GB 0120 SA/SMO - Society of Medical Officers of Health

135 boxes, 25 outsize boxes and 1 outsize volume.

The entire collection was moved from the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, and placed at the Wellcome Library in 1996 but some listed items were not found in Oxford. The missing items comprise framed portraits and testimonials; non-Society journals; an autographed letter from Florence Nightingale to an unknown recipient,1857; and photographic mounted transparencies on historical and contemporary subjects.

GB 0120 SA/SMO 1856-1998 Collection (fonds) 135 boxes, 25 outsize boxes and 1 outsize volume. The Society of Medical Officers of Health x The Association of Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health x The Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health x The Society of Community Medicine x The Society of Public Health Limited x The Society of Public Health x The Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene and Society of Public Health

Founded 1856 as The Association of Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health.

In 1871 the report of the Royal Sanitary Commission (appointed 1869) recommended consolidation of public health measures under one sanitary law and proposed a Minister of Health.

In 1873 the name changed to The Society of Medical Officers of Health. The aims of the Society were to promote public health and increase the education and knowledge of Medical Officers of Health (MOHs), the medical profession and the general public in this field. Its main activities were holding meetings, lectures and conferences; organising training courses; publishing the journal Public Health; promoting research and the publication of books, pamphlets and papers relating to public health; acting as an advisory body to Government and other organisations; and awarding prizes for work and study in public health.

In 1891 the Society was incorporated under the Companies Act and the name changed to The Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health.

In 1929 the Local Government Act meant that MOHs were responsible for water supply; sewage disposal; food control and hygiene; public health aspects of housing; control and prevention of infectious diseases; maternity and child welfare clinics; midwives and health visitors; tuberculosis clinics and venereal disease clinics; and school health services and local hospitals.

In 1969 the Society registered as a Charity.

In 1973 the name changed to The Society of Community Medicine.

In 1974 the National Health Service Reorganisation Act meant that the role of MOHs no longer existed.

In 1976 internal administrative and financial problems almost resulted in the end of the Society.

In 1989 the name changed to The Society of Public Health Limited.

In 1993 the name changed to The Society of Public Health.

In 1997 the name changed to The Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene and Society of Public Health following a merger.

The entire collection was moved from the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, and placed at the Wellcome Library in 1996 but some listed items were not found in Oxford. The missing items comprise framed portraits and testimonials; non-Society journals; an autographed letter from Florence Nightingale to an unknown recipient,1857; and photographic mounted transparencies on historical and contemporary subjects.

Papers were originally deposited at the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford in 1976. More records were deposited by Dr Peter Gardner between 1986 and 1999, Dr J S Robertson in 1988, G L C Elliston in 1981, and Margaret Grant in 1998-1999. Minute books of the Society's Fluoridation Study Group were acquired in 1999.

Papers of The Society of Medical Officers of Health, 1856-1998, comprising the constitution, 1892-1993; council records, 1856-1997; records of the general purpose committee, 1937-1981; records of the standing and temporary committees, and working parties and joint meetings, 1892-1996; general meeting records, 1856-1997; attendance books, 1872-1965; financial records, 1892-1996; members lists, 1895-1997; publications and official publicity, 1856-1997; historical material, 1866-1908; comments and evidence c 1879-1998; miscellaneous files, c 1879-1998; records of special interest groups, 1920-1997; papers, minutes and publications relating to the Society's Faculty of Community Health, 1988-1998; public health literature and sources, 1902-1997; files relating to the journal The Medical Officer, 1897-1973; non-Society records documenting public health measures, policies and issues in the first half of the 20th century; and minutes, files, transcripts of papers, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera relating to the regional Branches and Groups of the Society, 1875-1997.

All material deposited since 1976 has been integrated, rearranged and recatalogued. Routine correspondence and papers, duplicates, petty financial records and some ephemeral items have been destroyed.

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Certain restrictions apply.

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.

Copyright in Society records and publications remains with the Society and permission for reproduction in a publication must be sought by researchers themselves. (Contact: The Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene and the Society of Public Health, 28 Portland Place, London, W1N 4DE. E-mail: info@riphh.org.uk. Web Site: http://www.riphh.org.uk)

English

25 oversize boxes and 1 oversize volume.

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

Catalogues by Margaret Pelling, published by the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, in 1980 and 1985, have been superceded.

