Wellcome Chemical Research Laboratories

Few papers of the WCRL appear to be extant.

This collection consists of a small number of correspondence files and the rule book, which were transferred to the Wellcome Archives in 1982 [accession number WI/82], and together give an indication of the work of the Chemical Research Laboratories.

The remainder of this collection consists of microfilms of the few files held by by Glaxo Wellcome, which are mostly of an ephemeral nature, and a handful of publications found amongst the Library collections.

Monthly reports from the CRL to the Director of the Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research, 1914-1922 are at WA/BSR/BA/Crl.

The collection is divided into sections as follows:

WA/CRL/RU Rules 1899-1902

WA/CRL/CO Correspondence 1915-1936

WA/CRL/RP Reports 1925-1940

WA/CRL/HI Histories 1927-1958

WA/CRL/PB Publications 1905-1906

WA/CRL/PR Press cuttings 1923-c.1946

Historical Background:

1896

Established in a building near the headquarters of Burroughs Wellcome with the title 'Wellcome Research Laboratories' under Frederick Belding Power and HAD Jowett

HSW declared that these laboratories were to be quite distinct from the business departments (Tansey and Milligan, 1990)

1899

Moved to 6 King Street, Snow Hill and became known as 'Wellcome Chemical Research Laboratories.

Work involved the isolation and production of new chemical substances and collaboration with WPRL in their pharmacological testing

Despite the claim that the research laboratories were clearly independent from the firm, they did in fact serve HSW's commercial purposes and contributed to his business success and had a closer relationship with the firm than the WPRL. Processes initiated at the research laboratories were then transferred to the Chemical Department of the works for the development of large scale manufacturing. Many staff moved between the laboratories and the manufacturing works (Tansey and Milligan, 1990)

1905

Experimental Department was set up at the Works which enabled the WCRL to be devoted to more purely academic work and the Chemical Department to concentrate on manufacturing work

1913

Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research was established to unify all the scientific research work and its Director, Andrew Balfour was to have control of the work of WCRL and CPRL

1924

Establishment of The Wellcome Foundation Ltd which formally drew together for the first time, the company and the research laboratories and museums

1931

Establishment of the Wellcome Research Institution which was to house the WCRL, WBSR and WCRL [WPRL remained at Beckenham]

Abbreviations used in the catalogue:

HSW Henry Solomon Wellcome

MRC Medical Research Council

WBSR Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research

WCRL Wellcome Chemical Research Laboratories

WFL Wellcome Foundation Limited

WPRL Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratories

WRI Wellcome Research Institution.