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The RBNA Archives
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| The archives now open for the first time to provide
a wealth of new information about the achievement of the RBNA itself;
also the development of nursing as a profession. They throw fresh
light too on the inside stories behind public events. |
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| In the early days many of the issues to do with nurses
and nursing were so contentious and deeply felt that inevitably
the clash of personalities was often bitter. With the passage of
time the details of such quarrels can now add to our understanding
of past events and among the archives there are several groups of
letters which Mrs Bedford-Fenwick kept specifically for their interest
to posterity. |
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| A wide range of subjects is covered in the archives.
The RBNA's carefully preserved series of minute books dating from
its foundation in 1887 are supplemented by its membership records,
started the following year. These are a unique source for tracing
details of the careers of all its members. There is a major series
of general RBNA papers and correspondence which, for ease of access,
is arranged chronologically, followed by separate groups of records
from The British College of Nurses and the International Council
of Nurses and a small group of papers relating to Mrs Bedford-Fenwick.
The outstanding feature of the printed material in the collection
is the periodicals: Nursing Record from 1902, British journal of
Nursing 1888-1956, Nurses journal 18911918, International Nursing
Review 1926-1939 and journal of the RBNA 1947-1963. There is also
a large collection of illustrations and photographs, many of them
donations. |
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| As an organisation, the RBNA for many years enjoyed
considerable stability H.R.H. Princess Christian remained its devoted
First President until her death in 1923. Mrs Bedford-Fenwick, its
Founder, remained in close touch with the RBNA until her death in
1947 and Isabel Macdonald was its redoubtable and gifted Secretary
from 1909 almost up to her death in 1964. Thanks to this stability
a large part of the RBNA archives has survived into the 1990's and
can now be made available for research. |
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As of October 2002, the RBNA archives are housed
at Kings's College, The Strand, London, WC2R 2LS.
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| Viewing the Archive |
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Researchers
wishing to view the archive should contact the RBNA direct at
the following address:
The Royal British Nurses' Association
The Princess Royal House
The Territorial Army Centre
London Road
Stonecot Hill
Sutton
Surrey
SM3 9HG
Telephone: 020 8335 3691 |
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| The RBNA wishes to
thank the British Library for their financial support to help the
restoration and cataloguing of the archives. The cataloguing was
completed by Mr Richard Bowden M.A. |
