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Dr Thomas Moore Philson’s Trunk
What an object can tell you about a person
The Trunk
Property of Dr Thomas Moore Philson, the trunk would have been used during Philson’s time as a part of the 58th Regiment. The trunk was made and given to Philson around 1840 with the purpose of accompanying him during his travels as an assistant surgeon.
Dr Philson’s Legacy
Born in Londonderry, United Kingdom on the 10th of August 1817, Philson was educated by his father, who was a mathematics teacher, before joining the University of Edinburgh in 1834. At age 17 he had won the Ballingall Prize for Military surgery and in 1839 he had graduated with an MD (Doctor of Medicine) and MRCS (surgical qualification). In 1843 Philson joined the 58th Regiment and was sent to New Zealand where he served from 1845 until 1850 when he to begin civilian practice. From 1859-1883 he served as Medical Superintendent and provincial surgeon of the Auckland Hospital. During this time a mail steamer named Nebraska had arrived from Sydney with a crew carrying smallpox. Because Philson had already been through smallpox as a child he isolated himself with the crew member until the day he died and took care of the funeral arrangements in isolation as to not spread the disease further. To this, the superintendent of the provincial government during that period had gifted Philson a cheque of £100 for his act of selfless devotion towards duty. In 1877 Philson contributed greatly to the construction of Auckland’s second hospital by sending complaints to the government via newspaper in regards to the first Auckland hospital, which revealed an inadequate water supply, lack of accommodation, and a need for better facilities. As a result, in 1879 a report was published, commending the significant improvements of the hospital conditions. Sadly, on November 22nd 1899 Philson passed away at the age of 82 at his residence on Grafton Road, Auckland.
Trunk Appearance
Dr Philson’s trunk is made of a lightweight wood, making it good for taking aboard ships without adding on unnecessary weight, with personalized writing on the front side reading "Assistant Surgeon Philson Medical Doctor 58th Regiment". The inside walls of the trunk are lined with decorative fabric which would have been folded onto the outside of the trunk, making it more appealing, decorative, and suitable to be used as an ornamental piece of furniture such as a bed-side table. This trunk would have helped Philson store his personal belongings such as clothes and mementos, while his surgical supplies would have been placed in a separate medical box.
Social Status
The cursive writing on the face of the trun also gives an indication towards Philson’s social status. The ownership of a trunk during the 1800’s was a sign of wealth and a high social class, as most commoners and soldiers wouldn't have been able to attain one, opting instead for backpacks. Due to the weight of the luggage, Philson would have had people of a lower class carry the trunk around for him. The fact that the trunk is personalised for Philson with his name and position emphasises his high status and wealth, as those affluent enough to own a trunk would have most likely had a plain one due to the cost of customising it. However, it is important to note that although Dr Philson was more influential than most citizens he wasn’t at the top of the social hierarchy. Figures like the captain and other head surgeons were considered to have a higher status.
Historical Significance
Philson’s trunk is significant towards New Zealand’s history as it stands as an untainted reminder towards the medical service provided by the many selfless people like Philson during the 1800’s. It was donated to the Ernest & Marion Davis Library in Auckland after Philson's death and gives us a glimpse towards what his life could have been like during his time in New Zealand, allowing us to investigate the social background of Philson during his time as an assistant surgeon.
In 2025, Our Health Journeys continued our partnership with Saint Kentigern College in Auckland to challenge a number of students to conduct research into an aspect of the medical history of Aotearoa New Zealand. The students, ranging from Years 8-13, produced their research in written, oral, or video format and the top projects were chosen for publication to Our Health Journeys.