VPRS 17432 Honorary Secretary's Correspondence

This series comprises the surviving parts of a correspondence system managed by the Honorary Secretaries of the Committee/Board of Management of the Lying-in Hospital and its successors. Many topics relating to the administration of the hospital are addressed, including admission of patients, building works, purchase of supplies, complaints, staffing, etc. The position of Honorary Secretary was one of the executive positions filled by a member of the entirely honorary (unpaid) Committee/Board of Management. During the early years of the hospital, the Committee and hence the Honorary Secretary had complete control over the management of the hospital's affairs and consequently the correspondence covers a very broad range of topics. In c.1887 (the Annual Report is missing for that year) the staff position of Superintendent and Secretary was created and it appears that the incumbent took responsibility for some at least of the Honorary Secretary's duties. This was a time of substantial enlargement of the hospital with the opening of the Genevieve Ward Wing - the new separately administered Midwifery Department. The Honorary Secretary role continued for many years after the extent of these records, but there is no surviving correspondence to indicate their activities. The first Honorary Secretary, Mrs Elizabeth Tripp (1856-1858) maintained her records meticulously, keeping copies of outgoing correspondence, dating letters and annotating them such that the oft-illegible signatures can be identified. It is through her work that many of the details of the hospital's formation can be discovered. Another period when there is a substantial coverage is 1884, during the incumbency of Mrs H. J. Henty. Otherwise there are only sporadic remnants of the correspondence that certainly was created. Office holders for the period of this correspondence were: 1856-1858 Mrs Elizabeth Tripp 1858-1879 Mrs T. T. a'Beckett (Laura Jane) 1881-1885 Mrs H. J. Henty