At the royal college of Physicians
and surgeons of Glasgow
and surgeons of Glasgow
Lister became well-known, even outside of the medical world, during his lifetime. The words ‘Listerism’ and ‘Listerian’ started to appear as early as the 1880s. However, it was after his death in 1912 that his fame really grew. Obituaries, reminiscences and accounts of Lister from 1912 until well into the 1930s, increasingly elevated his image and status.
Among his most fervent ‘disciples’ were the students and trainees he had taught and worked with in Glasgow and Edinburgh in the 1860s and 70s. Although it wasn’t uncommon for students to elevate their professors to heroic status, the language of the Listerians reached new heights –
“His face, once seen, could hardly be forgotten. There was something so distinctive about it, such a blending of sweetness and power and purpose. Those who have never seen Lister can have but a poor idea of the height to which Homo Sapiens can evolve.
I have always placed him in a class by himself.” (J. R. Leeson, ‘Lister as I knew him’, 1927)
As with many figures who become iconic, Lister’s image and name became appropriated in countless ways during the 20th century, by product manufacturers, institutions, health boards, and advertisers.
Lister is an inspirational figure in the College’s heritage, connecting surgical innovation in Glasgow to improvements in medical science around the world. Due to his fame, he can be used to engage a wide range of people with medical history. Our Listermania celebrations in 2018 explored many creative approaches to learning about Lister and antisepsis.
2018 marked the 150th anniversary of Lister's public lecture on his theory of antisepsis held in the College's now Princess Alexandra Room. Special guests including Greig Trout, (101 Things To Do When You Survive), Mr Pankaj Chandak (pioneering surgeon, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Great Ormond Street Hospitals and Royal College of Surgeons of England Research Fellow) and Dr Lindsey Fitzharris (author of the award-winning book The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine), helped to celebrate Lister and his legacy.
Part of Listermania included the work of our artist in residence, Marianne Macrae. Marianne worked creatively with theJoseph Lister collections and heritage of the College, particularly exploring the influence of Glasgow on the famous surgeon’s achievements and legacy. The residency was a partnership between the College, the University of Edinburgh, and the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities (SGSAH).
Through her research Marianne created a series of poems based on Lister's life, works, and character. These poems were collated into a publication, "Joseph Lister is my new Flatmate".