GB 0120 SA/BCC - Birth Control Campaign

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 SA/BCC

Title

Birth Control Campaign

Date(s)

  • 1971-1977 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

19 boxes and 3 transfer boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Birth Control Campaign was the pressure group of the Birth Control Trust (a registered charity), although it was set up before the Trust in 1971. It took political action in the form of lobbying for National Health Services in this field, and defended and promoted existing legislation, such as the 1967 Abortion Act. The Trust, however, published pamphlets on aspects of birth control, abortion and population and acted as an information resource centre: being a charity it could defend existing law but not campaign for changes.

From 1971 to 1974 the Birth Control Campaign campaigned for the wider provision of male sterilisation (vasectomy) and for completely free provision of contraception under the NHS. After 1974, when legislation was passed on these matters, the BCC turned its attention to campaigning for improved NHS facilities for contraception, abortion and sterilisation and for these services to be advertised and promoted. The Campaign was also been actively involved in opposing attempts to restrict the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Archival history

GB 0120 SA/BCC 1971-1977 Collection (fonds) 19 boxes and 3 transfer boxes Birth Control Campaign

Birth Control Trust

The Birth Control Campaign was the pressure group of the Birth Control Trust (a registered charity), although it was set up before the Trust in 1971. It took political action in the form of lobbying for National Health Services in this field, and defended and promoted existing legislation, such as the 1967 Abortion Act. The Trust, however, published pamphlets on aspects of birth control, abortion and population and acted as an information resource centre: being a charity it could defend existing law but not campaign for changes.

From 1971 to 1974 the Birth Control Campaign campaigned for the wider provision of male sterilisation (vasectomy) and for completely free provision of contraception under the NHS. After 1974, when legislation was passed on these matters, the BCC turned its attention to campaigning for improved NHS facilities for contraception, abortion and sterilisation and for these services to be advertised and promoted. The Campaign was also been actively involved in opposing attempts to restrict the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act.

The bulk of these archives were given to the Wellcome Library by the Birth Control Trust in February 1986. Subsequent supplementary accessions were donated in December 1998 and June 1999 (along with the archives of CO-ORD: the campaign to defend the 1967 Abortion Act). Some of the supplementary material has not yet been catalogued.

Papers of the Birth Control Campaign (BCC), 1971-1977, including papers relating to Parliamentary action on wider provision of male sterilisation (vasectomy), free provision of contraception under the NHS, and general improved NHS facilities for contraception, abortion and sterilisation. There is also a large section of press cuttings, and files relating to the internal organisation of the campaign, various attempts to promote and publicise its aims, and relations with other bodies in connected fields.

The collection is divided into sections as follows:

A Organistion and internal matters

B Publicity and promotion

C Other bodies

D Parliamentary matters

E Press cuttings

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

English

The catalogue to this collection has not yet been fully converted to electronic form: for detail, and to order material, see hard-copy list available in the Wellcome Library. Copies of the catalogue are available on request.

Collection level description available on-line on the Wellcome Library website

Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Jan 2009 Chemical actions and uses Pharmacologic actions Therapeutic uses Reproductive control agents Contraceptive agents Health Health policy Medical sciences Surgery Surgical procedures, operative Urogenital surgical procedures Sterilization, reproductive Vasectomy Abortion, legal Abortion, induced Obstetric surgical procedures Family planning Demography Interest groups Groups National Health Service Birth Control Campaign

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The bulk of these archives were given to the Wellcome Library by the Birth Control Trust in February 1986. Subsequent supplementary accessions were donated in December 1998 and June 1999 (along with the archives of CO-ORD: the campaign to defend the 1967 Abortion Act). Some of the supplementary material has not yet been catalogued.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of the Birth Control Campaign (BCC), 1971-1977, including papers relating to Parliamentary action on wider provision of male sterilisation (vasectomy), free provision of contraception under the NHS, and general improved NHS facilities for contraception, abortion and sterilisation. There is also a large section of press cuttings, and files relating to the internal organisation of the campaign, various attempts to promote and publicise its aims, and relations with other bodies in connected fields.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The collection is divided into sections as follows:

A Organistion and internal matters

B Publicity and promotion

C Other bodies

D Parliamentary matters

E Press cuttings

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

The catalogue to this collection has not yet been fully converted to electronic form: for detail, and to order material, see hard-copy list available in the Wellcome Library. Copies of the catalogue are available on request.

Collection level description available on-line on the Wellcome Library website

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Wellcome Library

Rules and/or conventions used

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area