Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1962-2002 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent
200 boxes or 2 cubic metres
Scope and content
Papers of John Gunn, 1926-2002, including extensive correspondence, notes, memoranda, funding applications, lecture presentations and press cuttings. The collection includes: files concerning the administration of the Institute of Psychiatry and its Department of Forensic Psychiatry, 1975-2000 (including policy, planning, funding, assessments and staffing), and the running of the Denis Hill Unit forensic in-patient service, Bethlem Royal Hospital, 1985-1998; published articles, book, chapters and book reviews by Gunn, 1966-2001, on topics including epilepsy, aggression, sex offenders, mental health legislation and suicide prevention in prison; research and research applications, 1966-2001, on topics including epileptic offenders, violence, and the discharge and subsequent care of Special Hospital patients; psychiatric questionnaires and assessments, 1967-1988; files relating to the Home Office, chiefly 1966-2000, and relating to the treatment of mentally disordered offenders, also copy medical evidence given to the Wolfenden Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution, 1954, and papers relating to the May enquiry, 1989-1992, into the convictions for IRA bombings in Guildford and Woolwich, 1974.Prison Service correspondence and reports, 1975-2000, covering the provision of secure psychiatric units and psychiatric care of the general prison population; papers, 1975-2000, relating to the UK Special Hospitals (high security psychiatric hospitals), and to Grendon experimental prison for offenders with antisocial personality disorders; correspondence, meeting papers and background information on the impact of amendments and proposed amendments to UK mental health legislation, 1972-2000, including the Floud Committee on dangerous offenders, 1976-1981, and the work of the Parliamentary Mental Health Group in formulating policy to restrict the spread of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), 1987-1988; reports and correspondence, 1972-2001, relating to the conduct of psychiatry, psychiatric facilities and prison welfare in countries including Australia, China, Egypt, Greece, Ireland and Turkey; papers, 1967-1999, relating to the Effra Trust, founded by Gunn in 1974 to provide accommodation and support to homeless male ex-offenders suffering from physical or mental disability.
System of arrangement
Files have been grouped chronologically under predominantly thematic headings, with the exception of patient and personnel files, which are arranged alphabetically. There is considerable overlap between the content of the thematic groups, reflecting the nature of Professor Gunn's work.
General Information
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born 1937; MB ChB, Birmingham University Medical School, 1961; House Officer, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, 1961-1962; Senior House Officer, 1962-1963; Senior House Officer, Maudsley Hospital, 1963-1964; Registrar and Honorary Senior Registrar, Maudsley, 1965-1971; diploma in psychological medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, 1966; research worker, Institute of Psychiatry, 1967-1969; MD, Birmingham, 1969; lecturer, 1969-1971; Member, Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1971; Senior Lecturer in forensic psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, 1971-1978; Consultant Psychiatrist, Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital, 1971-2002; Director, Special Hospitals Research Unit, 1975-1978; advisor, House of Commons Select Committee on 'Violence in marriage', 1975; Head of Forensic Psychiatry section, Institute of Psychiatry, 1978-1987; Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1980.Member of the Home Secretary's advisory board on restricted patients, 1982-1991; advisor, Prison Medical Service, 1986; World Health Organisation specialist advisor in forensic psychiatry to China, 1987; member, Royal Commission on criminal justice, 1991-1993; consultant, European Committee for Prevention of Torture, 1993-; Chairman, Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry, 2000-2004; member, Parole Board for England and Wales, 2006-.
Repository
Custodial history
The papers were placed in King's College London Archives by Professor Gunn between 2003 and 2008.
Conditions governing access
Administrative records are generally closed for 20 years except for published material and some committee and other minutes.
Files containing personal data are closed for 80 years and sensitive personal data for 100 years from the date of the most recent document in the file.
Access may be granted to researchers, and upon signature of a special undertaking, providing such research is for purely statistical purposes and published data is anonymised such as to prevent the identification of individuals.
Where open, access is subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.
Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archives.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Finding aids
This collection description. A detailed catalogue is available online and in hard copy in the College Archives reading room.
Alternative identifier(s)
Subjects
- AIDS
- Venereal diseases
- Infectious diseases
- Diseases
- Pathology
- Forensic psychiatry
- Psychiatry
- Health policy
- Health
- Hospitals
- Health services
- Legislation
- Law
- Mental diseases
- Psychopathology
- Mental health
- Prisons
- Penal sanctions
- Administration of justice
- Public inquiries
- Administrative tribunals
- Violence
- Social problems
- Medical institutions
- Penal institutions
People and Organisations
- Bethlem Royal Hospital (Subject)
- Denis Hill Unit (Subject)
- Effra Trust (Subject)
- Institute of Psychiatry (Subject)
- Institute of Psychiatry Department of Forensic Psychiatry (Subject)
- Irish Republican Army (IRA) (Subject)
- Parliamentary Mental Health Group (Subject)
- Wolfenden Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution (Subject)
Genre access points
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.
Script(s)
Archivist's note
Entry compiled by Kate O'Brien. Catalogued as part of the Wellcome Trust-funded Troubled Minds project. Sources: Who's Who; additional biographical information from the collection.