Williams, William Owen (1921-2002) Papers

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 2134 BWO
Held at	: Royal College of General Practitioners   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.rcgp.org.uk/about-us/history-heritage-and-archive.aspx ›
Full title	: Williams, William Owen (1921-2002) Papers
Date(s)	: 1958-1988
Level of description	: Fonds
Extent	: 3 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Williams, William Owen founder of RCGP Swansea Research Unit

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

William Owen Williams (1921-2002) served in general practice in Swansea 1950-1980 and was senior partner in his practice from 1968. He trained at the University College of North Wales, Bangor and the Welsh National School of Medicine, Cardiff. His MD thesis, 'A clinical and epidemiological study of Bornholm Disease', was submitted to the University of Wales in 1958. He later undertook a number of inquiries into the state of MDs by thesis in Britain and abroad; influenza and whooping cough are notable among his other research interests.

The Swansea Research Unit of the RCGP was largely set up due to his activities and he served as Director from its inception in 1975, retiring in 1988. (The unit then ceased to be part of the RCGP and work was carried on by the Postgraduate School of Medicine at the University of Swansea.)

Dr Williams has also written on the work of the general practitioner and undertaken research into medical education. He has worked as a lecturer, served on various training committees and has held various positions with the Royal College of General Practitioners and government medical advisory bodies. He was elected a Fellow of the RCGP in 1970 and awarded the OBE in 1975. He is widely referred to as 'W.O.'

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Dr. W. O. Williams comprising:

B WO A Williams committee papers 1966-1971
Records relating to Dr. W. O. Williams' membership of the Research Committee and the Academic Review Committee of the Royal College of General Practitioners. B WO B Williams Research Unit papers 1972-1988
Records relating to Dr. W. O. Williams' involvement with the Epidemic Observation Unit and the Swansea Research Unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners.B WO C Williams research and publications 1954-1988
Records relating to Dr. W. O. Williams' research projects and publications, includes bornholm disease, whooping cough, death certification, genetic cancer and doctors' workload. B WO D Williams miscellaneous papers.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Records type and subject.

Conditions governing access:

Access is at the discretion of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Requests for access should be made in writing to The Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU.

Conditions governing reproduction:

For further information on reproduction contact The Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London SW7 1PU.

Finding aids:

This collection has been catalogued down to file level on a database. The database can be searched in the College library or on application to the archivist.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated to RCGP Archives by Dr Williams 1988.

Allied Materials

Related material:

College Archives:
ARE Research Unit Records, 1957-1993
ACE Central Department Records, 1951-2001
ACE Research Department Records

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Claire Jackson, College Archivist, Royal College of General Practitioners.

Rules or conventions:
National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000.

Date(s) of descriptions:
July 2001