Subfonds H14/BMB/CTM - COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE HIGHER TRAINING OF MIDWIVES

Identity area

Reference code

H14/BMB/CTM

Title

COUNCIL FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE HIGHER TRAINING OF MIDWIVES

Date(s)

  • 1903-1941 (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

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.

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

Related descriptions

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

London Metropolitan Archives

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area