Sandison, Dr Ronald A.(1916-2010)

  • Sandison, Ronald Arthur (1916-2010)
Date:
1926-2010
Reference:
PP/SAN
  • Archives and manuscripts

About this work

Description

Papers relating to Ronald Sandison's life and career. Subjects covered include his use of LSD therapy and insulin therapy, work with alcoholics on Shetland, family planning, and as a member of the Group Analytical Society. Some Personal dream analyses and a typescript of an autobiographical account of his professional career are also included.

File titles and arrangement created by Sandison have been maintained.

Publication/Creation

1926-2010

Physical description

16 Boxes

Arrangement

The original order has been maintained.

Biographical note

Ronald Arthur Sandison was born in the Shetland Islands in 1916. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Wimbledon, where Sandison attended King's College School, before winning a scholarship to study medicine at King's College Hospital. After qualifying in 1940 he joined the Royal Air Force, studying the medical problems of flight.

In 1948 Sandison completed a diploma in psychological medicine, whilst working at Warlingham Park Hospital in Surrey. In 1951 he moved to Powick Hospital, Worcestershire, as a Consultant. The following year he met with Albert Hofmann, inventor of LSD, whilst on a visit to Switzerland and became convinced of the value of the drug as a therapeutic tool. He remained an advocate for LSD therapy his whole life, although he ceased using it himself after leaving Powick in 1964.

Sandison returned to his beloved Shetland Islands to live in 1975, helping to start an alcohol resource centre and working in family planning. He continued this latter work on his return to London in 1982. He also worked with the London Pastoral Support Group during this time, promoting links between the church and psychiatry, and building on earlier work with the Cistercian monasteries at Portglenone near Belfast and Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire.

Related material

At Wellcome Collection:

The archives of the Group Analytic Society, of which Sandison was an active member, are held as SA/GAS.

Copyright note

Copyright is retained by the Sandison family

Terms of use

This collection has been catalogued and is available to library members. Some items have access restrictions which are explained in the item-level catalogue records.

Notes

Abbreviations:

GAS - Group Analytic Society

LSD - Lysergic acid diethylamide

RAF - Royal Air Force

RAS - Ronald Arthur Sandison

Permanent link

Identifiers

Accession number

  • 1797