H.J. Parish, Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratories, Beckenham

Papers of Henry James Parish, former head of the Bacteriological Department of the Wellcome Physiology Research Laboratories (1930-1946) and Clinical Research Director of the Wellcome Foundation (1943-1962).

On 16 April 1923 Parish joined the staff of the Bacteriology Department at the Wellcome Laboratory as an Assistant Bacteriologist. In his capacity as a Junior Member of the Clinical team, 1923-1930, he was involved primarily in research on diphtheria. He conducted clinical trials in various institutions, including Holborn Poor-Law Schools in Mitcham, the Lambeth Poor-Law Schools in West Norwood, Dr Barnardo's Homes for Girls at Barkingside, Ilford as well as the Naval training ship "Exmouth" stationed off Grays, Essex. Others included, the Naval training ship "Cornwall" stationed off Gravesend, Kent, The Foundling Hospital, Rachel MacMillan Schools at Deptford and the Training School for Nurses, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.

Dr Parish rose to the position of Head of the Bacteriological Department in 1930. However, the turning-point of his career came in February 1938, when his testimony safeguarded the reputation of the Wellcome Foundation in a High Court action in Dublin, after a child's death was attributed to one of the Foundation's diphtheria prophylactics. This came to be known as the Ring case, after the college where the death had taken place.

In addition to his work at the Wellcome Foundation, between 1919-1920 Parish was a Member of Staff of the Central Bacteriological Laboratory, Army of the Black Sea, Constantinople. During the Second World War, he was a member of the Medical Research Council committee established to assess the issue of sterilization of inoculation equipment and to make recommendations for best practice. After the war he visited Germany on behalf of the Ministries of Supply and Health to collect technical and research information from German laboratories. He was also an active member of the British Medical Association and the Royal Society of Medicine.

By the time of his retirement in 1962, Parish had become a leading authority on immunization, lecturing internationally on the subject. He was also the author of numerous books, many of which can be found in the Wellcome Library.

At Wellcome Collection:

Drafts of Dr Parish's works History of Wellcome Research Laboratories and The Wellcome Research Laboratories and Immunisation: A Historical Survey and Personal Memoir are held as part of the Wellcome Foundation archive at WF/M/H/08, along with associated correspondence and supporting documentation.