Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Archive

  • Other Names
    • British Paediatric Association
  • Archives Hub Features
  • Web
  • Email
  • Telephone
  • Address
    • 5-11 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8SH, England, UK
  • Directions
    • The College is within short walking distance of the following Underground stations: Holborn - Central line Chancery Lane - Central line Russell Square- Piccadilly line
  • Opening Hours
    • Appointments available on request, 9-5, Monday to Friday
  • Closing Hours
    • Closed between Christmas and New Year
  • Advance Orders
    • Where possible, an indication of the intended research should be given prior to visiting.
  • Photographs Allowed
    • Yes (without flash)
  • Public Internet Access
    • PC's are available for members of the college, or wi-fi access is available
  • Accessible
    • Yes
  • Archival and Other Holdings
    • This archive consists of the records of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and its predecessor, the British Paediatric Association from 1928 up until the present day. It is mainly focused on the organisations work within the United Kingdom, although examples of where the College has worked internationally are included in the collection.
    • It is comprised of material relating to:
    • The Annual General Meeting
    • Awards, Lectureships and Fellowships
    • Committees and Sub Committees
    • Council
    • Education and Training Activities
    • College Events
    • Health Policy
    • International activities
    • Published Material
    • Records of College Officers
    • Research activities
  • History
    • The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health was formerly founded after receiving its Royal Charter in 1996, although its history extends back to 1928 when the British Paediatric Association was formerly founded.
    • The British Paediatric Association (BPA) was set up with the aims of advancing the study of paediatrics and to promote friendship amongst paediatricians and to'advance, for the benefit of the public, education in child health and paediatrics and to relieve sickness by promoting improvements in paediatric practice'. The inaugural meeting was held on the 2nd February 1928 in Still’s House at 28 Queen Anne Street, and despite invitations to twenty four people, only six attended. Sir George Frederic Still, Professor of Paediatrics at King's College London, became the first President and Dr Donald Paterson, a Canadian paediatrician working in London, was the first Honorary Secretary.
    • Throughout the 1970s and 80s BPA members began to feel that paediatrics needed to have its own Royal College. The association received Royal College status in August 1996, and took responsibility for the training and education of paediatricians in the UK. Sir Roy Meadow became its first President and HRH the Princess Royal, its Patron.
    • The organisation has had London offices operated in the following premises:
    • Institute of Child Health, 1966-1975
    • 23 Queen Square, 1975-985
    • 5 St Andrews Place, 1985-1997
    • 50 Hallam Street, 1997-2008
    • 5-11 Theobalds Road, 2008-present
    • Offices are also based in Cardiff and Edinburgh.
    • The first aim of the association was the advancement of the study of paediatrics and the promotion of friendship amongst paediatricians. Between its foundation in 1928 and 1939, the major activity of the association was the organisation of the Annual General Meeting, where the focus was on social activities and the presentation of scientific papers.
    • Following the outbreak of World War Two, the BPA was involved in lobbying central government for measures to safeguard the health of evacuated children. Subsequently, the BPA grew to be an organisation that actively sought for improvements in child health. This included publishing papers and guidelines on clinical practice, undertaking research and organising conferences.
    • A research unit was established in 1993 to develop, integrate the research, audit and surveillance activities that were being undertaken on an adhoc basis.
    • In 1996, upon receiving the Royal Charter and following negotiations with the three other UK Colleges of Physicians, the organisation became responsible for postgraduate and medical education, including continuing professional development.