GB 0120 SA/NBT - National Birthday Trust Fund

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 SA/NBT

Title

National Birthday Trust Fund

Date(s)

  • 1928-1993 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

213 boxes, 11 outsize folders and 1 roll.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The National Birthday Trust Fund (NBTF) was established in 1928 and campaigned in the 1930s for the wider provision of analgesia in childbirth and improvements in midwifery services. Through the Joint Council on Midwifery it conducted extensive surveys on the benefits of ante-natal care and nutrition and an important survey of abortion practice (the collection includes the completed questionnaire forms). After the war it contributed to several government reports on maternity provision, provided research grants for various projects connected with congenital defects and maternity services, and conducted a series of surveys, including a survey into premature births (for which there are completed questionnaires). These culminated in the Perinatal Mortality Survey in 1958, which formed the basis for the cohort studies of the development of the children at seven year intervals. The collection includes the administrative records for the Perinatal Mortality Survey and the similar study, the British Births Survey, 1970. In 1993 the NBTF was amalgamated with the charity Birthright which works in the same area of maternal and infant care.

Archival history

GB 0120 SA/NBT 1928-1993 Collection (fonds) 213 boxes, 11 outsize folders and 1 roll. National Birthday Trust Fund

The National Birthday Trust Fund (NBTF) was established in 1928 and campaigned in the 1930s for the wider provision of analgesia in childbirth and improvements in midwifery services. Through the Joint Council on Midwifery it conducted extensive surveys on the benefits of ante-natal care and nutrition and an important survey of abortion practice (the collection includes the completed questionnaire forms). After the war it contributed to several government reports on maternity provision, provided research grants for various projects connected with congenital defects and maternity services, and conducted a series of surveys, including a survey into premature births (for which there are completed questionnaires). These culminated in the Perinatal Mortality Survey in 1958, which formed the basis for the cohort studies of the development of the children at seven year intervals. The collection includes the administrative records for the Perinatal Mortality Survey and the similar study, the British Births Survey, 1970. In 1993 the NBTF was amalgamated with the charity Birthright which works in the same area of maternal and infant care.

The majority of these records were given by Mrs M C Matthews, Secretary to the NBTF, in 1987. A further accession of survey questionnaires was collected in 1988. Material up to the date of amalgamation with Birthright was received in 1993-1994. Personal material of Lady Rhys-Williams was given by the family in 1993.

Papers of the National Birthday Trust Fund (NBTF), 1928-1993, comprising minutes; committee papers; records of annual general meetings; accounts; administration including maintenance of the building; correspondence relating to members, other organisations and individuals; fundraising and publicity; records relating to analgesia; records of research projects funded by the NBTF; reports to outside bodies; surveys; records relating to the Perinatal Mortality Survey, 1958; records relating to the British Births Survey, 1970; press cuttings; miscellaneous papers; administrative records of the Joint Council On Midwifery; records relating to the Abortion Survey conducted by the Joint Council On Midwifery; records relating to the Nutrition Survey conducted by the Joint Council On Midwifery; personal papers of Juliet, Lady Rhys-Williams DBE (1898-1964), founder member and Chairman for a period until her death; and records relating to non-NBTF organisations.

Duplicates and some draft documents have been weeded.

Some re-arrangement of files has been necessary to amalgamate files of correspondence or papers relating to one subject. Press cuttings have been listed together but some can be found in files with other papers. Photographs have been left with the papers with which they were found.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

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, the Wellcome Trust.

English

11 outsize folders and 1 roll.

The catalogue to this collection is not available in electronic format. Please see the hard-copy catalogue in the Wellcome Library. Copies of the catalogue are available on request. The catalogue is also available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).

The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:

SA/NBT/G.6/1, Flags for 'Help Our Mothers' appeal, 1930, L31851C,

SA/NBT/G.12, Invitation to Lady Croft's 'At Home', 1931, L31849C,

SA/NBT/G.14, Invitation to Lady Alington's 'At Home', 1930 , L31849C

SA/NBT/S.4/10, Dr. Reynold's Lightening Pills, and packet, L40375, L40380, L40381

SA/NBT/S.4/10, Slippery Elm Bark (sold as an abortifacient), L40376

Papers relating to the political career of Lady Rhys-Williams are held by the London School of Economics.

Medical History article by P A Baker, 1989 Vol 33 489-494

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 Research methods Scientific methods Life cycle Birth Finance Financing Fundraising Physiology Nutrition Pathology Diseases Neonatal diseases and defects Anaesthesia Analgesia Medical sciences Anaesthesiology Health Health policy Maternal and child health Questionnaires Family planning Surveys Field work Research work Birth control Abortion Budget contributions Population dynamics Research Williams , Juliet Evangeline , Rhys , 1898-1964 , Baroness Rhys Williams , public servant x Rhys Williams , Juliet Evangeline x Rhys Williams , Baroness Joint Council of Midwifery National Birthday Trust Fund , NBTF

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The majority of these records were given by Mrs M C Matthews, Secretary to the NBTF, in 1987. A further accession of survey questionnaires was collected in 1988. Material up to the date of amalgamation with Birthright was received in 1993-1994. Personal material of Lady Rhys-Williams was given by the family in 1993.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of the National Birthday Trust Fund (NBTF), 1928-1993, comprising minutes; committee papers; records of annual general meetings; accounts; administration including maintenance of the building; correspondence relating to members, other organisations and individuals; fundraising and publicity; records relating to analgesia; records of research projects funded by the NBTF; reports to outside bodies; surveys; records relating to the Perinatal Mortality Survey, 1958; records relating to the British Births Survey, 1970; press cuttings; miscellaneous papers; administrative records of the Joint Council On Midwifery; records relating to the Abortion Survey conducted by the Joint Council On Midwifery; records relating to the Nutrition Survey conducted by the Joint Council On Midwifery; personal papers of Juliet, Lady Rhys-Williams DBE (1898-1964), founder member and Chairman for a period until her death; and records relating to non-NBTF organisations.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Duplicates and some draft documents have been weeded.

Accruals

System of arrangement

Some re-arrangement of files has been necessary to amalgamate files of correspondence or papers relating to one subject. Press cuttings have been listed together but some can be found in files with other papers. Photographs have been left with the papers with which they were found.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

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, the Wellcome Trust.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

The catalogue to this collection is not available in electronic format. Please see the hard-copy catalogue in the Wellcome Library. Copies of the catalogue are available on request. The catalogue is also available on microfiche via the National Inventory of Documentary Sources (NIDS).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:

SA/NBT/G.6/1, Flags for 'Help Our Mothers' appeal, 1930, L31851C,

SA/NBT/G.12, Invitation to Lady Croft's 'At Home', 1931, L31849C,

SA/NBT/G.14, Invitation to Lady Alington's 'At Home', 1930 , L31849C

SA/NBT/S.4/10, Dr. Reynold's Lightening Pills, and packet, L40375, L40380, L40381

SA/NBT/S.4/10, Slippery Elm Bark (sold as an abortifacient), L40376

Related units of description

Papers relating to the political career of Lady Rhys-Williams are held by the London School of Economics.

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