Birth Control
Archive and manuscript sources in the Wellcome Library
April 2015
The archives and manuscripts collections cover a broad range of subjects dating from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.
This is one of a series of thematic guides designed to assist users of the collections to identify material of particular
relevance to their research. For more detailed subject searching, you can run keyword or subject searches in the Archives
and Manuscripts on–line catalogue, http://archives.wellcomelibrary.org, from which material can be ordered for
consultation in the Rare Materials Room. Hard copy catalogues can be found in the Library’s Rare Materials Room or by
request to [email protected] .
Birth Control
This guide includes the following sections:

Organisations

Individuals

Other relevant collections
Organisations
Reference
Abortion Law Reform Association (f. 1935): Records, 1935–83, of this body, set up to
legalise abortion, and after 1967 Abortion Act, mobilising against attempts to restrict it.
Includes papers of Janet Chance, Vera Houghton, Eva Learner, Lord Silkin, Madeleine
Simms, David Steel, MP; as well as material from the (Lane) Committee on the Working of
the Abortion Act, 1971–4, and a small group of reports from Brook Advisory Centres,
1965–81
SA/ALR
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health
(f. 1978): records of this body, with some early papers on related matters of Lord
Houghton, 1968–1997, initially concerned about population within overseas
SA/PGP
development policy and increasingly also with reproductive health issues affecting the
UK population
Birth Control Campaign: Files relating to campaign for provision of free contraception
under the NHS, 1970s
SA/BCC
Brook: Records of this sexual health charity for young people, initially f. 1964 to provide
birth control to young single women, 1964–2011
SA/BRO
Family Planning Association (f.1930 as National Birth Control Committee/Association,
renamed 1939): Large collection of records of FPA and its five predecessor bodies, with
branch records; including records of the Birth Control Investigation Committee, Birth
Control International Information Centre, North Kensington Women's Welfare Clinic,
Society for the Provision of Birth Control Clinics, papers of Caspar Brook, Margery Spring–
Rice
SA/FPA
National Abortion Campaign (f. 1975: amalgamated with ALRA, q.v., in 2003 to
become Abortion Rights): records relating to its campaigns against attempts to restrict
the 1967 Abortion Act, and to extend its provisions further; organisational records,
material relating to campaigns, conferences, and related organisations, publications
and press-cuttings, 1975–2002
SA/NAC
Population Concern (f. 1971 as Family Planning International Campaigns Steering
Committee, renamed Population CountDown Campaign Committee, 1973, Population
Countdown Campaign 1976; Population Concern from 1977): records relating to
worldwide population issues and overseas reproductive health projects, 1970–97
SA/POP
Population Investigation Committee (f. 1936): records of the Committee and its
investigations, including in connection with the Royal Commission on Population and
research on family planning, and on population and demography generally, 1930s–
2000s
SA/PIC
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Pregnancy Advisory Service: files, 1970–1980, on its activities as a provider of lowcost abortion services, with related materials, 1966–1977
Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility (f. 2001): archives of
predecessor bodies, the Society for the Study of Fertility, f. 1950 to promote the study
of the biological and medical aspects of fertility and the Journals of Reproduction and
Fertility Limited, f. 1959, relating to the study of fertility and reproductive biology
SA/PAS
SA/SRF
NB the Wellcome Library does not hold the archives of the International Planned Parenthood Federation
Individuals
Reference
Carlos Paton Blacker (1895–1975): Material concerning his activities as Secretary of the
Eugenics Society (1931–61), in the birth control movement (UK and worldwide), in
connection with voluntary sterilisation (including as Chairman of Simon Population Trust),
and correspondence with other individuals involved
Now available online as part of the Codebreakers: Makes of Modern Genetics digitisation
project
PP/CPB.
