Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1931 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 folders
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
William Blair-Bell (1871-1936) was co-founder (with William Fletcher Shaw) of the College and its first President. The second son of William and Helen Bell, he was born in Wallasey in 1871 and educated at Rossall School, King's College London and King's College Hospital. In 1905 he left general practice in Wallasey and was appointed to the post of Assistant Consultant Gynaecologist to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. In 1918 he became senior surgeon and in 1921 was appointed to the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Liverpool University, a position he held until 1931. In 1929 he married his cousin, Florence.
Blair-Bell was President of the Obstetric Section of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the North of England Gynaecological Society and the Liverpool Medical Institution. In 1911 he founded the Gynaecological Visiting Society (GVS). He was co-founder of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1929 and presented the College with its first headquarters at 58 Queen Anne Street. He established the money for the William Blair-Bell memorial lectures and for other research projects. He was President of the College from its inception until 1935, the year before his death (bibliography: Sir John Peel, Lives of the Fellows, pp 73-77).
Archival history
these drawings were formerly the property of William Blair-Bell. According to Fletcher Shaw in his history of the College, the badge was designed by Blair Bell and Omar Ramsden, and presented to the College by the former. It was stolen in 1943; a new badge was copied from the original designs. The robes were also designed by Blair-Bell in conjunction with the firm of Ede & Ravenscroft (Ibid pp 59-60) (bibliography: W Fletcher Shaw, Twenty-Five Years: the story of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists 1929-1954, J & A Churchill Ltd, 1954, pp 57-60). The designs were presented to the College by Lady Bell, wife of Sir Arthur Bell, the nephew of W Blair-Bell.
GB 1538 S36 1931 Collection (fonds) 2 folders Bell , William Blair- , 1871-1936 , President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
William Blair-Bell (1871-1936) was co-founder (with William Fletcher Shaw) of the College and its first President. The second son of William and Helen Bell, he was born in Wallasey in 1871 and educated at Rossall School, King's College London and King's College Hospital. In 1905 he left general practice in Wallasey and was appointed to the post of Assistant Consultant Gynaecologist to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary. In 1918 he became senior surgeon and in 1921 was appointed to the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Liverpool University, a position he held until 1931. In 1929 he married his cousin, Florence.
Blair-Bell was President of the Obstetric Section of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the North of England Gynaecological Society and the Liverpool Medical Institution. In 1911 he founded the Gynaecological Visiting Society (GVS). He was co-founder of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1929 and presented the College with its first headquarters at 58 Queen Anne Street. He established the money for the William Blair-Bell memorial lectures and for other research projects. He was President of the College from its inception until 1935, the year before his death (bibliography: Sir John Peel, Lives of the Fellows, pp 73-77).
these drawings were formerly the property of William Blair-Bell. According to Fletcher Shaw in his history of the College, the badge was designed by Blair Bell and Omar Ramsden, and presented to the College by the former. It was stolen in 1943; a new badge was copied from the original designs. The robes were also designed by Blair-Bell in conjunction with the firm of Ede & Ravenscroft (Ibid pp 59-60) (bibliography: W Fletcher Shaw, Twenty-Five Years: the story of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists 1929-1954, J & A Churchill Ltd, 1954, pp 57-60). The designs were presented to the College by Lady Bell, wife of Sir Arthur Bell, the nephew of W Blair-Bell.
This item was presented to the College by A H Rowson, FRCOG, in April 1990.
Drawings comprising copies of designs by William Blair-Bell for the presidential badge and ceremonial robe and for a Fellow's robe, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1931.
No further accruals are expected.
Single item.
Open
Copyright: vested in the estate of William Blair-Bell. Copyright expires in 2007.
English
A general index to the files listed in the catalogue of the Archives of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is maintained in the College Archives; refer to the College Archivist.
RCOG Archives holds other records relating to the design of robes and the presidential badge (Refs: A1/10, A1/44 and H2/12). A1/44 comprises Ede & Ravenscroft's bill and receipt for the presidential robe; photographs of the design for the badge and robes are at PH12/1 and PH14/4-6.
Sources: Biographical details of the individuals who have presented material to the College and/or comprise the subject of the records, have been compiled using information in administrative files and, where relevant, consulting Sir John Peel's book The Lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1929-1969, Whitefriars Press Ltd, 1975. Compiled by Clare Cowling, Archivist, RCOG. National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000. September 2000 Bell , William , Blair- , 1871-1936 , gynaecologist and obstetrician x Blair-Bell , William Career development Clothing Cultural heritage Customs and traditions Drawings Medical personnel Occupational status Personnel Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists x British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Surgeons Textiles Visual materials People by occupation People Illustrations
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This item was presented to the College by A H Rowson, FRCOG, in April 1990.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Drawings comprising copies of designs by William Blair-Bell for the presidential badge and ceremonial robe and for a Fellow's robe, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1931.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
Single item.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: vested in the estate of William Blair-Bell. Copyright expires in 2007.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
RCOG Archives holds other records relating to the design of robes and the presidential badge (Refs: A1/10, A1/44 and H2/12). A1/44 comprises Ede & Ravenscroft's bill and receipt for the presidential robe; photographs of the design for the badge and robes are at PH12/1 and PH14/4-6.
Finding aids
A general index to the files listed in the catalogue of the Archives of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is maintained in the College Archives; refer to the College Archivist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English