Dr Archibald Hewan (1832–1883) and the University of Glasgow’s medical libraries

Background: We provide historical context for the recently discovered University of Glasgow Library records of Archibald Hewan (1832– 1883), the first Black medical doctor known to have served as a missionary in Africa. Methods: An audit of several different manuscript records of the University of Glasgow’s Archives and Special Collections and an analysis of their meaning within the broader historical context of medical libraries during the mid nineteenth century. Results: The records offer insight into what kinds of books were borrowed, how they connected to the curricula of Glasgow’s universities, where they were consulted and what kinds of topics caught the attention of students. Conclusion: The records of medical libraries offer unique insight into the information sources and learning strategies employed by Hewan and other contemporary university students who later worked in colonial locations.