Australia, MS 613, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for reference. Not for loan.

Background

Biographical Note:

Born in Melbourne on 19 June, 1880, Cumpston was educated at Wesley College and the University of Melbourne where he graduated in Medicine in 1902. On the way to Japan in 1905 he had an opportunity to witness work done by the American public health service to control contagious diseases. Later, in 1905 he went to London to study public health (especially scarlet fever and diphtheria). In 1908 on his return he joined the Health Department at Perth where he remained until 1911 when he joined the Commonwealth Quarantine Service. He became its director in 1913 and upon the creation of Commonwealth Department of Health in 1921 he was its Director General. This position he held until his retirement in 1945, after which he was engaged in the field of international health. In 1949 he went to Ceylon as adviser for its health services and the following year he was sent on a mission to Java, Malaya and Siam on behalf of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

He published a number of works including History of Smallpox in Australia 1788-1908. His literary interests also included Australian exploration Two books Charles Sturt and Thomas Mitchell were published. He died in Canberra in 1954.

Inland Sea and the Great River published by Angus Robertson - posthumously.
Immediate Source of Acquisition:

Original consignment comprises Boxes 1-10 + Folio. Further papers added July 1988 (Boxes 12-13), March 1992 (Box 13), May 1995 (Box 14), May 1996 (Box 14), March 1997 (Box 14), and July 2001 (Box 14).

Indexed terms

Names:
J. H. L. Cumpston

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn391505) for the access conditions.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of J. H. L. Cumpston, National Library of Australia, MS 613, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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