GB 0074 H72/CDF - COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN'S FUND

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 H72/CDF

Title

COUNTESS OF DUFFERIN'S FUND

Date(s)

  • 1919-1935 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

half box

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

In 1883, the Countess of Dufferin arrived in India with her husband, who had been created Viceroy. She had been asked to take an interest in the medical relief of Indian women by Queen Victoria, who had been upset by the accounts of Mary Scharlieb and Elizabeth Bielby (both graduates of the London School of Medicine for Women), regarding their experience of this matter. Strict purdah was kept at this time by Muslim, but also some Hindu women, with the result that many suffered and died unnecessarily through lack of medical care. The Countess of Dufferin's Fund was established in 1885, to provide financial support for a "National Association for the Supplying of Female Medical Aid to the Women of India". This Association, which was formally registered in 1888, aimed to train women as doctors, nurses and midwives, to provide female wards in existing hospitals, and to endow hospitals for women and children. The Association consisted of a Central Committee which acted as a link between a number of local branches based in India. These branches were expected to contribute financially to the central fund, and to adhere to the objects of the National Association, but were otherwise independent. The Association celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1935.

Archival history

The records were transferred along with the Royal Free Hospital and associated collections from the Royal Free Hospital Archives Centre to London Metropolitan Archives in 2013.

GB 0074 H72/CDF 1919-1935 Sub fonds half box Countess of Dufferin's Fund

In 1883, the Countess of Dufferin arrived in India with her husband, who had been created Viceroy. She had been asked to take an interest in the medical relief of Indian women by Queen Victoria, who had been upset by the accounts of Mary Scharlieb and Elizabeth Bielby (both graduates of the London School of Medicine for Women), regarding their experience of this matter. Strict purdah was kept at this time by Muslim, but also some Hindu women, with the result that many suffered and died unnecessarily through lack of medical care. The Countess of Dufferin's Fund was established in 1885, to provide financial support for a "National Association for the Supplying of Female Medical Aid to the Women of India". This Association, which was formally registered in 1888, aimed to train women as doctors, nurses and midwives, to provide female wards in existing hospitals, and to endow hospitals for women and children. The Association consisted of a Central Committee which acted as a link between a number of local branches based in India. These branches were expected to contribute financially to the central fund, and to adhere to the objects of the National Association, but were otherwise independent. The Association celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1935.

The records were transferred along with the Royal Free Hospital and associated collections from the Royal Free Hospital Archives Centre to London Metropolitan Archives in 2013.

Deposited in December 2013.

Records of the Countess of Dufferin's Fund including minutes for 1919-1922 and a Jubilee annual report from 1935.

3 items.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright is held by the depositor.

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

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.
Added May 2014 Health services Medical charities Countess of Dufferin's Fund India Charities South Asia Nonprofit organizations Organizations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Deposited in December 2013.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the Countess of Dufferin's Fund including minutes for 1919-1922 and a Jubilee annual report from 1935.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

3 items.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright is held by the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

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

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

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