Noël Poynter

Noël Poynter FLA
Noël Poynter[1]
Born	24 December 1908
Died	11 March 1979 (aged 70)
Occupations	Librarian Medical historian Director of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine
Known for	Co-founding the British Society for the History of Medicine (BSHM) (1965) Editor of the Medical History President of the BSHM (1972) President of the Société Internationale d’Histoire de la Médecine Poynter lecture
Medical career
Profession	Librarian and medical historian

Frederick Noël Lawrence Poynter

In 1958, Poynter was a key player in founding the Faculty of the History of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Society of Apothecaries and subsequently in 1965, he was one of the founding committee members who established the British Society for the History of Medicine (BSHM). He became its president in 1972 and also became secretary-general of the Société Internationale d’Histoire de la Médecine, later becoming its president too.

He published a number of works related to the history of medicine and also edited Medical History, the first British journal devoted exclusively to the history of medicine. During his directorship of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, his advice was readily sought on matters pertaining to the history of medicine and on organisations. His influence was particularly felt with the Bibliographical Society and he was invited to give a number of eponymous lectures. The biennial Poynter lecture is named in his honour.

Early life and career

Frederick Poynter, commonly known as Noël, was born in London on 24 December 1908, to Herbert William Poynter, who worked in the London docks, and his wife, Margaret (née Gurry). The family were

He was educated at West Ham secondary school, before studying history at King's College London.^[2]

In 1930, following a brief time teaching in a

Poynter completed his diploma in librarianship in 1936 at the University of London and his bachelor's degree in 1938, when he was promoted to sub-librarian.[2]

Second World War

Poynter was influenced by the historian

On his return to the library, he was promoted to deputy librarian and formed a successful partnership with

In 1956, Poynter gained a PhD from Westfield College for his work on Gervase Markham. This bibliography was published in 1963.^[2]

Medical societies

In 1958, Poynter was a key player in founding the

Poynter was also active in the reorganisation of the Société Internationale d’Histoire de la Médecine, becoming its Secretary-General. He subsequently became the president of the International Academy of the History of Medicine.^[3]

Journals

Following Bishop's death in 1961, Poynter succeeded him as editor of the first exclusive British journal to the history of medicine, Medical History,^[2] a journal he founded and then edited between 1957 and 1973.^[8]

He was appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, with the assistance of his American colleagues.^[3]

Director of the Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine

In 1964, Poynter was appointed Director of the Wellcome Institute of the History of Medicine, a position he held until 1973,^[3] after which he was succeeded by E. S. Clarke.^[12] During his directorship, he became influential, particularly with the Bibliographical Society. His writing activities earned him a Doctorate of Literature. His advice was frequently sought on a variety of topics including organisational and academic themes. He gave a number of lectures, including the Gideon De laune Lecture to the Society of Apothecaries (1964) and the Vicary Lecture at the Royal College of Surgeons (1973).^[13]

Personal life

In 1939, Poynter married sculptor Ruth Marder. They had no children.^[2] She died in 1966 and he remarried two years later, to Dodie. He retired to France in 1973.^[13]

Death and legacy

Poynter died on 11 March 1979 at Brive in France, following a short illness.^[13] The BSHM biennial Poynter lecture is named in his honour.^[8][14] In addition, the Wellcome library's rare materials room has been named the "Poynter room" for him.^[2][15]

Publications

In 1951, with his friend Bishop, they published work on the medical attendant of Oliver Cromwell in A Seventeenth Century Doctor and his Patients: John Symcotts, 1592?–1662.^[13] Other publications included

• Selected writings of William Clowes (1948)
• A Catalogue of Incunabula in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (Oxford University Press, 1954)
• A translation of William Harvey's Lectures on the Whole of Anatomy (1961)
• A Short History of Medicine,^[3] with K. D,. Keele (1961)
• The Journal of James Younge, Plymouth Surgeon (1963)^[3]

Selected articles

• "William Harvey's Debate with Caspar Hofmann on the Circulation of the Blood: New Documentary Evidence". Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Vol. 15, No. 1 (January 1960), pp. 7–21. With Ercole V. Ferrario and K. J. Franklin
• "Robert Talbor, Charles II, and Cinchona; A Contemporary Document", (1961) pp. 82–85. With Rudolph E. Siegel.

References