GB 0120 SA/MAC - Mental After Care Association

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 SA/MAC

Title

Mental After Care Association

Date(s)

  • c1886-1994 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

59 boxes, 1 outsize box, 5 folders, 1 outsize folder, 3 microfilms and 1 roll.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Mental After Care Association (MACA) was founded in 1879 by Henry Hawkins, Chaplain of Colney Hatch Asylum, as The After Care Association for Poor and Friendless Female Convalescents on Leaving Asylums for the Insane. Its aims were to provide an alternative to the workhouse for those discharged from asylums by offering a period of convalescence in the homes of private individuals. The ex-patients were given advice, money, clothing, and assisted to find suitable work. The name changed in 1892 when "Friendless" was dropped from the title. In 1893 the Association opened its own home for ex-patients in Redhill, Surrey. It was the first convalescent home for the mentally ill in England and closed in 1895. The Association's name changed again in 1894 when "Female" was dropped from the title. In 1914 the Association became The Mental After Care Association for Poor Persons Convalescent or Recovered from Institutions for the Insane. During World War One (1914-1918) the Association helped shell shock and air raid victims. In the 1930s the Association moved into preventive care, and also provided holiday accommodation for those not ready to leave hospital on a permanent basis. The Association became MACA in 1940. It registered as a limited company in 1949. In the 1960s chronic patients were accommodated in homes administered by MACA. More recently MACA has participated in community and respite care projects. In 2005 MACA became Together: Working for Wellbeing.

Archival history

GB 0120 SA/MAC c1886-1994 Collection (fonds) 59 boxes, 1 outsize box, 5 folders, 1 outsize folder, 3 microfilms and 1 roll. Mental After Care Association

The Mental After Care Association (MACA) was founded in 1879 by Henry Hawkins, Chaplain of Colney Hatch Asylum, as The After Care Association for Poor and Friendless Female Convalescents on Leaving Asylums for the Insane. Its aims were to provide an alternative to the workhouse for those discharged from asylums by offering a period of convalescence in the homes of private individuals. The ex-patients were given advice, money, clothing, and assisted to find suitable work. The name changed in 1892 when "Friendless" was dropped from the title. In 1893 the Association opened its own home for ex-patients in Redhill, Surrey. It was the first convalescent home for the mentally ill in England and closed in 1895. The Association's name changed again in 1894 when "Female" was dropped from the title. In 1914 the Association became The Mental After Care Association for Poor Persons Convalescent or Recovered from Institutions for the Insane. During World War One (1914-1918) the Association helped shell shock and air raid victims. In the 1930s the Association moved into preventive care, and also provided holiday accommodation for those not ready to leave hospital on a permanent basis. The Association became MACA in 1940. It registered as a limited company in 1949. In the 1960s chronic patients were accommodated in homes administered by MACA. More recently MACA has participated in community and respite care projects. In 2005 MACA became Together: Working for Wellbeing.

Records deposited in 1994, following a survey in 1987.

Papers of the Mental After Care Association (MACA), c 1886-1994, comprising the constitution and background, c 1886-1992; annual reports, 1887-1993; minutes, 1921-1982; financial records, c1880-1987; administrative records, 1891-c1990; records relating to homes and hostels administered by MACA, including property documents and registers of individual residential homes in the South of England, 1910-1992; case records, 1888-1986; publicity material, publications including Journal of Mental Science containing papers by Henry Hawkins, and ephemera including scrapbooks, c1880-1994; and photographs and audio-visual material, 1927-1989.

Duplicate and ephemeral items have been weeded.

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Certain restrictions apply. Papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Some files are subject to Restricted Access for 84 years from the last date on the file. Readers may apply to consult this material by completing a Restricted Access application form.

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

1 outsize box, 5 folders, 1 outsize folder, 3 microfilms and 1 roll. The scrapbooks are too fragile to be produced and Readers are requested to order the microfilm version instead.

The scrapbooks are too fragile to be produced and are available on microfilm (AMS/MF/84-86).

Jennifer Smith, 'Forging the 'missing link': the significance of the Mental After Care Association archive', History of Psychiatry vol 8, Sep 1997, pp 407-420.

Compiled by Anya Turner.

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.

June 2008 Mental After Care Association x The After Care Association for Poor and Friendless Female Convalescents on Leaving Asylums for the Insane x The Mental After Care Association for Poor Persons Convalescent or Recovered from Institutions for the Insane x Together: Working for Wellbeing Health services War International conflicts Hawkins , Henry , fl 1879 , clergyman and founder of The After Care Association for Poor and Friendless Female Convalescents on Leaving Asylums for the Insane Care Aftercare Health Mental health Pathology Mental diseases Psychopathology Psychiatry Legislation Law Convalescence Diseases Wars (events) World wars (events) World War One (1914-1918) Construction engineering Building design Building standards Accommodation Housing Residential care homes

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records deposited in 1994, following a survey in 1987.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of the Mental After Care Association (MACA), c 1886-1994, comprising the constitution and background, c 1886-1992; annual reports, 1887-1993; minutes, 1921-1982; financial records, c1880-1987; administrative records, 1891-c1990; records relating to homes and hostels administered by MACA, including property documents and registers of individual residential homes in the South of England, 1910-1992; case records, 1888-1986; publicity material, publications including Journal of Mental Science containing papers by Henry Hawkins, and ephemera including scrapbooks, c1880-1994; and photographs and audio-visual material, 1927-1989.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Duplicate and ephemeral items have been weeded.

Accruals

System of arrangement

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Certain restrictions apply. Papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. Some files are subject to Restricted Access for 84 years from the last date on the file. Readers may apply to consult this material by completing a Restricted Access application form.

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 scrapbooks are too fragile to be produced and are available on microfilm (AMS/MF/84-86).

Related units of description

Jennifer Smith, 'Forging the 'missing link': the significance of the Mental After Care Association archive', History of Psychiatry vol 8, Sep 1997, pp 407-420.

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

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