IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0100 KCLCA KH/FR
Held at: King's College London College Archives
Title: Friends of King's College Hospital
Date(s): Created 1955-1988
Level of description: sub-fonds
Extent: 4 files
Name of creator(s): King's College Hospital Friends
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The earliest reference of what was later called the Friends of King's College Hospital, was in the annual report of 1903, which mentioned the "Needlework Guild" contributing 604 garments and £42 cash for "comforts of the ward" that year. The members of the Guild were local ladies. In 1910 the Guild made and donated a large amount of linen to the Hospital, including blankets, sheets, pillowcases and towels. In 1917 Dowager Viscountess Lady Esther Hambleden formed from the Needlework Guild, a 'Ladies Association', whose main object was to collect money for the Hospital and for the patients' comforts. The Association raised money for the Hospital, made 400 blackout curtains in World War Two, started and staffed a canteen, gave money for improvements to the Nurses' Home, opened a flower shop and was responsible for flower arrangements in the Hospital. Viscountess Lady Hambleden served as Chairman of the Friends from 1917 to 1944, followed by Dowager Lady Stanley 1944-1947, and the Hon Katherine Acland 1947-1966. From 1966 the Chairman held a three year term of office. In 1961 the Ladies Association and the Ladies Association of Belgrave Hospital for Children became the Friends of King's College Hospital, its basic principles remaining the same: to provide amenities and comforts for the benefit of patients and staff of King's College Hospital. All its members are volunteers. The Friends established the Kingfishers, a junior branch specially concerned with raising money for child patients, with its own Committee.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Minutes of monthly meetings, meeting papers, correspondence and annual reports of the Ladies Association and the Friends of King's College Hospital, 1955-1966; minutes of monthly meetings and annual reports the Friends of King's College Hospital (incorporating the Kingfishers), 1976-1988.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Arranged chronologically.
Conditions governing access:
Administrative and committee papers are closed for 30 years from the last date on file.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archive Services, King's College London.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Handlist available in the reading room of the College Archives.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
King's College Hospital.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Date(s) of descriptions: Mar 2000