International Bee Research Association (IBRA) Records

Papers and correspondence of the Apis Club, 1913-1958; British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) records, mainly correspondence, 1947-1950; and Bee Research Association (BRA)/International Bee Research Association (IBRA) records, [1876]-2004.

The International Bee Research Association (IBRA) was incorporated and registered as a company limited by guarantee in 1949 and registered in the UK as a charity as the Bee Research Association (BRA). The word 'International' was added in 1976 to reflect its global view and worldwide membership. The Association began in 1945 when the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) formed a research committee to organise and coordinate research in the United Kingdom on beekeeping and allied subjects. BRA was first established at the home of its first director, Dr E. E. Crane, in Hull, and was transferred to Gerrards Cross in 1955 when the Cranes moved house. BRA acquired its own offices at Hill House, Chalfont St Peters in 1966 before moving in 1986 to North Road, Cardiff, where the Association remains today (February 2012). In 1952 the Bee Research Association took over the editing and publishing of 'The Bee World' which had been the official publication of the Apis Club. The Apis Club was formed in 1919 by Dr Ahmed Zaky Abushady, an Egyptian physician living in England, and was an association of beekeepers. Dr Abushady was also the managing director of Adminson Limited who owned and published 'The Bee World' journal. This was a private company which in 1923 changed its name to Bee World Limited. The Apis Club was disbanded in December 1951, with the BRA inheriting its library collections. The BRA began publishing the abstracts 'Apicultural Abstracts' in 1952, and up to 1961 were presented as a separate section in Bee World; from 1962 to 2005 'Bee World' was a separate quarterly journal. Its purpose was to present a complete survey of research and technical developments concerning all bees and bee-related subjects throughout the world by reviewing books and articles by specialists, and also by preparing abstracts of the most worthwhile publications, including translations of non-English works. Its publication was suspended in 2005 and re-issued in March 2010 - Buzz Extra, a newsletter, filled the void in the interim period. The Journal of Apicultural Research (JAR) was established as a separate publication in 1962 by the BRA. It included original research articles, theoretical papers; scientific notes and comments; together with authoritative reviews on scientific aspects of the biology, ecology, natural history and culture of all types of bees. The Journal of ApiProduct and ApiMedical Science (JAAS) began in January 2009 but was withdrawn in 2011 becoming incorporated into JAR in January, 2012. It focuses upon evidence-based research being carried out on biologically relevant properties of bee and hive products, and their scientific relevance in the fields of medicine, nutrition and healthcare. IBRA maintains its services through the support of members' subscriptions, grants, donations and the sale of publications and electronic formatted material.

Arranged at NLW into three groups: Apis Club; British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA); and the Bee Research Association (BRA) / International Bee Research Association (IBRA).

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.

Mr Richard Jones, Director IBRA; Cardiff; Donation; December 2006 and January and March 2007; 006215225.

The International Bee Research Association (IBRA) was incorporated and registered as a company limited by guarantee in 1949 and registered in the UK as a charity as the Bee Research Association (BRA). The word 'International' was added in 1976 to reflect its global view and worldwide membership. The Association began in 1945 when the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) formed a research committee to organise and coordinate research in the United Kingdom on beekeeping and allied subjects. BRA was first established at the home of its first director, Dr E. E. Crane, in Hull, and was transferred to Gerrards Cross in 1955 when the Cranes moved house. BRA acquired its own offices at Hill House, Chalfont St Peters in 1966 before moving in 1986 to North Road, Cardiff, where the Association remains today (February 2012). In 1952 the Bee Research Association took over the editing and publishing of 'The Bee World' which had been the official publication of the Apis Club. The Apis Club was formed in 1919 by Dr Ahmed Zaky Abushady, an Egyptian physician living in England, and was an association of beekeepers. Dr Abushady was also the managing director of Adminson Limited who owned and published 'The Bee World' journal. This was a private company which in 1923 changed its name to Bee World Limited. The Apis Club was disbanded in December 1951, with the BRA inheriting its library collections. The BRA began publishing the abstracts 'Apicultural Abstracts' in 1952, and up to 1961 were presented as a separate section in Bee World; from 1962 to 2005 'Bee World' was a separate quarterly journal. Its purpose was to present a complete survey of research and technical developments concerning all bees and bee-related subjects throughout the world by reviewing books and articles by specialists, and also by preparing abstracts of the most worthwhile publications, including translations of non-English works. Its publication was suspended in 2005 and re-issued in March 2010 - Buzz Extra, a newsletter, filled the void in the interim period. The Journal of Apicultural Research (JAR) was established as a separate publication in 1962 by the BRA. It included original research articles, theoretical papers; scientific notes and comments; together with authoritative reviews on scientific aspects of the biology, ecology, natural history and culture of all types of bees. The Journal of ApiProduct and ApiMedical Science (JAAS) began in January 2009 but was withdrawn in 2011 becoming incorporated into JAR in January, 2012. It focuses upon evidence-based research being carried out on biologically relevant properties of bee and hive products, and their scientific relevance in the fields of medicine, nutrition and healthcare. IBRA maintains its services through the support of members' subscriptions, grants, donations and the sale of publications and electronic formatted material.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: 'Bee Research Association, 1949-1974'; the websites of the International Bee Research Association, http://www.ibra.org.uk; and the British Beekeepers Association, http://www.bbka.org.uk (accessed Dec. 2011 to Feb. 2012).

Title supplied from contents of fonds.

November 2012.

Compiled by Wil Williams.

Usual copyright laws apply.

Duplicates of minutes, 1949-1985; correspondence and papers relating to pensions, 1972-2005; and a report on a lead coffin which had no relevance to beekeeping, have all been returned to the International Bee Research Association in Cardiff, March, 2012. Other duplicates have been destroyed..

Accruals are expected.

A large collection of IBRA printed works, lantern slides, photographs and glass slides are also held at NLW. NLW also has CD-ROMs of photographs (2005 and 2007) of the international collection of historical and contemporary artefacts in IBRA’s museum collection in Belgium together with a database of digital photographs of the whole picture collection in the Eva Crane Library, including a collection of over 1,000 old magic lantern slides.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales