Ordinary (General) Meetings

Originally held in the afternoon (see E.2/1/1-2). From Feb 1859 they were supplemented by a series of evening meetings for the reading of papers on subjects relating to public health and their discussion (see E.2/2/1). At the beginning of 1863 the afternoon 'business' meetings were given up, except for very special work, and all the Society's business was dealt with at the evening meetings. After 1908 meetings were not held exclusively in the evening.

Proceedings included: business matters such as reports of Council and committees, correspondence, resolutions, nomination and election of members and President; reading of scientific papers by members or visitors; discussions on papers read, developments in science and research, legislation and the role of the MOH; demonstrations of new sanitary appliances, patent foods, specimens, etc. Up to about 1895 (see E.2/2/7)minutes contain fairly detailed reports of papers read and discussions. After that date only brief details are recorded and the minutes become shorter and more formalised*. From 1956 the minutes show that no scientific papers were read and meetings mainly concerned nomination and election of members, election of the President and the Presidential address. (The reason for this is not known. However, General Purposes Committee minutes show that 'Social and Scientific Meetings' were held annually from 1969-1972 and AGMS during the 1980s were often followed by guest speakers, although this was not normally minuted).

*Summaries of papers, 1856-1879, can be found in the Annual Reports (J.1) and Transactions (J.2). From 1888 scientific papers and the Presidential address are normally printed in full in Public Health (J.3).

Minutes of Annual Provincial Meetings, 1889-1932, are included in E.2/2/6-8. These commenced after the 'nationalisation' of the Society in 1888 and included business matters, a formal luncheon, reading of papers, discussions and visits. Items E.2/1/1-3 also cover Annual General Meetings, 1857-1860, (see B.1/1 for signed minutes of this period).

In Oct 1981 it was decided to suspend the meetings due to financial and administrative problems within the Society. (See minutes of Council 23 Oct 1981 in B.1/18).

1856-1986

12 volumes