Collection IOP/PP2 - GUNN, John Charles (b 1937)

Key Information

Reference code

IOP/PP2

Title

GUNN, John Charles (b 1937)

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

(1937-)

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-.

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.

Related descriptions

Alternative identifier(s)

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.

Accession area