The papers of L.G.C.E. Pugh, a British physiologist and mountaineer who combined field and laboratory research in pioneering work in modern high-altitude physiology and sports medicine. Pugh conducted studies on the impact of the environment on human physiology and performance during the 1952 British Himalayan Expedition to Mt. Cho Oyu, the 1953 British Himalayan Expedition to Mt. Everest, the 1960-1961 Himalayan Scientific and Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Everest, and the 1957-1958 Trans-Antarctic Expedition. His research interests were altitude, temperature and exertion. The data he obtained on Mt. Cho Oyu demonstrated the importance of adequate hydration and oxygen, findings that were crucial to the first successful climb of Mt. Everest in 1953. Pugh was the lead scientist on that expedition, and, with Edmund Hillary, he co-led the 1960-1961 Himalayan Scientific and Mountaineering Expedition, ("Silver Hut'), which spent five months at 19,000 ft. or higher on Mt. Everest. Pugh also studied distance swimmers and runners and took part in the evaluation and training of athletes for the 1968 Olympic Games. The collection contains Pugh's expedition and laboratory research files with notes, calculations and graphs documenting his experiments with mountain climbers, swimmers, runners and his work on respiration for polio patients; correspondence, much of it related to his research; reprints and drafts of journal articles, reports and unpublished writings; information on laboratory equipment and techniques, and photographic material documenting expeditions and experiments. The papers are arranged in twelve series: 1) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL; 2) GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE; 3) WRITINGS BY PUGH; 4) EXPEDITIONS; 5) PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES, 1940-1949; 6) PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES, 1950-1959; 7) PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES, 1960-1969; 8) PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES, 1970-1979; 9) LABORATORY APPARATUS, CALIBRATIONS AND TECHNIQUES; 10) CONFERENCES, LECTURES AND SYMPOSIA, 11) WRITINGS OF OTHERS, and 12) ORIGINALS OF PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPIES.

Lewis Griffith Cresswell Evans Pugh was born on October 19, 1909, in Shrewsbury, England. He studied medicine at Oxford University and obtained his medical degree in 1939. At the start of World War II he joined the British Army as a medical officer and in 1943 was sent to the Mountain Warfare Training Centre to select, train and evaluate the fitness of ski troops at a school for mountain warfare in Lebanon. There he began a career of research into the physiological effects of altitude, temperature and exertion.

43.5 Linear feet 88 archives boxes, 1 record carton, 5 card files and 48 oversize folders

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Document contained in Box 39, Folder 12 is restricted because of its fragility; researchers must use the photocopy substitute. Photographs of Channel swimmers located in Box 49, Folder 4 are deemed medical records and are restricted accordingly.