GB 0120 PP/RJH - Hetherington, Robert J

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 PP/RJH

Title

Hetherington, Robert J

Date(s)

  • 1950-1980 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

26 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Archival history

GB 0120 PP/RJH 1950-1980 Collection (fonds) 26 boxes Hetherington , Robert J , b [1924] , physician

This collection was given to the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre (known as Archives and Manuscripts following its merger with Western Manuscripts in July 2000) in 1984 in memory of his sister-in-law, Carol Walker by Dr R J Hetherington, formerly a physician in Birmingham.

Papers of Robert Hetherington, predominantly concerned with contraception (especially oral contraception) drug toxicity and thalidomide. It consists mainly of press cuttings but there is a large collection of advertising material for oral contraceptives with some notes and correspondence. Dr Hetherington was collecting material during the 1960s and 1970s both agreeing and disagreeing with his own ideas on these contentious issues.

Some samples of oral contraceptives during sorting have been removed and given to the Wellcome Galleries at the Science Museum.

As far as possible the material has been maintained in the order in which it was kept by Dr Hetherington except in cases where this had broken down due to bulk. Because of the special nature of this collection there are inevitably areas of overlap between various files. For example general files contain items relating to specific products. Some cross-referencing has been carried out but anyone using the collection is advised to study the whole list. The sections are as follows:

A Oral contraception: producers and their products

B Conferences on contraception

C Diseases and their connection with oral contraception

D Oral contraception: Miscellaneous

E Contraception: General

F Drugs

G Drug Abuse

H Thalidomide

The bulk of the papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Two files of correspondence relating to drugs and Thalidomide are closed until 2008: (F1/31 and H7/2).

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).

Wellcome Library collections: PP/ASP, PP/CDW, SA/BMA, SA/FPA, SA/NBT, GC/150, GC/193.

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 Pharmacologic actions Therapeutic uses Reproductive control agents Contraceptive agents Chemicals Organic chemicals Alcohols Alcohol Diseases Infectious diseases Venereal diseases Psychiatry Psychopathology Mental diseases Substance-related disorders Chemical compounds Organic compounds Heterocyclic compounds Thalidomide Pathology Toxicology Poisoning Drug toxicity Chemical actions and uses Veterinary medicine Medical sciences Tobacco Plant products Agricultural products Family planning Pharmaceutical preparations Hetherington , Robert J , b [1924] , physician

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

This collection was given to the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre (known as Archives and Manuscripts following its merger with Western Manuscripts in July 2000) in 1984 in memory of his sister-in-law, Carol Walker by Dr R J Hetherington, formerly a physician in Birmingham.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Robert Hetherington, predominantly concerned with contraception (especially oral contraception) drug toxicity and thalidomide. It consists mainly of press cuttings but there is a large collection of advertising material for oral contraceptives with some notes and correspondence. Dr Hetherington was collecting material during the 1960s and 1970s both agreeing and disagreeing with his own ideas on these contentious issues.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Some samples of oral contraceptives during sorting have been removed and given to the Wellcome Galleries at the Science Museum.

Accruals

System of arrangement

As far as possible the material has been maintained in the order in which it was kept by Dr Hetherington except in cases where this had broken down due to bulk. Because of the special nature of this collection there are inevitably areas of overlap between various files. For example general files contain items relating to specific products. Some cross-referencing has been carried out but anyone using the collection is advised to study the whole list. The sections are as follows:

A Oral contraception: producers and their products

B Conferences on contraception

C Diseases and their connection with oral contraception

D Oral contraception: Miscellaneous

E Contraception: General

F Drugs

G Drug Abuse

H Thalidomide

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The bulk of the papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Two files of correspondence relating to drugs and Thalidomide are closed until 2008: (F1/31 and H7/2).

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

Wellcome Library collections: PP/ASP, PP/CDW, SA/BMA, SA/FPA, SA/NBT, GC/150, GC/193.

Finding aids

The catalogue is available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).

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