Records of Overseas Branches

Although the Society included members in almost all parts of the world, particularly the British colonies, their numbers and the wide distances between them often precluded the successful formation of overseas Branches and their long-term existence.

This series contains records of the East African Branch and the New South Wales Branch only. Some information on the overseas branches, for which there are few records, may be found in the Council minutes, Section B, and Public Health, J.3.

The Hong Kong Branch was set up in 1963. Contact lapsed in 1973 but was re-established in 1977. The 'Branch' became independent in 1978 while maintaining affiliation and their title became either The Hong Kong Society of Community Medicine or The Society of Medical Officers of Health, Hong Kong. (See B.1/19, meeting papers for Jul 1977 and Feb 1978). No records in this deposit. M Pelling's 'Handlist of Public Health Records', 1985, states that some records are in the possession of Dr S McClatchey. Efforts to locate them in 1998-1999 were unsuccessful.

A Malayan Branch existed at least from 1925-1934.

Public Health Vol 37 No 5, Feb 1924, p117, states that the Society of Medical Officers of Health for Malaya asked for some form of affiliation to the Society. This proposal was discussed in 1925. The Malayan Branch appears in the journal's Branch elections list for the sessions 1925/26 through to 1933/34. It is not known what happened to the Branch after this date. A Malayan Branch re-appears in the election lists for 1956/57. The editorial of Public Health Nov 1956, Vol 70 No 1, p21, states that a new Branch in Malaya was 'coming into being' and Vol 71 No 3, Jun 1957, p117, contains a report of the 'birth' of the Malayan Branch, Nov 1956. It is not known when this Branch ceased to exist. No records in this deposit.

Southern Australia Branch: Public Health Nov 1900, Vol 13 No 2, p134 contains an extract from the Australian Medical Gazette reporting the recent formation of a Society of Medical Officers of Health in Adelaide, which would be known as the South Australian Branch of the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health in England. This was the first overseas/colonial Branch of the Society. The first meeting was held in Sep 1900 at which the president, T Borthwick, gave an address on 'The outbreak of plague (so-called) in South Australia, from a personal standpoint'. The Branch was dissolved by the Council of the Society, at the request of members, in 1903. No records in this deposit.

The South Indian Branch existed at least from 1925-1934. Public Health Dec 1923, Vol 37 No 3, p68, states that the Society had received an inquiry from Medical Officers of Health in the Province of Madras, India, regarding formation of a local Branch of the Society. The Executive Secretary was directed to consult members of the Society in India in reference to this proposal. The South Indian Branch appears in the journal's Branch elections lists 1925/26-1933/34. It is not known what happened to the Branch after this date. No records in this deposit.

1948-1970

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