An inter-disciplinary workshop organised by Dr Elizabeth Darling (University of Brighton), Dr Andrea Tanner (Kingston University) and the Centre for Metropolitan History, University of London.

To be held at Senate House, University of London, Malet St, London, WC1E 7HU on Wednesday 13th November, 2002

The creation of a healthy society was, perhaps, the dominant concern of social reformers in the first half of the 20th century and many historians have considered the legislative processes through which such a society was produced. What have, hitherto, been little studied, are the locations in which the ideologies of a healthy society were produced, especially in the inter-war decades. It is, then, the aim of this workshop to investigate how social reformers in the case study area of London developed particular models, practices and environments of reform in order to re-make London’s population into a race of healthy, active and educated citizens between the end of the Great War in 1918 and the declaration of the Second World War in September 1939.

The workshop’s organisers define social reform broadly – from health to propaganda, child welfare to re-planning the city - and wish to foster debates about the relative contributions to the development of ideologies of social welfare by the voluntary sector, private sector and the state (especially local authorities).

It is envisaged that the workshop will be organised thematically. Contributors will be asked to submit papers for pre-circulation and the event will take a discursive format. It is hoped that a publication will result from the discussions.

We ask for the submission of abstracts on the possible themes of:

• Housing
• Infant & child welfare
• Hospitals
• Health

Abstracts should be between 300 and 400 words in length and the final papers 5-6000 words. A précis only to be given at workshop. Abstracts to be sent to Elizabeth Darling at the address below.

Deadline: Friday 22nd March, 2002