Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1967-1984 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The National Birthday Fund for Maternity Services (later National Birthday Trust Fund) was founded in 1928. In the inter-war period it campaigned for the provision of analgesia in childbirth and improvements in midwifery services and also conducted research into nutrition. Following the Second World War, its primary activity became sponsoring research, particularly into perinatal mortality. It conducted nationwide surveys in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1984, 1990 and 1994 and also supported on-going cohort studies of the development of children. At the end of the 1960s there had been proposals that the Fund be merged with the RCOG, although this never came to fruition, although in subsequent years the Fund developed a close relationship with the RCOG, which became involved in a number of its research projects. Ties between the two organisations were enhanced by the involvement of Professor Geoffrey Chamberlain, later President of the RCOG, in several Fund projects. The second perinatal survey in 1970 focused on the care of mother and baby for the first week after birth. The RCOG offered specialist advice and underwrote some of the salary costs for the survey. The survey was published as 'British Births 1970: A survey under the joint auspices of the National Birthday Trust Fund and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' edited by Dr Roma Chamberlain and others (London, 1975-78). Following the establishment of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit in 1978, the Fund decided to focus instead on single-subject surveys. One such was a 1984 confidential enquiry into place of birth, the results of which were published as 'Birthplace: Report of the confidential enquiry into facilities available at the place of birth conducted by the National Birthday Trust Fund' edited by Geoffrey Chamberlain and Philippa Gunn (Chichester, 1989). In 1993 the Fund joined forces with Birthright, a charitable branch of the RCOG which had been founded in 1963 and funded medical and scientific research into women's health. Birthright became the corporate Trustee of the Birthday Trust and the official merger of the two organisations accompanied its renaming as Wellbeing.
Archival history
Report was transferred to the College Archives in 2002 by the Clinical Governance and Standards Department.
GB 1538 RCOG/C8 1967-1984 fonds 1 box Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The National Birthday Fund for Maternity Services (later National Birthday Trust Fund) was founded in 1928. In the inter-war period it campaigned for the provision of analgesia in childbirth and improvements in midwifery services and also conducted research into nutrition. Following the Second World War, its primary activity became sponsoring research, particularly into perinatal mortality. It conducted nationwide surveys in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1984, 1990 and 1994 and also supported on-going cohort studies of the development of children. At the end of the 1960s there had been proposals that the Fund be merged with the RCOG, although this never came to fruition, although in subsequent years the Fund developed a close relationship with the RCOG, which became involved in a number of its research projects. Ties between the two organisations were enhanced by the involvement of Professor Geoffrey Chamberlain, later President of the RCOG, in several Fund projects. The second perinatal survey in 1970 focused on the care of mother and baby for the first week after birth. The RCOG offered specialist advice and underwrote some of the salary costs for the survey. The survey was published as 'British Births 1970: A survey under the joint auspices of the National Birthday Trust Fund and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' edited by Dr Roma Chamberlain and others (London, 1975-78). Following the establishment of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit in 1978, the Fund decided to focus instead on single-subject surveys. One such was a 1984 confidential enquiry into place of birth, the results of which were published as 'Birthplace: Report of the confidential enquiry into facilities available at the place of birth conducted by the National Birthday Trust Fund' edited by Geoffrey Chamberlain and Philippa Gunn (Chichester, 1989). In 1993 the Fund joined forces with Birthright, a charitable branch of the RCOG which had been founded in 1963 and funded medical and scientific research into women's health. Birthright became the corporate Trustee of the Birthday Trust and the official merger of the two organisations accompanied its renaming as Wellbeing.
Report was transferred to the College Archives in 2002 by the Clinical Governance and Standards Department.
It is probable that C7/1-3 were removed from President's correspondence files. The records at C7/4-5 were transferred to the Archives by the Committee Secretary, Administration Department. The 1993 report on GP vocational training in obstetrics and gynaecology (C7/5) was found amongst President's papers for that year.
Records relating to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' (RCOG) involvement in two National Birthday Fund for Maternity Services (NBTF) surveys, and also cover a period, between 1969 and 1973, when the NBTF engaged in unsuccessful negotiations with the RCOG for the Trust's integration into the College. They include original data collection forms for the 1984 'Birthplace' study.
In 1999 a Disposal Agreement (DA/5) was made between the Administration Department and the College Archives to destroy unsuccessful applications.
No further accruals are expected.
As set out above in Scope and Content.
Open, although restrictions apply for items containing personal information.
English
RCOG/B3/2 have been indexed and the names of successful candidates will be found in the Index to the Guide to the College Archives.
A microfilm copy of the minute book at C7/1M is at MR/17.
Imported from the RCOG catalogue and edited by Sarah Drewery.
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.
Import: Oct 2008; edit: Feb 2009. Nutrition Anaesthesiology Anaesthesia Analgesia Social welfare Maternal welfare Medical sciences Obstetrics Childbirth Physiology Midwifery Nursing Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
It is probable that C7/1-3 were removed from President's correspondence files. The records at C7/4-5 were transferred to the Archives by the Committee Secretary, Administration Department. The 1993 report on GP vocational training in obstetrics and gynaecology (C7/5) was found amongst President's papers for that year.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records relating to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' (RCOG) involvement in two National Birthday Fund for Maternity Services (NBTF) surveys, and also cover a period, between 1969 and 1973, when the NBTF engaged in unsuccessful negotiations with the RCOG for the Trust's integration into the College. They include original data collection forms for the 1984 'Birthplace' study.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
In 1999 a Disposal Agreement (DA/5) was made between the Administration Department and the College Archives to destroy unsuccessful applications.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
As set out above in Scope and Content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open, although restrictions apply for items containing personal information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
RCOG/B3/2 have been indexed and the names of successful candidates will be found in the Index to the Guide to the College Archives.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
A microfilm copy of the minute book at C7/1M is at MR/17.
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
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