Foundation records of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Papers relating to the foundation of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1929 and its early years, and in particular to the presidency of its first President and co-founder, Professor William Blair-Bell, including minutes of the Executive Committee and other founding committees, including the Gynaecological Visiting Society (1926-1931), correspondence of Professor Blair-Bell on a wide range of key issues in the early development of the College covering legal, constitutional and financial matters, the establishment of the College Council and the role of Honorary Officers, early College activities, the development of the College in the Dominions, the admission of Foundation Fellows, the establishment of College examinations and the development of training in midwifery, the purchase and furnishing of the College building at 58 Queen Anne Street, London, and the design of College ceremonial regalia, together with relations with the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons. This series also contains the minute book and papers of the founding committees of the College, lists of Foundation Fellows and Members, a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and press cuttings relating to the foundation of the College.

The British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists was founded in September 1929 by William Blair-Bell and William Fletcher Shaw. Both were members of the Gynaecological Visiting Society which Blair-Bell had founded in 1911 and it was in this forum that early discussions about the possible establishment of a College took place.

Unrestricted access by appointment only to archives@rcog.org.uk

Details of files found within this series are available from the College Archivist.

Copyright of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

This series of records were apparently preserved and brought together for their historical value at the time of the College's move to Sussex Place in 1960. It is possible that some of the files in this class were sent to the College after Blair-Bell's death by his executor, M E Nockolds as many of them are clearly Blair-Bell's own papers.

Other material relating to the foundation of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists may be found at the following references:

RCOG/A2/C - Papers relating to elections to Council

RCOG/B3 - Records of the Fellowship Selection Committee

S34 - Papers of Sir William Fletcher Shaw

RCOG/A4/1 - Papers of Professor William Blair-Bell as President

S1 - Personal papers of Professor William Blair-Bell

S10 - Deposited papers of Professor William Blair-Bell

S14 - Personal papers of Professor William Blair-Bell

S33 - Unpublished history of the RCOG by Professor William Blair-Bell

RCOG/HA/H3 - Articles of Association and the College Charter

S97 - Papers of Professor Miles Harris Phillips relating to the foundation and early years of the College

S60 - Papers of the Gynaecological Visiting Society

The History of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologistsby Sir William Fletcher Shaw