'Bringing up Baby'

Your Baby Comes Home, a ‘Family Doctor’ Special c. 1966

The British Medical Association began publishing public health information booklets in the 1950s. Their ‘Family Doctor’ series covered a variety of topics, including marriage guidance, family planning, obstetrics, child care, and food and nutrition. As the name suggests, they were initially distributed to the public by local GPs. Later, they became availably through family planning clinics and social service centres, and today, copies of current titles can also be ordered via the internet.

Other printed material in the collection includes reports and guidance notes published by the British Medical Association, Ministry of Social Security, Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, the H.M.S.O., and other organisations, c1920s – 1970s. Topics covered are varied and interesting, including venereal disease, solvent abuse, mental health, illegitimacy, women in medicine, homosexuality, and many more.

Antenatal classes and ‘Popular Fallacies’

This lecture series on pregnancy and childcare dates from the late 1930s to the early 1940s. It illustrates the pioneering work that ‘Dr Mary’ was involved with prior to the establishment of the National Health Service (1948) and the common availability of public health literature such as the British Medical Association’s ‘Family Doctor’ series became commonly available. Around 150 of her lectures and addresses, dating from the 1930s–1970s, are preserved amongst her papers. They also include political speeches, and addresses delivered to the Soroptomists, the British Medical Association, the University of Aberdeen, and local organisations.