Mapping and imaging smallpox in London, 1870-1910

This project was to conserve, catalogue and digitise records of the Metropolitan Asylums Board (MAB) and the work of TF Ricketts, medical superintendent of the MAB Smallpox Hospital. The project focused on making five very large maps relating smallpox cases to hospitals of treatment, 1873-85, available for the first time. It created digital copies of 360 glass plate negatives of smallpox patients, made for Ricketts in the early 1900s, for use as surrogate copies to preserve the originals. The project enhanced the online catalogue records and produced an index of all the photographic images made for Ricketts. Digitisation has allowed fragile maps and glass plate negatives to be stored safely after conservation, while access is assured to researchers. The enhanced catalogue records can be seen on the LMA website.