Macintosh Gown
The academic robe, or gown, pictured here is an example of the robes used by the Fellows of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Sir Robert R. Macintosh (1897-1989) gave this robe to his friend and Dallas, Texas colleague Dr. M.T. “Pepper” Jenkins (1917-1994), who in turn donated it to the Wood Library Museum. In 1937, when Dr. Robert Macintosh (1897-1989) was appointed to the Chair of Anaesthetics at Oxford University he became the first professor of anesthesiology outside of the United Sates. Dr. Macintosh influenced numerous areas of clinical anesthesia. A few of his accomplishments include the design of portable anesthesia machines and respirators, in addition to a well-known laryngoscope blade that continues to be used worldwide. He prepared hundreds of physicians and nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia during WWII, authored a number of textbooks on general and regional anesthesia, lectured and taught worldwide, and expanded research aimed at solving immediate clinical problems.
Sir Robert was Knighted in 1955 by Queen Elizabeth, primarily for his work with Dr. Edgar Pask (1912-1966) for the Royal Air Force Physiological Laboratories. Macintosh and Pask redesigned life jackets to prevent the drowning of downed aircraft pilots who landed unconscious in water. The life jackets saved the lives of hundreds of British airmen shot down in the English Channel during WWII.
Catalog Record: Macintosh Gown
Access Key: aiyh
Accession No.: 2011-02-24-1
Title: [Sir Robert R. Macintosh academic gown.]
Title variation: Alt Title
Title: Sir Robert R. Macintosh’s academic robe.
Publisher: London : Ede & Ravenscroft, [1948-1989].
Physical Description: 1 robe : woven textile (bombazine and satin) ; 132 x 85 cm.
Subject: Macintosh, R. R. (Robert Reynolds), Sir, 1897-1989.
Note Type: General
Notes: Title based on the WLM name for the object.
Note Type: Citation
Notes: Boulton TB. Professor Sir Robert Macintosh, 1897-1989: personal reflections
on a remarkable man and his career. Reg Anesth. 1993;18(3):145-154.
Note Type: Citation
Notes: Trubuhovich R. Sir Robert Macintosh and intensive care. Intensive Care Med.
1990;16(7):472-473.
Note Type: Physical Description
Notes: An academic robe made from a black woven material (bombazine); Two red satin
stripes run vertically along both sides of the front opening, from the
shoulders to the bottom hem; Each satin strip is approx. 4 cm wide; With the
front opening closed, the robe is approx. 85 cm wide at the bottom hem, and
64 cm wide in the shoulders; The sleeves are approx. 122 cm long, voluminous,
and end in a point; The manufacturer’s label is marked with the following:
“Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd [new line] FOUNDED 1689 [new line] Robe Makers [new
line] BY APPOINTMENTS [new line] TO THE KING [Ede & Ravenscroft logo] TO THE
QUEEN [new line] CHURCH, STATE, UNIVERSITY [new line] LAW & MUNICIPAL ROBES.
[new line] 93 & 94, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON”; A white label with handwritten
markings is sewn in just above the manufacturer’s’ label; The first letters
are very faded and difficult to read, and are followed by “R MACINTOSH”.
Note Type: Reproduction
Notes: Photographed by Mr. William Lyle in the fall of 2010.
Note Type: Historical
Notes: This style of academic robe is used by fellows of The Royal College of
Anaesthetists. Sir Robert R. Macintosh (1897-1989) gave this robe to his
friend and Dallas, Texas colleague Dr. M.T. “Pepper” Jenkins (1917-1994), who
in turn donated it to the Wood Library Museum. In 1937, Macintosh became the
first professor of anesthesiology outside of the United Sates when he was
appointed to the Chair of Anaesthetics at Oxford University . Macintosh
influenced numerous areas of clinical anesthesia. A few of his many notable
accomplishments include the design of a well known and favored laryngoscope
blade that is still used today, and the design of portable anesthesia
machines and respirators. He prepared hundreds of physicians and nurse
anesthetists to administer anesthesia during WWII, authored a number of
textbooks on general and regional anesthesia, lectured and taught worldwide,
expanded anesthesia research aimed at solving specific and immediate clinical
problems, and strongly supported the development of respiratory and intensive
care as medical specialties (Boulton, 1993 ; Trubuhovich, 1990).
Note Type: Historical
Notes: Sir Macintosh was knighted in 1955 by Queen Elizabeth primarily for his work
for the Royal Air Force Physiological Laboratories with Dr. Edgar Pask
(1912-1966) in the redesign of life jackets that could prevent downed pilots
from drowning if they landed unconscious in water. The life jackets saved the
lives of hundreds of British airmen taken down in the English Channel during
WWII.
Note Type: Publication
Notes: Bause GS, Conlay LA, Robins J. Treasures of the WLM. ASA Newsl. 2006;70(9):12.
