The Welfare Collection

The Library holds various special collections relating to the history of medicine including the books and papers of Charles Webster, Official Historian of the National Health Service.

The Welfare Collection -built up over the last thirty years- is made up of three parts. The main core comprises files containing the working documents that formed the basis of Webster's substantial two volume History of the NHS (1988, 1996). Papers include a comprehensive record of Cabinet discussions and working documents from other Government Committees. Supporting materials on the NHS include a series of official reports (including all relevant green and white papers), an extensive collection of press cuttings, plus books and pamphlets relating to health policy since World War II. Supplementing this is a variety of political works that give context to this period. A list of the main documents

The books in the Welfare Collection are listed on the Library Catalogue. A list of the main papers and working documents is available in Word and pdf format.

Additional to all of this are a variety of titles on pre-twentieth century medical history plus a collection of items on early modern intellectual history, focusing predominantly on seventeenth century culture and ideas.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Nuffield Trust, the Library is currently working on cataloguing and conserving the collection.