Add MS 56185

FLEMING PAPERS. Vol. LXXX. 21 May-22 Sept.1945.

ff. iii + 32. 159 x 99mm. Limp cover of patterned design. Piece of paper stuck on the front, written on it is:

‘1945. Beginning of trip to USA 21/5/45-29/5/45

1945. Trip to France Sept 3. to Sept 8

1945. Trip to Italy Sept 14-Sept 22’

This journal marks the beginning of Fleming’s ‘public life’.

See 56110 for papers and correspondence relating to the American tour.

See 56114 for correspondence and papers relating to the visit to Italy and France.

Journal includes:

Section one: n.d.

ff. 1-4.

First few pages used for notes, including:

Addresses

Telephone numbers

Articles and recipe for a pencil that will write on glass wet or dry

Section two: 21-29 May 1945.

ff. 4v-11v. Boat trip to America (start of a tour)

Journal of his time upon the boat ‘Aquitania’ to New York, marking the start of his tour of America. James Cameron of the British Mission acted as his guide during this trip.

21 May. Description of the boat and some of its passengers including

Captain and Mrs Stevens RN, Lord Bennett and Sir Harry [Trott?].

24 May. Talk on penicillin to the other passengers.

28 May. Arrived in New York at noon and met W. Hughes of the Supply Mission and Reid.

Section three: 3-8 Sept. [1945].

ff. 15-20. France

For this trip Fleming was a guest of the French Government.

3 Sept. Left Croydon and arrived in Paris to an enormous reception and broadcast. Received by Minister of Health at 4.30.

4 Sept. Reception at Académie de Medicine, where he was made an honorary member.

5 Sept.

Lunch at Foreign Office, sat on the right of the Foreign Minister (Georges Bidault), also present were the Minister for Health (Francois Billoux) and Minister for Education.

Then to the Palais de la Decouverte and an address by the Director.

Met Charles de Gaulle and received Commander of Legion of Honour.

Visited a penicillin plant and presented with Medal of Honour of the Service de Santé Militaire.

6 Sept.

Reception at Pasteur Institute, with a short speech by Jacques Trefouel, Director of Pasteur Institute.

Lunch Louis Vallery-Radot and Francois Billoux. Presented with Pasteur Medal and received Commander of the Order of Public Health

Visited Pasteur Hospital, where Dr Martin (son of René Martin) showed him round.

7 Sept.

Visited Hospital for Sick Children and met patients and Professor Debré.

Visited Venes Laboratory.

Reception at Hotel de Ville with President of the Council and President Academy of Science.

8 Sept. Flight to London

Section four: 14-22 Sept. [1945].

ff. 21-26. Italy

Visit to Italy included a second audience with a Pope and visits to many military hospitals.

14 Sept. Stayed overnight somewhere before flight the next day.

15 Sept. Flight met by Air Vice Marshall Kelly and others including a Mary’s [Hospital] man [no name].

16 Sept. Left for Naples.

17 Sept. Visited numerous hospitals including RAF Hospital 1, where he had lunch with Matron in Chief. Also gave a talk.

18 Sept. Called on Professor Gino Bergami [physiologist and biochemist].

19 Sept.

Visit to the Infective Distribution Penicillin Unit.

Visit to the Legation (Vatican), talked to Pope for about ten minutes and was given a medal. Fleming gave the Pope a penicillin culture.

Lecture at 6pm and met Prince Regent.

Dinner with Hopkinson (British Embassy, Rome).

20 Sept. Flight in Lawrence P. Garrod’s (bacteriologist) private plane then car to Venice accompanied by Sanderson (old Thomas man).

21 Sept. Boat to Venice, car to Treviso and then Naples on a plane.

22 Sept. Aerodrome and flight to London.

Section five: n.d.

ff. 26v, 30-32.

List of things to do

Notes, addresses etc

includes:

• ff. 4v-11v America: A. Fleming's journal entries for a boat trip to New York on the 'Aquitania', which marked the start of a tour, 21-29 May: 1945.
• ff. 15-20 France: A. Fleming's journal entries for a visit as a guest of the Government, 3-8 September: [1945].
• ff. 21-26 Italy: A. Fleming's journal entries for a visit, including an audience with the Pope, 14-22 September: [1945].