BROOKE, Helen C. (fl.1919-1947)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0113 MS-BROOH
Held at	: Royal College of Physicians   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/archive-and-historical-library-collections ›
Full title	: BROOKE, Helen C. (fl.1919-1947)
Date(s)	: 1919- c.1952
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 1 volume; 1 file
Name of creator(s)	: Brooke | Helen C. | fl.1919-1947 | health visitor

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Helen C. Brooke started her training as a Norland Children's Nurse. She undertook further training (CMB) at the Salvation Army Hostel, Clapton, and then worked as a Health Visitor in Birmingham for a year. During the First World War, 1914-1918, she served for two years as a welfare worker to the women employed in Woolwich Arsenal.

Brooke began work in the Child Welfare Department of University College Hospital, London, in January 1919, as Assistant Health Visitor. Her work involved visits to local homes in the St Pancras area, and staffing the Child Welfare Clinic. In the early days of the Department the local inhabitants resented these visits, whilst attendance at the Clinic was perceived as an acknowledgment of parental incompetence. However, `largely owing to Miss Brooke's tact and perseverence [sic]' this attitude was eventually eradicated, and the next generation began to automatically bring their new babies to the Hospital to be checked by the health visitors (UCH Magazine, 1947, p.96). Brooke was promoted to Senior Health Visitor in 1935.

In August 1947 Brooke retired from her post as Health Visitor at University College Hospital, after 28 years of service.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Brooke's scrapbook and letters relating to her work as a Health Visitor, 1919- c.1952. Scrapbook includes photographs, notes and annual reports of the Child Welfare Department of University College Hospital; Letters sent to Brooke, 1947 and n.d., and a typescript history of the Department, c.1952, which were originally interleaved with the scrapbook.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Mostly unrestricted, although restricted access may apply to parts of the collection containing information on patients.

Conditions governing reproduction:

All requests should be referred to the Archivist

Finding aids:

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated by Dr Arthur Hollman, 4 February 1985. Dr Hollman received the collection from Brooke's niece, Dr Ann Haines

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Source: `Miss Helen Brooke', University College Hospital Magazine, October 1947, p.96. [UCH Magazine, 1947, p.96]
Compiled by Katharine Williams

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Compiled March 2003; Modified April 2003; Modified September 2003