GD18 Amelia Nyasa Laws, medical practitioner

Collection Summary


Reference Code: GB239 GD18
Title: Laws, Amelia Nyasa
Dates of Creation of Material: 1899-1977
Level of Description: Fonds
Extent and Medium of the Unit of Description: 7 shelf metres: bound volumes, papers, photographic material


Name of creator(s): Ameila Nyasa Laws (1886-1978), medical practitioner
Biographical History: The daughter of Margaret and Dr Robert Laws, Amelia was born in Nyasaland (now Malawi) where her father was serving as a medical missionary in the Free Church of Scotland Mission, Livingstonia. Amelia returned to Scotland at an early age, and was educated in Edinburgh and Rome. She served as a masseuse in a French field hospital during the First World War (working from 1916 – 1920), and graduated MB ChB in 1930 from the University of Edinburgh. She subsequently worked on the wards of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with Dr David Wilkie during 1931.

Dr Laws then left Scotland to train and work abroad (in the Physiotherapy Department in Hospital Bregnan in Brussels and the Orthopaedic Centre in Hanover in 1932 and 1933 respectively) before specialising in osteopathy (training at the British School of Osteopathy in London from 1934 to 1935). Along with osteopathy, Dr Laws took a keen interest in iridology (often examining the eyes of her patients) and homeopathy. Dr Amelia Laws practised as an osteopath at 13 Park Crescent, Portland Place, London, from 1936 until she retired in 1959. After retirement, she lived at 7 Merchiston Crescent, Edinburgh, where she continued to receive patients until she reached the age of 90.
Archival History: Unknown
Immediate Source of Acquisition or Transfer: Accessioned pre-1980, no details available


Scope and Content: Lecture Notes, 1920s-1950s; Pamphlets, 1911-1971; Books, 1903-1955; Case Notes, 1924-1977; Medical Notes, 1920s-1950s; Iridology Diagnosis Aids, 1924-1972; Iridology Equipment Manuals, 1930s-1950s; Collected papers, 1899-1977; Glass Plate Negatives, 1946-1970s; Anatomical Charts, 1934-1975.
Accruals: No further accessions are expected

Conditions Governing Access: Public access to these records is governed by UK data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, and the current Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Scotland).
Conditions Governing Reproduction: Reproduction is subject to closure periods and physical condition
Language/Scripts of Material: English, German, French

Archivists' Notes: Compiled by by Louise Williams, LHSA Volunteer.
Rules or Conventions: Description based on ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description International Council on Archives (2nd edition), 2000
Date(s) of Description: May 2000; updated August 2009; updated October 2010