De Partu is an independent history of childbirth group, affiliated with the UK Centre for the History of Nursing and Midwifery.
De partu is the Latin for “concerning birth”. The words frequently begin the titles of treatises on childbirth, that of Eucharius Rösslin, De partu hominis, et quae circa ipsum accidunt (1532), being a well-known example.
Logo: Image from The Midwives Book (1671), the first English midwifery text written by a midwife, Jane Sharp.
Source: The John Rylands University Library, Manchester.
Border, Rose of Jericho (Anastatica hierochuntica), used since ancient and medieval times as a herbal medicine and charm to hasten childbirth, prevent pain and provide the woman with protection from harm.
Acknowledgements to: Maisie Photography: www.maisieonline.net.
© J. Allotey, De Partu, History of Childbirth Group, January 2010.
Terms of reference
- To provide a supportive network for those working on history of midwifery/childbirth projects
- To act as a confidential forum in which colleagues may present work in progress to their peers to gain constructive feedback
- To promote an appreciation of midwifery / birth history to the profession
- To promote a wider appreciation of midwifery / birth history
- In association with the UKCHNM, to act as a national resource/offer expertise in the field
- To provide a forum (either virtual or physical) for the discussion of approaches to, and methods of, historical research
- To develop appropriate inter-disciplinary links
- To identify, catalogue and promote the preservation of relevant archive materials (including documents, photographs and artefacts).
Activities
- Organising an annual meeting of the History of Childbirth Group and history of midwifery seminar at the Deansgate Library, Manchester
- Supporting further UKCHNM history of midwifery peripatetic seminars in a range of diverse geographic locations, promoting the work of local academics and invited guest speakers at host universities
- Developing a series of specialist sub-groups, for example a sub-group working on midwifery education projects, or local midwifery/birth history public outreach projects and so on, depending on the expertise and interests of group members
- Considering fund-raising efforts to raise the profile of the history of midwifery / birth within and outside the midwifery profession
- Forming multi-disciplinary links, national and international
- Engaging in archive identification and production of a hand list, including links to secondary sources.
Steering group
Chair: Dr Janette Allotey, University of Manchester
Genealogy queries: Julia Allison, PhD student, Manchester University; former RCM General Secretary
Prof Christine Hallett, University of Manchester
Prof Billie Hunter, University of Swansea
Archives / database co-ordinator: Louise Jenkins, Anglia Ruskin University
Prof Mavis Kirkham, University of Sheffield (retired)
Treasurer: Margaret Lynch, University of Manchester
Prof Rosemary Mander, University of Edinburgh (emeritus)
Secretary / e-newsletter co-ordinator: Dr Tania McIntosh, University of Nottingham
Dr Alison Nuttall, University of Edinburgh
Book review editor: Dr Lindsay Reid
Susan Tully, Bournemouth University
Publicity / funding: Tina Wells, University of Plymouth
What is available on the site
How to join
Copyright statement
Permission is granted to reproduce content from this site for personal and educational use only. Commercial copying is prohibited.
Disclaimer
Information on this website is provided for historical purposes only.
