Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1963-1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
14 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Camberwell Council on Alcoholism (CCA) promoted preventive and diagnostic work in the study of alcoholism as a disease and in the treatment of alcoholics. Founded in 1963, it was the first of the community councils on alcoholism to be established in the UK. It was active in an area of south London where a very visible vagrant alcoholic problem met a growing interest among the doctors of the Maudsley Hospital in the problems of alcoholism as a disease: in particular Dr Griffith Edwards of the Maudsley was very active in setting up this local council. Recent theoretical developments concerning the problem (mainly from the USA) met the 1960s trend towards the development of community-based organisations to deal with social problems, committed to a self-help approach and involved in direct action, education of the public and campaigning. During this early period of the CCA's history the economic climate was favourable, with public money being available to fund projects such as these.
The CCA became involved in the problems created by alcohol over a wide field from the very obvious problem of the vagrant alcoholic to the unsuspectedly large problem of female alcoholism. The pattern of the CCA's activity was to set up groups to deal with a particular problem (e.g. provision of hostel accommodation for homeless alcoholics, setting an Alcohol Education Centre) and then withdraw as these groups became self-supporting ventures. It also liaised with other organisations doing related work. The CCA became inactive in the early 1980s.
Repository
Archival history
The records survive in the most bulk for the years during which Elspeth Kyle was the paid organiser.
GB 0120 SA/CCA 1963-1979 Collection (fonds) 14 boxes Camberwell Council on Alcoholism
The Camberwell Council on Alcoholism (CCA) promoted preventive and diagnostic work in the study of alcoholism as a disease and in the treatment of alcoholics. Founded in 1963, it was the first of the community councils on alcoholism to be established in the UK. It was active in an area of south London where a very visible vagrant alcoholic problem met a growing interest among the doctors of the Maudsley Hospital in the problems of alcoholism as a disease: in particular Dr Griffith Edwards of the Maudsley was very active in setting up this local council. Recent theoretical developments concerning the problem (mainly from the USA) met the 1960s trend towards the development of community-based organisations to deal with social problems, committed to a self-help approach and involved in direct action, education of the public and campaigning. During this early period of the CCA's history the economic climate was favourable, with public money being available to fund projects such as these.
The CCA became involved in the problems created by alcohol over a wide field from the very obvious problem of the vagrant alcoholic to the unsuspectedly large problem of female alcoholism. The pattern of the CCA's activity was to set up groups to deal with a particular problem (e.g. provision of hostel accommodation for homeless alcoholics, setting an Alcohol Education Centre) and then withdraw as these groups became self-supporting ventures. It also liaised with other organisations doing related work. The CCA became inactive in the early 1980s.
The records survive in the most bulk for the years during which Elspeth Kyle was the paid organiser.
The main bulk of this collection was received in February 1980 through the kind auspices of Shirley Otto, chairperson of the CCA Executive Committee, from the office of the South East London Consortium, Cambridge House, SE5, where they had been stored. A few further items were received from Elspeth Kyle in January 1981, and additional material from the offices of the CCA in October 1980, February 1981 and October 1981. (Accession numbers 18, 77, 83, 90 and 106.)
Papers of the Camberwell Council on Alcoholism including Minutes 1963-1980; annual reports, 1970s; reports and research papers, 1973-1979; files on alcoholism, homelessness, licensing laws, drunken driving, etc, and papers relating to liaison with related bodies, 1961-1980.
A certain amount of rationalisation of the files has taken place but as far as possible they have been kept in their original relations to each other. Duplicates have been weeded, as have some ephemeral items (mainly orders and invoices for the CCA Journal on Alcoholism), and publications not directly related to alcoholism.
It was anticipated that further files would be deposited at approximately five-year intervals, but CCA became inactive before the first five-year deadline.
The basic sections of the collection are as follows:
1-3: Executive Committee Minutes, 1963-1980
4-10: Annual General Meetings, 1963-1975
11-14: Reports, 1969/70-1977/78
15-17: Early correspondence, 1961-1970
18-80: Subject files, 1961-1980
81-87: Other bodies, c.1968-1976
88-94: Reference items
95-100: Acc no 90: Women and Alcohol files and One Day Conference, c.1973-1979
101-104: Acc no 104: Correspondence, etc, of Elspeth Kyle as Secretary/Organiser, 1971-1973.
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 is available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).
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 2007 Social work Pharmaceutical preparations Social problems Homelessness Chemicals Organic chemicals Alcohols Alcohol Psychiatry Psychopathology Mental diseases Substance-related disorders Health Health policy Pathology Diseases Drink driving Camberwell Council on Alcoholism Camberwell London England UK Western Europe Europe Southwark
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The main bulk of this collection was received in February 1980 through the kind auspices of Shirley Otto, chairperson of the CCA Executive Committee, from the office of the South East London Consortium, Cambridge House, SE5, where they had been stored. A few further items were received from Elspeth Kyle in January 1981, and additional material from the offices of the CCA in October 1980, February 1981 and October 1981. (Accession numbers 18, 77, 83, 90 and 106.)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the Camberwell Council on Alcoholism including Minutes 1963-1980; annual reports, 1970s; reports and research papers, 1973-1979; files on alcoholism, homelessness, licensing laws, drunken driving, etc, and papers relating to liaison with related bodies, 1961-1980.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
A certain amount of rationalisation of the files has taken place but as far as possible they have been kept in their original relations to each other. Duplicates have been weeded, as have some ephemeral items (mainly orders and invoices for the CCA Journal on Alcoholism), and publications not directly related to alcoholism.
Accruals
It was anticipated that further files would be deposited at approximately five-year intervals, but CCA became inactive before the first five-year deadline.
System of arrangement
The basic sections of the collection are as follows:
1-3: Executive Committee Minutes, 1963-1980
4-10: Annual General Meetings, 1963-1975
11-14: Reports, 1969/70-1977/78
15-17: Early correspondence, 1961-1970
18-80: Subject files, 1961-1980
81-87: Other bodies, c.1968-1976
88-94: Reference items
95-100: Acc no 90: Women and Alcohol files and One Day Conference, c.1973-1979
101-104: Acc no 104: Correspondence, etc, of Elspeth Kyle as Secretary/Organiser, 1971-1973.
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
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
The catalogue is available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).
Related units of description
Notes area
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
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