Lord Dawson of Penn, PRCP (1864-1945): his evidence to Joint Committee of the
Convocation of Canterbury on Marriage, 1932, includes importance of birth control within
marriage; file “Population and birth control”, deals with concerns over the sale and
distribution of contraceptives and the attempt to pass a Sale of Contraceptives Bill, 1932–4
PP/BED/B.1–2
Sir Richard Doll (1912–2005): A few files of work by this epidemiologist relating to the
contraceptive pill, 1970s–80s
PP/DOL
Helene Grahame (1925-2012): Small group of papers relating to her work with the Family
Planning Association and more generally on birth control and related issues, 1960s–90s
PP/GRA
Edward Fyfe Griffith (1895–1988): General practitioner interested in birth control and
education; correspondence, writings, etc, 1930s–60s
PP/EFG
R.J. Hetherington: Material relating to introduction and potential toxicity of oral
contraceptives, 1960s–70s
PP/RJH
John McEwan: Material, 1950s–2000s, relating to his activities in reproductive health
provision in South London, involvement with organisations in the field, including Family
Planning Association, Brook, International Planned Parenthood Federation, National
Association of Family Planning Doctors, Joint Committee on Contraception, and Fertility
Studies Group, publications on the topic, and participation in survey of Population
Research Centres in India
PP/MEW
George Cuthbert Mura M'Gonigle: papers relating to his involvement with the
Interdepartmental (Birkett) Committee on Abortion, 1937–8, also some material more
generally on birth control, sterility, etc, c. 1930s
PP/GMG
Eileen Palmer: Collection of material relating to birth control, 1910s–50s, including papers
of Edith How–Martyn and Olive M Johnson, records relating to Birth Control International
Information Centre and Birth Control Worldwide, and foreign tours to promote birth control
PP/EPR
Sir Alan Sterling Parkes (1900–1990): Reproductive biologist with interest in social
aspects of reproduction; research papers, activities with various organisations including
Family Planning Association, International Planned Parenthood Federation
PP/ASP
Frederick Parkes Weber (1863–1962): Some of the `bundles' in this large collection relate
to questions of birth control, eugenics, etc, 1890s–1950s
PP/FPW
Ronald Arthur Sandison (1916–2010): some material relating to family therapy /
psychosexual medicine / family planning, 1940s–90s
PP/SAN/B.7
Marie Charlotte Carmichael Stopes (1880–1958): Author of Married Love, Wise
Parenthood, Radiant Motherhood and other works on sex and contraception; founder of the
Society for Constructive Birth Control and the Mothers' Clinics. Correspondence from the
general public and doctors about her work, international aspects of birth control, general
questions, clinic administration, writings, legal papers, etc, 1910s–50s [Additional papers of
Dr Stopes are held in the Department of Manuscripts at the British Library]
PP/MCS
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Dr Cicely Williams (1893–1992): Material re post as Advisor in Training to FPA 1964–7,
as well as lectures, articles and correspondence re birth control in the developing countries
c.1948–87
PP/CDW
Helena Rosa Wright (née Lowenfeld) (1887–1982): Small group of papers of this pioneer
of birth control, 1920s–80s; See also Barbara Evans (1909–1995): research materials,
1895–1988 for her biography of Wright, Freedom to Choose
PP/HRW
Other relevant collections
Reference
John Angus Black: 'Family planning and Kerala' J A Black, National Medical Journal of
India Vol. 3, No. 4, 1989
MS.8098/21
Aleck Bourne Abortion Case 1938: Papers relating to this trial, which established case–
law liberalising medical grounds for abortion
GC/150
British Medical Association: A few files on birth control, abortion and sterilisation, 1918–
61
SA/BMA
British Social Hygiene Council (formerly National Council For Combatting Venereal
Diseases) (f.1914): Marriage/Preparation for Marriage subcommittee 1931–7 included
debates on birth control
SA/BSH/F.6
Sir (William) Allan Daley (1887–1969): Medical Officer of Health who was on Working
Party on Future of the FPA, 1959–63’ collection includes other relevant materials
PP/AWD
Doctors And Overpopulation: Newsletters and associated material, 1970s–80s
GC/233
Rachael Eastham: ‘ “If you want to have it off, put it on.” A History of Brook 1964-1973’,
unpublished MA dissertation, 2010
MS.9180
Edward Elkan (1895–1983): Memoir, “Sketches of My Life” includes his work on
pregnancy testing with Xenopus toads
MS.9151
Eugenics Society (f.1907 as Eugenics Education Society): Correspondence with
individuals and organisations active in birth control; funding of contraceptive research;
investigations into Artificial Insemination; campaign for the legalisation of voluntary
sterilisation, 1930s–60s; includes small group of papers of Dr Marie Stopes and material on
the Marie Stopes Memorial Clinic [see also papers of Dr Marie Stopes, above]
Now available online as part of the Codebreakers: Makes of Modern Genetics digitisation
project
SA/EUG
Letitia Fairfield (1885–1978): Some papers on birth control, abortion etc from the point of
view of a Roman Catholic medical woman, 1920s–70s
GC/193/E.1/3, E.3/3
Jacquetta Hawkes (1910-1996): Letter about dance in aid of [unidentified] birth control
clinic, 1936
MS.8826
Health Visitors' Association: A little material on birth control and health visitors and allied
professions
SA/HVA
Tom Hopkins: materials relating to his research on the marketing and advertisement of
oral contraception, 1947–2000s
MS.8936
International Confederation of Midwives: concerned very widely with global reproductive
health including birth control, abortion, population issues, 1970s–90s
SA/ICM
'In The Club': Transcripts of interviews by TV History Workshop used as basis for series of
television programmes under the above title, broadcast in 1988
GC/105
Charles Knowlton: Fruits of Philosophy. Notebook containing ms transcript [n.d. – after
1833] of this early birth control manual
MS.7812
London chemist: prescription–book, 1884–8, contains advertisement and price list of J.
