Medical Records for the South Wales Coalfield, c.1890-1948: An Annotated Guide to the South Wales Coalfield Collection

摘要

Anne Borsay and Sara Knight's detailed guide seeks to mine the records of the South Wales Coalfields in a different thematic vein from the many economic histories of the region (p. 3). These collections-held at Swansea University's Library and Information Services-have been amassed since the 1970s, when Swansea University initiated a project to preserve the oral and written histories of local coalmining districts. Medical Records addresses those parts of the collections specifically relevant to the social history of medicine, divided for the purposes of this book into the broad categories of 'Occupational Health' and 'Community Health'. As these headings suggest, Medical Records is of potential interest to a wide spectrum of historians beyond those directly concerned with Welsh mining history. Those researching public welfare, mental health, food and nutrition, nursing and children's health will also find plentiful source material. One of the key strengths of Medical Records is that it extends beyond the emblematic figure of the grimy male miner to encompass their families and the wider community. Infectious diseases and attempts to improve the general health of the local population connected men, women and children of all ages. By addressing the social aspects of healthcare, the record descriptions in this volume look beyond the pit-heads to other institutions, including sanatoria, the courts, soup kitchens and schools. The end product is a guide that provides a comprehensive introduction to late 19th and early 20th-century healthcare in the south Welsh valleys.