Archive service

The BMA archive manages records that support historical research and offers a greater understanding of the BMA’s contribution to the fields of medicine and healthcare policy and reform.
Audience: All doctors
Updated: Tuesday 3 January 2023

The BMA Archive

The BMA archive currently comprises the following:

  • The institutional records of the British Medical Association c.1832 - present, including material relating to the representative body, councils and committees, divisions and branches and thematic filing on a variety of topics linked to the BMA’s activities.
  • The institutional records of the British Medical Journal c.1914 - 2009, including records of the board of directors, the publishing group and the editorial committee.
  • Records of affiliated organisations c.1880-2000 including the World Medical Organisation and Commonwealth Medical Association, alongside collections of personal papers relating to Sir Charles Hastings and other prominent members of the BMA.
  • Photographs produced by the BMA and BMJ, artworks, regalia and historical objects.

The BMA archive service is currently undergoing a programme of modernisation and change. We hope to share these with you in the forthcoming months.

 

How to access the BMA Archive

The BMA’s heritage collections are held at BMA House, London. BMA members and non-members are welcome to access the archive collections onsite. Visits to the archive are available by prior appointment, and dependent on data protection, confidentiality and conservation considerations.

The collections are not digital and cannot be accessed remotely. Appointments to view the archive material are available Monday to Friday 9.30 to 4.30pm subject to availability. A minimum notice period of 5 working days is required for research appointments.

Currently, the BMA archive does not have an online catalogue or finding aid. Researchers should list the area or topic they are interested in when contacting the archive. The BMA Archive will then seek to identify relevant material from the heritage collections and make these available during your research visit.

Please contact us at [email protected] outlining your research interests.  Access is provided following completion of a reader registration form and agreement with BMA archive regulations.

Remote enquiries 

The BMA archive offers a limited remote enquiry service at present. Resource limitations mean large scale digitisation or detailed research activity cannot be undertaken on behalf of researchers. The BMA archive does not retain membership files or staff employment records so is only able to provide limited support for family history/genealogy enquiries. Enquiries should be sent to [email protected] 

Donations 

The BMA archive welcomes donations that fit within the collecting policy. Please contact us via [email protected] to discuss your donation. 

Please note the BMA Archive is unable to accept unsolicited donations.