The Doctor’s Bag

The British Society for the History of Science (BSHS) Engagement Fellowships scheme supports small and local museums, archives, galleries and libraries whose collections connect to themes in the history of science, technology, engineering and medicine. The scheme funds the placement of research students within heritage organisations and museums to develop and deliver public engagement opportunities.

I was delighted to be appointed to the role of BSHS Engagement Fellow at East Lothian Council Museums Service, to develop new resources to engage local audiences with the history of medical practice in the East Lothian region.

The East Lothian Council Museums Service collection numbers in excess of 13,000 objects, the majority of which reflect the social history of East Lothian’s residents. Within the overall collection, there is a small collection of medical instruments that were used by Dr Jean Walinck, who practised as a general practitioner in North Berwick between 1958 and 1990. My role as BSHS Engagement Fellow has been to develop resources surrounding this collection.

The main output of the project was an exhibition, The Doctor’s Bag, which displayed at the John Gray Centre, Lodge Street, Haddington, from March 2 until May 28 2022. The centrepiece of the exhibition was one of Jean’s original doctor’s bags, carried with her on many her house calls.

Institute of Scottish Historical Research Newsletter Issue 9 Spring 2022 (pages 17 – 18)

BSHS Engagement Fellowship Blog

BSHS Viewpoint Magazine (Issue 127, pages 4 – 5)