The National Birthday Trust Fund records in the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre.

The National Birthday Trust Fund' was founded in 1928. Its object was to raise money to supplement midwives' fees and to make donations to hospitals for the training of midwives and the improvement of maternity services.2 The committee, chaired by Ina, Lady George Cholmondeley, included representatives from "cooperating" hospitals, which in return for financial support (not levied after 1933), were given priority in the allocation of funds. These donations to hospitals continued until the mid-1930s. The name "The National Birthday (Trust) Fund for Maternity Services", derives from the original intention to raise money through a shilling fund3 with donors subscribing a shilling on their birthdays. The Royal Family as well as shops, theatres, and newspapers were all approached for birthday collections and a letter in Lady George Cholmondeley's hand asked for birthday subscriptions to raise 42 million shillings.4 Several moves were made to change the name. At the first minuted meeting, Colonel Simpson, a representative from the General Lying-in Hospital, objected to the name "on account of the existence ofa League ofa somewhat similar name, connected with Waifs and Strays".5 A resolution, passed at the AGM in 1943, to change the name to "The National Maternity Services Trust", was disallowed by the Charity Commissioners. In the 1950s, with the foundation of the National Childbirth Trust (originally the Natural Childbirth Association), the confusion of names engendered some solicitors' correspondence.6 Improvement in maternity services focused principally on the provision ofpain relief for mothers in childbirth. Mrs Stanley Baldwin, who became actively involved with the