Hospital records and record-keeping c.1850-c.1950. Part I.

Before the latter part of the nineteenth century, documents created in the course of business were predominantly manuscripts. Records were kept by officers who combined record-keeping duties with other responsibilities. Hand labour and the integration of record-keeping with administrative functions and medical practice were the most important common features of record-keeping in all types of hospital. The administrative and medical records in hospitals were always kept separately.' This basic separation did not change in the period under examination. However, between c. 1900 and 1945 the preparation of both administrative and medical records and the organization of the offices responsible for keeping these records underwent significant changes.