Sources Guides list

Sources Guide: Mothers and babies

Societies & Associations

Personal papers

Other collections containing relevant material

Further information about the materials mentioned below can be found on the Archives and Manuscripts Online Catalogue

In some cases the full detailed catalogues of archive collections are not yet in this online database: hard copy versions are available in the Rare Materials Room of the Library and on request to archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk

Societies & Associations

ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH (1902-1974) SA/CMO
and its successor ASSOCIATION OF AREA MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH (1974-1982) SA/AMO
Papers include material on various public health responsibilities for mother and child health, 1900s-80s

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SA/BMA
Files on obstetrics and gynaecology, midwifery, mother and child welfare, etc, 1900s-60s

CHILD ACCIDENT PREVENTION TRUST (f.1979) SA/CAP
Records of the CAPT's research into childhood accidents and their prevention, 1977-91, including working group papers and reports, and health education materials such as fact sheets, leaflets and videos.

HEALTH VISITORS ASSOCIATION (f.1896) SA/HVA Records (from 1902) reflect involvement of HVs in mother and child welfare; inc. records of Chelsea Health Society and School for Mothers (1916-1967), Institute of Infant Welfare Fund (1936-1968), Rachel Brimley née Barnes (1881-1981), Jessy Kent Parsons (d.1966) and G.K. Burne (1912-1989)

INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES (f. 1919 as International Federation of Midwives' Unions/Organisations) SA/ICM
Archives, 1889-2001, although records of the Federation 1922-39 were destroyed by fire during World War II; aim is to ‘advance education in midwifery, and to spread knowledge of the art and science of midwifery, with the aim of improving the standard of care provided to mothers, babies and the family throughout countries of the world’

MEDICAL WOMEN'S FEDERATION (f.1916) SA/MWF
Includes minutes of Maternal Mortality Committee of the Federation, also `Historical' files on hospitals for women and children founded by women doctors. Material on maternal and infant welfare questions, including nurseries, adoption, single parent families, maternity leave, combining motherhood and career, 1920s-1970s

NATIONAL BIRTHDAY TRUST FUND (f.1928 amalgamated with the charity 'Birthright' 1993) SA/NBT
Established to campaign for improvements in maternity provision and antenatal care, wider availability of analgesia in childbirth, and improvement of maternal health; large collection, including records of Joint Council on Midwifery (1934-1940s), 1928-93

NEONATAL SOCIETY (f. 1959) SA/NNS
Records of the society’s meetings, papers presented re foetal and neonatal medicine, 1950s-2000s

PATIENTS’ ASSOCIATION (f. 1963) SA/PAT
Material relating to maternal health services in the NHS, including pre and post natal care, home confinements, standards of care, c. 1970s–90s

PIONEER HEALTH CENTRE, PECKHAM SA/PHC
This innovative family health centre, active 1925-52, laid a particular emphasis on maternal and infant health

POPULATION INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE (f. 1936) SA/PIC
Records relating to its involvement with the 1946 National Enquiry into Maternity Services, and subsequent follow-up studies on the health and development of children, 1940s-70s

QUEEN’S NURSING INSTITUTE (Chartered in 1889 as Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Institute for Nurses) SA/QNI
Large archive of this body instituted to supply district nurses free or via provident schemes, involved in early campaigns for good midwifery and public health advice and services, 1890s-1990s

RESEARCH BOARD FOR THE CORRELATION OF MEDICAL SCIENCE AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (f.1942, closed 1956) SA/RBC
Records of research into many aspects of health, 1943-55, include observations re maternity and child welfare

ROYAL SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH and predecessors SA/RSP
Records relating to examinations for Women Health Visitors and School Nurses, Maternity and Child Welfare Workers, 1913-25; Health Visitors, 1925-46, (and training,1961-64); Nursery Nurses, 1932-74

SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH/ SOCIETY OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE/ SOCIETY OF PUBLIC HEALTH (1856-1997) SA/SMO
Records of the Maternal and Child Health Group. 1946-1974, and Obstetrics, Child and Youth Health Committee, 1974-1976, minutes and papers of the Developmental Paediatrics Sub-Committee, 1965-1976, and Consultation Record Card Working Party, 1965-1973, in Section D, articles in the Society's journal Public Health and (non-Society) published sources on maternal welfare in Section R

Personal papers

Emmanuel Ciprian AMOROSO (1901-1982) PP/AMO
Material relating to his research on the immunology and endocrinology of pregnancy and of the placenta, on lactation, 1950s-80s

Edward John Mostyn BOWLBY (1907-1990) PP/BOW
Large collection of papers of the influential child psychologist and originator of `attachment' theory, 1930s-80s

Leonard COLEBROOK, FRS (1883-1967) PP/COL
This small group of papers includes his work at Queen Charlotte's on the use of sulpha drugs in puerperal fever, 1930s

Sir Albert COOK (1870-1951), and Lady (Katherine) COOK (1863-1938) PP/COO
Medical missionaries in Uganda: had particular interest in improving the local midwifery services and established the Lady Coryndon Maternity Training School, reflected in their papers, 1890s-1930s

Sir (William) Allen DALEY (1887-1969) PP/AWD
Medical Officer of Health: papers reflect professional concerns with infant and maternal welfare, involvement with relevant organisations, e.g. National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare, 1920s-60s

Ann DALLY (b. 1926) PP/DAL
Material on perinatal mortality research, articles on infant and maternal welfare, and material relating to her book Inventing Motherhood (1982), 1950s-80s

Grantly DICK-READ (1890-1959) PP/GDR
Influential author on `Natural Childbirth'; papers, extensive correspondence from mothers, doctors, midwives etc, 1930s-50s

