Dear Colleague,
Your
Society has an increasing number of activities and our objective is to
try and involve you, the membership, in as many of these as possible -
and at the same time ask you for additional ideas to investigate, or
listen to your criticism. At the end of this letter are the names of
the members of the VHS Committee - please contact us if you have
comments to make.
The visit
to Copenhagen is currently one of our main interests. We plan to be in
Denmark in April 22nd-24th, but this VHS meeting could be a centre
point of a trip taking a longer time - there is a lot to see in Denmark
and just over the water in Sweden. The programme is all fixed, and if
you have lost your previous copy please contact Jean. It promises to be
both an interesting and relaxing visit: there are still a few places
left.
Our
Journal Veterinary History now runs very smoothly thanks to the Editor,
John Clewlow. If you have suggestions for a contribution or know of an
interesting idea, give him a call. In several instances these have led
us to presentations at meetings. It is also particularly valuable and
gratifying to see our overseas sales to libraries and others continue
to grow.
The VHS
Web-site has been a major contribution to putting the Society into the
21st century. Sherwin Hall has got this off the ground, and in the near
future we are to invest in the site to upgrade both its appearance and
accessibility. Keep on checking it, as we plan for it to become a major
interactive information and data source.
Preservation
of the profession's archives has to be one of the main reasons for the
existence of the VHS. Currently we have been helping the RCVS sort and
catalogue the huge collection of documents, scrolls, pictures,
photographs, letters and miscellaneous ephemera held in their stores. A
recent session was concerned with an examination of old photographs: it
showed how important it is to note both the subject and the provenance
of items. In looking at photographs we soon realised that (other than
obvious images of people such as Sir John McFadyean) we could identify
hardly anyone who was active before our individual graduation dates.
Unless we are vigilant now much material will be lost. So if you have
an interesting photograph, letter, certificate or other item, make sure
that you have identified it correctly with name and date, and
preferably keep it inside an envelope or some secure cover to keep it
clean and protected.
Old movie
films are of particular interest. The Society would like to build a
collection of what is available before the old film stock deteriorates.
If you have or know of any old films, however short, please let us know
and we will try to get them digitally copied into DVD format - small
things from ......etc. We have started the VHS collection with one film
of Sir Frederick Hobday undertaking the 'roaring' operation in a horse;
this has been generously donated by the RVC, and we hope to have a
second one soon.
At the
last committee meeting it was agreed to start investigating a book
publishing programme. There are very few veterinary history books
available, but we have a huge subject that needs study and elucidation,
for both academic and pleasure/pastime interests. The funding of this
project will be outside the ordinary finances of the Society, but if we
are successful may make a contribution in the future. We do currently
have a publishing programme but due to the frequently long lead times
for books we would be pleased to hear from any authors with ideas.
Finally the 2008 Meeting Programme - there are four dates on our Calendar:
* April 22nd-24th - Meeting in Copenhagen - send off the application form;
*
* June 18th - Meeting at the new (and fascinating) Wellcome Collection in London;
*
September 19th - a joint Meeting with the Manchester University
Wellcome History of Medicine Unit - this is a new idea, is in the
north, and promises to be interesting and enjoyable;
* November 26th - the AGM and Meeting on November 26th at the RCVS, Belgravia House, London.
Please do
not hesitate to contact us - Chairman or Secretary - who can give you
contact numbers and addresses for any other committee member.
Your Committee is:
Chairman
- Bruce Jones
Secretary - Jean Mann
Netherton
Lodge
17 Anseres Place
QUENINGTON
WELLS
Cirencester
GL7 5DD
Somerset BA5 2RT
Tel:
01285 750346
Tel: 01749 673558
BVivashJones@aol.com
jeanmann968@btinternet.com
Fax: 01285 750053
Treasurer and Membership - Robin Bone; Editor - John Clewlow
Tony
Andrews; John
Broberg; Norman
Comben; Simon
Jackson; Leslie Vaughan
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