Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1903-1941 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.01 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives was formed in February 1904 after a series of preliminary meetings in 1903. Its object was to found a national training school for district midwives. Rather than amalgamating with an existing hospital, it was decided to open a new maternity hospital in Woolwich, at this time a part of London with an expanding population and very little hospital provision. The Home for Mothers and Babies was opened in Wood Street, Woolwich on 11 May 1905. The Council appointed an Executive Committee to manage the hospital. All matters of outside policy respecting growth of the hospital or those in any way arising from its work as a National Training School for District Midwives were to be reserved for the Council.
When the British Lying-In Hospital amalgamated with the Home for Mothers and Babies, the Charity Commission Scheme of 29 January 1915 established a new constitution for the hospital. This laid down that six out of the fourteen members of the Managing Committee were to be appointed by the Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives on condition that the Council provided the hospital with not less than £400 a year. Miss Gregory described the special mission of the six Council members on the Committee as being:- "(a) to safeguard the higher training of midwives, zealously opposing any lowering of the standard, (b) to demand that the training school was used primarily for those intending to work among the poor rather than the rich - even if higher fees were obtainable from the latter and (c) to resist any effort that might be made in the future to admit medical students as pupils since the training of midwife pupils would infallibly suffer in consequence".
In 1938 the Council decided to terminate its existence. It had failed to raise £400 for the hospital for the last nine years and it felt that its aims and objects were identical with those of the hospital.
Repository
Archival history
H14/BMB/CTM 1903-1941 subfonds 0.01 linear metres Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives
The Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives was formed in February 1904 after a series of preliminary meetings in 1903. Its object was to found a national training school for district midwives. Rather than amalgamating with an existing hospital, it was decided to open a new maternity hospital in Woolwich, at this time a part of London with an expanding population and very little hospital provision. The Home for Mothers and Babies was opened in Wood Street, Woolwich on 11 May 1905. The Council appointed an Executive Committee to manage the hospital. All matters of outside policy respecting growth of the hospital or those in any way arising from its work as a National Training School for District Midwives were to be reserved for the Council.
When the British Lying-In Hospital amalgamated with the Home for Mothers and Babies, the Charity Commission Scheme of 29 January 1915 established a new constitution for the hospital. This laid down that six out of the fourteen members of the Managing Committee were to be appointed by the Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives on condition that the Council provided the hospital with not less than £400 a year. Miss Gregory described the special mission of the six Council members on the Committee as being:- "(a) to safeguard the higher training of midwives, zealously opposing any lowering of the standard, (b) to demand that the training school was used primarily for those intending to work among the poor rather than the rich - even if higher fees were obtainable from the latter and (c) to resist any effort that might be made in the future to admit medical students as pupils since the training of midwife pupils would infallibly suffer in consequence".
In 1938 the Council decided to terminate its existence. It had failed to raise £400 for the hospital for the last nine years and it felt that its aims and objects were identical with those of the hospital.
ACC/2004
Records of the Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives, comprising council minutes, 1903-1938 and cash books, 1916-1941.
In sections according to catalogue.
Available for general access.
Copyright: Depositor.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
H14/BLI - British Lying-In Hospital and H14/BMB - British Hospital for Mothers and Babies.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. February 2009 Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives History of medicine Nursing Medical sciences Midwifery Maternity services Womens hospitals Higher science education Medical education Nursing education Medical institutions History Personal history Medical history Health services Hospitals Hospital administration People People by roles Hospital patients The Home for Mothers and Babies x British Hospital for Mothers and Babies Europe Woolwich London England UK Western Europe Greenwich
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
ACC/2004
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Council for the Promotion of the Higher Training of Midwives, comprising council minutes, 1903-1938 and cash books, 1916-1941.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In sections according to catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: Depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
H14/BLI - British Lying-In Hospital and H14/BMB - British Hospital for Mothers and Babies.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
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
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; 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