Yorkshire Association of Medical Women Archive

Records of the Leeds and District Association of Medical Women, comprising minute book, including the printed constitution of the Northern Association of Medical Women, manuscript rules, notes, papers and related correspondence, 1912-1917, and typescript rules, c.1912.
Records of the Yorkshire Association of Medical Women, comprising general meeting minutes, including press cuttings, accounts, and related papers and correspondence, 1917-2003, committee minutes, 1917-1974, letter to members explaining decision to disband the Association, 2003, and publications by the Medical Women’s Federation, 2001-2003.

The Yorkshire Association of Medical Women was formed in 1917. Prior to its formation, various independent associations for registered women doctors were set up in London and the provinces in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Leeds and District Association of Medical Women was set up in 1912, as a branch of the Northern Association of Medical Women - other branches were at Manchester and Liverpool.
In 1916, existing local associations of medical women throughout the country came together to form the Medical Women’s Federation. This seems to have prompted the Leeds Association to re-form itself, with a wider geographical coverage, as a separate entity from the Northern Association, creating the new Yorkshire association the following year.
The Yorkshire Association consisted of representatives from each district in its constituency, these districts relating as far as possible to the large Yorkshire towns e.g. Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Halifax, Pontefract, Castleford and York. It was also represented on the national Medical Women’s Federation.
The aims of associations of medical women were to safeguard and promote the interests of medical women, and to take action in any matter which concerned them.
Topics discussed in the minute books included national developments (e.g. National Insurance, the National Health Service), matters to do with the pay and status of medical women; general health issues, such as public health, facilities and clinical topics; and concerns of particular interest to women, such as maternity and child health, gynaecology, family planning.
At general meetings, papers were given by invited speakers. The minutes also record outings, dinners and special events.
The Yorkshire Association of Medical Women was disbanded on 15 February 2003.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute in 2003. A further addition was made to the archive in 2004.

The Yorkshire Association of Medical Women was formed in 1917. Prior to its formation, various independent associations for registered women doctors were set up in London and the provinces in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Leeds and District Association of Medical Women was set up in 1912, as a branch of the Northern Association of Medical Women - other branches were at Manchester and Liverpool.
In 1916, existing local associations of medical women throughout the country came together to form the Medical Women’s Federation. This seems to have prompted the Leeds Association to re-form itself, with a wider geographical coverage, as a separate entity from the Northern Association, creating the new Yorkshire association the following year.
The Yorkshire Association consisted of representatives from each district in its constituency, these districts relating as far as possible to the large Yorkshire towns e.g. Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Halifax, Pontefract, Castleford and York. It was also represented on the national Medical Women’s Federation.
The aims of associations of medical women were to safeguard and promote the interests of medical women, and to take action in any matter which concerned them.
Topics discussed in the minute books included national developments (e.g. National Insurance, the National Health Service), matters to do with the pay and status of medical women; general health issues, such as public health, facilities and clinical topics; and concerns of particular interest to women, such as maternity and child health, gynaecology, family planning.
At general meetings, papers were given by invited speakers. The minutes also record outings, dinners and special events.
The Yorkshire Association of Medical Women was disbanded on 15 February 2003.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute.

Created by S. A. Shearn, 31.07.15.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

Further accruals are not expected.

For related material held by the Borthwick Institute, see the minute book of the Leeds and District Medical Practitioners Association 1907-1912 in Miscellaneous Deposits. This association worked on behalf of local GPs in Leeds and District and was concerned with similar matters relating to pay, status and the relationship of GPs with the public. It forms a useful comparison with the activities of the women's organisations.
The archive of the Medical Women's Federation is housed at the Wellcome Library and Archive in London; a summary catalogue is available on their website.

Published

GB 193