GB 0120 SA/RDS - Research Defence Society

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 SA/RDS

Title

Research Defence Society

Date(s)

  • 1811-1992 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

39 boxes, 2 outsize boxes and 2 card filing cabinets

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research (AAMR) was founded by James Paget to promote a positive image of experimenting on animals for medical research and to resist harassment by anti-vivisectionists, 1882; the AAMR developed a quasi-official role with the Home Office, scrutinising applications made to conduct medical research involving animals; the Research Defence Society (RDS) was founded as a separate body with similar aims to the AAMR but also to publish and distribute literature on the importance and necessity of experiments on animals, 1908; the RDS was granted charitable status for its educational work, 1980.

Archival history

GB 0120 SA/RDS 1811-1992 Collection (fonds) 39 boxes, 2 outsize boxes and 2 card filing cabinets Research Defence Society xx Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research

The Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research (AAMR) was founded by James Paget to promote a positive image of experimenting on animals for medical research and to resist harassment by anti-vivisectionists, 1882; the AAMR developed a quasi-official role with the Home Office, scrutinising applications made to conduct medical research involving animals; the Research Defence Society (RDS) was founded as a separate body with similar aims to the AAMR but also to publish and distribute literature on the importance and necessity of experiments on animals, 1908; the RDS was granted charitable status for its educational work, 1980.

Records of the RDS and AAMR were given to the Wellcome Library in 1989.

Papers of the Research Defence Society, 1811-1992, comprising papers; administrative records; correspondence; minutes; records of membership, meetings and rules; annual reports; treasurers reports; accounts; RDS publications including Conquest magazine (which was called The Fight Against Disease until 1950); copies of Acts of Parliament, Bills and Royal Commissions, 1786-1915; correspondence and papers relating to animal rights Bills, 1927-1937 and 1965-1980; literature and publications used by the RDS; anti-vivisection literature; newspaper cuttings; tape recordings and films; and photographs and slides.

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Certain restrictions apply. Most of the collection is open and available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. However, unpublished material under thirty years old is Restriced Access, and only available with prior consent of the Research Defence Society.

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

2 outsize boxes and 2 card filing cabinets.

The catalogue of this collection is not available in electronic format. Please see the hard-copy catalogue available in the Wellcome Library. Copies of the catalogue are available on request.

The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:

SA/RDS/P.3, Professor C Best's lectures on Insulin: Fig 2 - first dog whose life was prolonged by Insulin, L0047544

SA/RDS/P.3, Professor C Best's lectures on Insulin: Fig 3 - Leonard Thompson, the first person to receive Insulin on 11th Jan 1922, L0047543

SA/RDS/P.5/4, Glass lantern slide possibly used by Sir Leonard Rogers: "A striking example of the almost magical protective power of vaccination", L0047541

SA/RDS/P.5/7, Glass lantern slide possibly used by Sir Leonard Rogers: "2 young women (?yaws), one with smallpox", L0047542

SA/RDS/P.6/3-12, One of a series of ten glass slides showing colour drawings of examples of benefits in health care, made for the American Medical Association: "Thanks to Animals, Smallpox can be Cured", L0047545

SA/RDS/P.6/3-12, One of a series of ten glass slides showing colour drawings of examples of benefits in health care, made for the American Medical Association: "Thanks to Animals, we know that Sulfonamides are Safe and Efficient", L0047546

SA/RDS/P.8/5, Postcard of RDS shop front with literature in window advertising sale of report of the Royal Commission for Vivisection March, c 1912, L0047547

SA/RDS/C.2, Minute book 1920-1948, is held on microfilm as AMS/MF/93

The safety film of 'Bacillus Typhosus' and 'The Cholera Bacillus', SA/RDS/N.1, was transferred to the Moving Image and Sound Collection of the Wellcome Library in 2006.

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 Veterinary medicine Scientific methods Experimental methods Animal experimentation Animal welfare Animal rights Law Animal welfare legislation Legislation Zoology Animals Laboratory animals Research Defence Society x Association for the Advancement of Medicine by Research Research Vivisection Medical sciences

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records of the RDS and AAMR were given to the Wellcome Library in 1989.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of the Research Defence Society, 1811-1992, comprising papers; administrative records; correspondence; minutes; records of membership, meetings and rules; annual reports; treasurers reports; accounts; RDS publications including Conquest magazine (which was called The Fight Against Disease until 1950); copies of Acts of Parliament, Bills and Royal Commissions, 1786-1915; correspondence and papers relating to animal rights Bills, 1927-1937 and 1965-1980; literature and publications used by the RDS; anti-vivisection literature; newspaper cuttings; tape recordings and films; and photographs and slides.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Certain restrictions apply. Most of the collection is open and available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking. However, unpublished material under thirty years old is Restriced Access, and only available with prior consent of the Research Defence Society.

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

The safety film of 'Bacillus Typhosus' and 'The Cholera Bacillus', SA/RDS/N.1, was transferred to the Moving Image and Sound Collection of the Wellcome Library in 2006.

Finding aids

The catalogue of this collection is not available in electronic format. Please see the hard-copy catalogue available in the Wellcome Library. Copies of the catalogue are available on request.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:

SA/RDS/P.3, Professor C Best's lectures on Insulin: Fig 2 - first dog whose life was prolonged by Insulin, L0047544

SA/RDS/P.3, Professor C Best's lectures on Insulin: Fig 3 - Leonard Thompson, the first person to receive Insulin on 11th Jan 1922, L0047543

SA/RDS/P.5/4, Glass lantern slide possibly used by Sir Leonard Rogers: "A striking example of the almost magical protective power of vaccination", L0047541

SA/RDS/P.5/7, Glass lantern slide possibly used by Sir Leonard Rogers: "2 young women (?yaws), one with smallpox", L0047542

SA/RDS/P.6/3-12, One of a series of ten glass slides showing colour drawings of examples of benefits in health care, made for the American Medical Association: "Thanks to Animals, Smallpox can be Cured", L0047545

SA/RDS/P.6/3-12, One of a series of ten glass slides showing colour drawings of examples of benefits in health care, made for the American Medical Association: "Thanks to Animals, we know that Sulfonamides are Safe and Efficient", L0047546

SA/RDS/P.8/5, Postcard of RDS shop front with literature in window advertising sale of report of the Royal Commission for Vivisection March, c 1912, L0047547

SA/RDS/C.2, Minute book 1920-1948, is held on microfilm as AMS/MF/93

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

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