British writer donates family's archives to Peking Union Medical College Hospital

British writer John Gimlette recently visited Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) to retrace his family's medical legacy in Beijing and donate precious archives of their work around the turn of the 20th century.

Gimlette's donation included an annual report of Peking Hospital written by his great-grandfather Eliot Curwen in 1896, historical photographs of the hospital and Union Medical College, and letters to Curwen and his wife from their assistant Li Xiaoquan in 1900 and 1901. In exchange, the hospital presented Gimlette with a certificate of appreciation.

The writer chronicled his family's history from preserved diaries, letters, and photographs. His great-grandmother, Annie, was the first in the family to come to Beijing, sent as a nurse from the London Missionary Society in 1888. She met her eventual husband, Eliot, when returning to China from a holiday. As representatives of the society, Eliot and Annie worked at Peking Hospital from 1894 to 1899. Their first child, Gimlette's grandfather, was born in Beijing.

During their time at the hospital, the pair carried a heavy responsibility. Annie managed treatment for all women patients, and Eliot, as the only doctor on staff, covered all medical work for male patients all medical work for male patients, including surgery and dental treatment.

In May 1899, Eliot fell seriously ill, and the family returned to England so he could recuperate. While away, Peking Hospital was destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion. The Curwens decided not to return to Beijing and remained in England.

Thomas Cochrane, Eliot's successor, rebuilt Peking Hospital in 1901 and promoted the establishment of Union Medical College in 1906. The Rockefeller Foundation took over Union Medical College and Peking Hospital in 1915 with the goal of creating an institution that could compare to Western hospitals. PUMCH was thus established in 1921.