Ramel, Bishopsgate St., 'Sanitary India–Rubber and Chirurgical Instruments Manufacturer
and Importer', which includes contraceptives
MS.3993
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PP/PRE/J
Medical Women's Federation: Minutes, correspondence, surveys, etc, on birth control
provision, teaching, etc, 1920s–80s
SA/MWF
Florence Fenwick Miller (1854–1935): ‘An Uncommon Girlhood’, Florence Fenwick
Miller’s memoir mentions her contacts with the Drysdales and Malthusian circles in London
during the 1870s–80s
GC/228
MIND (The Mental Health Charity) (f. 1946 as the National Association for Mental
Health - NAMH): one file relating to sterilisation, 1981
SA/MIN/B/120
National Birthday Trust Fund (f. 1928): Includes records of the Joint Council on Midwifery
Abortion Survey 1936–9; also papers of Lady Rhys-Williams relating to the Birkett
Committee on Induced Abortion, 1937–8
SA/NBT
[Edward] Max Nicolson (b.1904): Papers on population issues, 1940s–80s; some relate
to the Simon Population Trust (of which he was a founder); also correspondence with Dr C
P Blacker (q.v.) of the Eugenics Society
GC/142
Patients’ Association (f. 1963): files relating to patient concerns around birth control,
abortion, etc, c. 1970s–90s
SA/PAT
Pioneer Health Centre Peckham with papers of George Scott Williamson (1884–1953)
and Innes Hope Pearse (1889–1978): Place of birth control in the "Peckham Experiment",
writings of both the above on the subject., 1920s–50s
SA/PHC
Queen’s Nursing Institute (Chartered in 1889 as Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Institute for
Nurses): Includes material on debates on whether district nurses should give birth control
advice, 1930s
SA/QNI/H.19
Rockefeller/Eugenics: Copies of correspondence from Rockefeller Family archives re
their support for research of (English) Eugenics Society, 1934–40
GC/88
Dr Bernard Sandler (b.1907): Small group of papers predominantly relating to his work in
infertility, 1940s–1980s. NB: bodies such as the FPA and individuals such as Stopes and
Wright were also engaged in this positive side of family planning
GC/149
Janet M Simpson (b.1937): 'Having an Abortion: clients' satisfaction with an out–patient
day–care service'. MSc dissertation, 1980, and tapes of interviews made at Mile End
Hospital day care abortion clinic, summer 1979
PP/SIM
"The Social and Legal Implications of Artificial Insemination": notes of lectures, 17
May 1949, by Dr Mary Barton, Dr Gilbert Russell, and Dr Letitia Fairfield
MS.8840
Society Of Medical Officers Of Health/ Society Of Community Medicine/ Society Of
Public Health (1856–1997): Papers of the Maternal and Child Health Group, 1946–74,
including the Group’s Working Party on Family Planning Record Card (D.5/6), files on birth
control and family planning services in section L, articles in the Society’s journal Public
Health, and (non–Society) published sources on birth control, Section R
SA/SMO
Sir Bernard Spilsbury: notes on autopsies performed by him 1905–33 include many
cases of illegal abortion
PP/SPI
Voluntary Sterilisation: Rosamond Hussey’s papers relating to campaign for voluntary
eugenic sterilisation, 1928–44
MS.9169
hristine Watson: Material relating to family planning and well woman services in South
London, 1982–2014, historical materials on Walworth Clinic, 1924–91, and its 70th
Anniversary
MS.9178
Wellcome Witness Seminars: Correspondence, photos, tapes, etc of Witness Seminar
'The Contraceptive Pill' Jun 1995
GC/253/B/2
The Widow Welch’s Pills: Records of the family firm manufacturing Widow Welch's
Female Pills, widely believed to be an abortifacient, 1787–1966
SA/WWP
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Moya Woodside (b.1907): Items relating to Society for Constructive Birth Control, Belfast,
and other birth control material, c.1937–42, and reminiscences of her work in this field
[1980s]
GC/39
NB for an earlier period, domestic medicine and receipt books sometimes include abortifacient preparations: see separate
leaflets for C16th–17th, C18th, C19th
Medical Officer Of Health reports start mentioning birth control from around 1920, and abortion was included among mortality
statistics well before then: MOH Reports for London are now available online: London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health
reports 1848-1972 http://wellcomelibrary.org/moh/
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