Michael FORDHAM (1905-1997) PP/FOR
Papers of Jungian child analyst include material on infant observation, 1930s-90s

R J HETHERINGTON (b.c.1924) PP/RJH
Some papers on effects of thalidomide, also on possible teratogenicity of contraceptive pill, 1950-80

James Randal HUTCHINSON (c.1880-1955) and William Henry BRADLEY (1898-1975) PP/JRH
Both Senior Medical Officers at Ministry of Health: miscellaneous material on vaccination and immunisation, epidemic diseases of childhood, milk, etc, 1890-1959

George Cuthbert Mura M'GONIGLE PP/GMG
Medical Officer of Health, Stockton-on-Tees: various files on midwifery, breastfeeding, infant welfare, etc, c. 1920s–30s

Sir Robert MACINTOSH (1897-1989) PP/RRM
Some materials relating to his research into eclampsia and into cot deaths, 1940s-80s

Ronald MACKEITH (1908-1977) PP/MKH
Material on his work as a paediatrician includes his work on infant feeding and the management of feeding difficulties, and child development, 1940s-70s

Professor John Chassar MOIR, CBE, FRCOG (1900-1977) PP/JCM
Papers re career in obstetrics and gynaecology and re research into ergot, vesico-vaginal fistula, etc, 1920s-70s
[additional papers at Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists]

Alice Mary STEWART FRCP (1906-2002) PP/AMS
Her research led to the establishment of the role of antenatal x-rays in the aetiology of childhood leukaemia, papers also reflect her work on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Cot Death, impact of ultrasound, etc, 1950s-90s

Marie Charlotte Carmichael STOPES (1880-1958) PP/MCS
Pioneer of contraception; correspondence from public includes comments on conditions of childbirth and maternal health, 1918-58
[additional papers in the British Library]

Charles Wilfred VALENTINE (1879-1964) PSY/VAL
Some material on infant psychology and development, c. 1900s-c. 1950

Cicely Delphine WILLIAMS.FRCP (1893-1992) PP/CDW
Identified infant malnutrition disease kwashiorkor 1933. Head of Maternal and Child Health Section of WHO 1948-51, lecturer and consultant in many countries 1951-87

Donald Woods WINNICOTT (1896-1971) PP/DWW
Published and unpublished writings of significant child analyst and theorist of mother-child relationship, correspondence with individuals, organisations, etc, 1910s-1980s: NB Permission of Winnicott Trust required. A substantial proportion of Winnicott’s papers are at New York Cornell University

Other collections containing relevant material

Sir Francis AVERY–JONES (1910–1998) GC/198
File on foetal health and maternal nutrition, 1993-4

Elizabeth BATTEN, SRN (1884-1984) GC/80
Small group of papers relating to her career in nursing and midwifery, 1910s-20s

Sir Francis CHAMPNEYS (1848-1930) GC/139
Biographical material and memorabilia of this Physician-Accoucheur at St Bartholomew's Hospital, pioneer of modern midwifery, 1860s-1930

`CHILD HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT' GC/114
Course notes, St Bartholomew's Hospital, c.1960s

Letitia FAIRFIELD CBE (1885-1978) GC/193
Papers include some material on maternal and child welfare, early to mid C20th

FENNINGS PHARMACEUTICALS SA/FEN/C.10/1
Copies of ‘Every Mother’s Book’ (1845-1975), booklet produced by Fennings, containing advice to mothers and intended as a promotional guide to the company’s products

James S. FORSYTH (fl.1824-1833) MS.5942
Author's copy of The mother's medical pocket book, containing advice to mothers and nurses relative to the rearing of infants ..., 2nd edition (London, ?1827), corrected and interleaved with additional text for new edition

Hugh Reginald JOLLY (1918-1986) GC/143
Small group of papers of this paediatrician, `media doctor' and childcare expert, including some correspondence with mothers, 1930s-80s

Ivy KEESS (?1885-?1953) GC/78
A few biographical items of this woman medical missionary in India including tribute to her work in mother and baby welfare and midwifery education, 1909-37

`LAMAZE METHOD' GC/106
Cuttings, articles, correspondence re this method of `painless childbirth', 1953-4

Mrs Henny LIGTERMOET GC/72
Correspondence, writings etc by Australian antenatal teacher, 1956-90

R A McCANCE (1898-1993) and Elsie WIDDOWSON (1908-2000) GC/97 Work on changes in bodily composition during foetal development, some material relating to their involvement with the MRC Infant Malnutrition Unit in Kampala, Uganda, 1940s-70s

Louisa MARTINDALE,CBE,FRCOG (1872-1966) GC/25
A few papers concerning her work in gynaceology and obstetrics, 1920s-40s
[additional papers, MSS.3470-87]

(George) Eric Campbell PRITCHARD, FRCP (1864-1943) GC/49
Unpublished autobiography 'Harley Street Calling' including accounts of his work in the infant welfare movement, 1900s-40

Maria Eliza RUNDELL (1745-1828) MS.7106
Manual on pregnancy and childcare, 1810

Sir Bernard SPILSBURY (1877-1947) PP/SPI
Notes on autopsies performed by him 1905-33 include many cases of deaths in childbirth, infant deaths, suspected infanticide, child neglect, etc

WELLCOME ARCHIVES: Historical Medical Museum WA/HMM
Material relating to the history of maternal and child health, midwifery, etc 1898-1985

WELLCOME FOUNDATION WF
Archives of pharmaceutical company include material on its various mother and baby products, c. 1880s-1990s