Duplicate printed items have been transferred to the Wellcome Library's published holdings.

The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:

SA/SMO/L.18, Correspondence with the General Medical Council, 1965, L0041609

SA/SMO/M.2/3, Correspondence and questionnaire about the provision of refresher courses, 1979, L0041608

Material relating to the Association of District Community Physicians was transferred from the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, with the Society's papers in 1996. This is listed separately as SA/DCP.

The papers of the The Association of County Medical Officers of Health of England and Wales are held as SA/CMO. The County Medical Officers of Health were replaced in the early 1970s by the Area Medical Officers of Health; records of the body representing these new officials, the Association of Area Medical Officers of Health, are held as SA/AMO.

Some non-Society records transferred from the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, with the Society's papers in 1996 have been transferred to other repositories.

The records of some regional Branches and Groups of the Society have been permanently placed in local repositories and are listed below. Efforts made in 1998-1999 to trace additional material were largely unsuccessful, and it is likely that some papers are held privately or in unknown repositories.

Metropolitan Branch, 1934-1966: minute book of council and meetings, 1924-1930, held by London Metropolitan Archives (Acc 2764).

North Western Branch and North West Region, 1894-1981: minute books, 1875-1894, 1904-1925,1942-1965 and 1973-1976; accounts, 1902-1903 and 1946-1947; members lists, 1938-1939, 1946-1947 and 1951-1952; correspondence, 1967-1976; opening address of President Charles E Paget, 1893; dinner menu, 1935; and list of officers are held by The John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester.

Scottish Branch and Scottish Region, 1966-1976: President's badge of office, minutes, agendas, accounts, membership lists, newsletters and circulars, 1956-1976 are held by the Greater Glasgow Health Board Archive, University of Glasgow.

Yorkshire Branch and Yorkshire Region, 1903-1980: records of this Branch are held by the West Yorkshire Archive Service at Leeds District Archives.

Hong Kong Branch 1963-1978: Margaret Pelling's handlist of Public Health Records, 1985, states that some records are in the possession of Dr S McClatchey but efforts to locate them in 1998-1999 were unsuccessful.

Dental Officers Group 1967-1974: School Dentists' Society minutes, 1898-1907; School Dentists' Society and Dental Officers Group minutes (includes lists of members), 1919-1935; School Dentists' Society and Dental Officers Group minutes (council and general meetings), 1950-1968; and Dental Health Committee, 1962-1971 are held by the Library of the British Dental Association.

School Health Service Group, 1943-1989: papers held at the Wellcome Library originally included some records of the City of Birmingham Education Department and the Medical Officers of Schools Association; these were transferred to Birmingham City Archives and West Yorkshire Archive Service in 1999.

Scottish Child Health Group, 1947-1970: minute books, 1947-1963, are held by Greater Glasgow Health Board Archive, University of Glasgow.

Teaching Group, 1957-1973: the catalogue of the Society's papers published in 1980 states that records are in the personal custody of Dr H Francis and Dr B Meredith Davies, but efforts to trace these records in 1998-1999 were unsuccessful.

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 Associations Societies Actinomycetales infections Medical sciences Nursing Midwifery Water resources management Water supply Economic conditions Living conditions Water Drinking water Water resources Sewerage Tuberculosis Health services Community health nursing Hygiene Social welfare Maternal welfare Environmental engineering Sanitation Pathology Diseases Infectious diseases Venereal diseases Law Accommodation Building standards Building design Construction engineering Public health legislation Health and welfare legislation Legislation Housing Housing needs Slums Health Health policy The Society of Medical Officers of Health x The Association of Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health x The Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health x The Society of Community Medicine x The Society of Public Health Limited x The Society of Public Health x The Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene and Society of Public Health National Health Service British Medical Association Organizations Food control Food safety

Papers were originally deposited at the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford in 1976. More records were deposited by Dr Peter Gardner between 1986 and 1999, Dr J S Robertson in 1988, G L C Elliston in 1981, and Margaret Grant in 1998-1999. Minute books of the Society's Fluoridation Study Group were acquired in 1999.

