Dr Ian Cope papers relating to the history of the Royal Hospital for Women, Paddington, the historical committees of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales and the Royal Hospital for Women, and the Benevolent Society of New South Wales, 1964-1997

MLMSS 8194

fonds

1964-1997

Textual Records, Clippings

153251

0.32 metres of textual material (2 boxes)

Dr (Thomas) Ian Cope, 1927-2002, was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Dr Cope was heavily involved in the development of the Library for the Royal Hospital for Women; and both hosted a seminar on (1989) and co-authored a book (1997) on the history of the Royal Hospital for Women.

The Benevolent Society is Australia’s oldest charity. It was founded in 1818 with Governor Macquarie as Patron, after the lapse of its predecessor, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Benevolence, 1813-1818. It took on the debts and records of this society, and continued its function to administer outdoor relief to the needy. In 1821 the Benevolent Asylum, ‘for the aged, infirm, blind and destitute’ both male and female, was opened on the corner of Pitt and Devonshire Streets. The rules of the establishment were that it was to be a place of industry as well as an asylum. It was financed partly by the Government, and partly by private support.

The northern wing of the asylum became 'The Lying-In Hospital of N.S.W.' in 1839, and during the 1860s-1970s became the foremost obstetric facility in the State. The Hospital began training nurses and midwives in 1870, and in the 1880s began specialising in the treatment of diseases peculiar to womem. By 1885 it had become the major teaching hospital attached to the University of Sydney. Dean's Estate in Paddington was purchsed by the Society in 1901, and maternity facilities were established in the large house 'Flinton.' The hospital was named 'The Royal Hospital For Women' by royal warrant in October 1904.

In 1992 the Benevolent Society of NSW withdrew from the management of the Royal Hospital for Women. A Deed of Agreement between the Society, the Minister for Health (on behalf of the Crown) and the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service formed the basis for the transfer of the Royal to become an incorporated hospital of the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection
Benevolent Society of New South Wales collection, 1813-1996
'The Establishment of the Lying-in Hospital of N.S.W. and its subsequent transfer to Paddington as The Royal Hospital for Women' by Ron W. Rathbone, in History of the Royal Hospital for Women, Seminar - 28th October 1989 / Ian Cope : Merrell-Dow, 1989
Royal Hospital for Women: History http://www.sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au/rhw/History.asp (accessed 09 January 2012)

BOX 1
Folders 1-2
Papers relating to meetings of the Historical and Archival Committee of the Benevolent Society, and the Royal Hospital for Women; newspaper clippings, minutes, correspondence, draft papers, research, etc. for a seminar on the history of the Royal Hospital for Women, ca. 1972-1990

Folder 3
Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Hospital for Women, Annual Report July 1984-June 1985; papers, correspondence, and publication on the Benevolent Society's Early Intervention Programme; history of the Physiotherapy Department by Pat Fleming, 1980-1995

Folder 4
Papers, correspondence, and clippings relating to personal experiences and historical accounts of the Royal Hospital for Women, 1960-1996

Folder 5
Papers, clippings, etc. primarily relating to meetings of the Royal Hospital for Women Historical Committee, and for the writing of a history of the Hospital, 1962-1997

BOX 2
Folder 1
Papers relating to the aims and objectives of the Royal Hospital for Women ca. 1986, together with papers relating to the Benevolent Society relinquishing the Royal Hospital for Women, also includes 1987-1988 Annual Report, 1985-1997

Folders 2-3
Papers relating to the development of the Guide to the Papers of the Benevolent Society, including Heritage Council application and reports, correspondence, diary of meetings, and drafts, 1995-1997

Folder 4
Papers and correspondence, mainly between Dr Ian Cope and Alistair Gunn, Hon Librarian Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, relating to the obtaining of antiquarian books, which are now held by the State Library of New South Wales within the Benevolent Society/Gordon Bradley Lowe Collection, 1964-1992

Copyright status:: In copyright
Approval for reproduction required:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012