Papers of The Society of Medical Officers of Health, 1856-1998, comprising the constitution, 1892-1993; council records, 1856-1997; records of the general purpose committee, 1937-1981; records of the standing and temporary committees, and working parties and joint meetings, 1892-1996; general meeting records, 1856-1997; attendance books, 1872-1965; financial records, 1892-1996; members lists, 1895-1997; publications and official publicity, 1856-1997; historical material, 1866-1908; comments and evidence c 1879-1998; miscellaneous files, c 1879-1998; records of special interest groups, 1920-1997; papers, minutes and publications relating to the Society's Faculty of Community Health, 1988-1998; public health literature and sources, 1902-1997; files relating to the journal The Medical Officer, 1897-1973; non-Society records documenting public health measures, policies and issues in the first half of the 20th century; and minutes, files, transcripts of papers, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera relating to the regional Branches and Groups of the Society, 1875-1997.

All material deposited since 1976 has been integrated, rearranged and recatalogued. Routine correspondence and papers, duplicates, petty financial records and some ephemeral items have been destroyed.

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Certain restrictions apply.

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.

Copyright in Society records and publications remains with the Society and permission for reproduction in a publication must be sought by researchers themselves. (Contact: The Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene and the Society of Public Health, 28 Portland Place, London, W1N 4DE. E-mail: info@riphh.org.uk. Web Site: http://www.riphh.org.uk)

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English

Material relating to the Association of District Community Physicians was transferred from the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, with the Society's papers in 1996. This is listed separately as SA/DCP.

The papers of the The Association of County Medical Officers of Health of England and Wales are held as SA/CMO. The County Medical Officers of Health were replaced in the early 1970s by the Area Medical Officers of Health; records of the body representing these new officials, the Association of Area Medical Officers of Health, are held as SA/AMO.

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

Catalogues by Margaret Pelling, published by the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, in 1980 and 1985, have been superceded.

Duplicate printed items have been transferred to the Wellcome Library's published holdings.

The following photographs are held by Wellcome Images:

SA/SMO/L.18, Correspondence with the General Medical Council, 1965, L0041609

SA/SMO/M.2/3, Correspondence and questionnaire about the provision of refresher courses, 1979, L0041608

Some non-Society records transferred from the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, Oxford, with the Society's papers in 1996 have been transferred to other repositories.

The records of some regional Branches and Groups of the Society have been permanently placed in local repositories and are listed below. Efforts made in 1998-1999 to trace additional material were largely unsuccessful, and it is likely that some papers are held privately or in unknown repositories.

Metropolitan Branch, 1934-1966: minute book of council and meetings, 1924-1930, held by London Metropolitan Archives (Acc 2764).

North Western Branch and North West Region, 1894-1981: minute books, 1875-1894, 1904-1925,1942-1965 and 1973-1976; accounts, 1902-1903 and 1946-1947; members lists, 1938-1939, 1946-1947 and 1951-1952; correspondence, 1967-1976; opening address of President Charles E Paget, 1893; dinner menu, 1935; and list of officers are held by The John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester.

Scottish Branch and Scottish Region, 1966-1976: President's badge of office, minutes, agendas, accounts, membership lists, newsletters and circulars, 1956-1976 are held by the Greater Glasgow Health Board Archive, University of Glasgow.

Yorkshire Branch and Yorkshire Region, 1903-1980: records of this Branch are held by the West Yorkshire Archive Service at Leeds District Archives.

Hong Kong Branch 1963-1978: Margaret Pelling's handlist of Public Health Records, 1985, states that some records are in the possession of Dr S McClatchey but efforts to locate them in 1998-1999 were unsuccessful.

Dental Officers Group 1967-1974: School Dentists' Society minutes, 1898-1907; School Dentists' Society and Dental Officers Group minutes (includes lists of members), 1919-1935; School Dentists' Society and Dental Officers Group minutes (council and general meetings), 1950-1968; and Dental Health Committee, 1962-1971 are held by the Library of the British Dental Association.

School Health Service Group, 1943-1989: papers held at the Wellcome Library originally included some records of the City of Birmingham Education Department and the Medical Officers of Schools Association; these were transferred to Birmingham City Archives and West Yorkshire Archive Service in 1999.

Scottish Child Health Group, 1947-1970: minute books, 1947-1963, are held by Greater Glasgow Health Board Archive, University of Glasgow.

Teaching Group, 1957-1973: the catalogue of the Society's papers published in 1980 states that records are in the personal custody of Dr H Francis and Dr B Meredith Davies, but efforts to trace these records in 1998-1999 were unsuccessful.

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.

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