The Birth Control International Information Centre (BCIIC) (1929–38) was a London-based independent, international clearinghouse for birth control information established by American birth control leader
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger (born Margaret Louise Higgins; September 14, 1879September 6, 1966), also known as Margaret Sanger Slee, was an American birth control activist, sex educator, writer, and nurse. Sanger popularized the term "birth control ...
and British suffragist
Edith How-Martyn
Edith How-Martyn (''née'' How; 17 June 1875 – 2 February 1954) was a British suffragette and a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). She was arrested in 1906 for attempting to make a speech in the House of Commons. This was ...
. It supported the establishment of clinics and maternity advice centers abroad, sponsored lecture tours and a conference.
Founding
In 1928 a birth control information center was established in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
under the direction of
Edith How-Martyn
Edith How-Martyn (''née'' How; 17 June 1875 – 2 February 1954) was a British suffragette and a member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). She was arrested in 1906 for attempting to make a speech in the House of Commons. This was ...
. In 1930, following the Seventh International Conference on Birth Control in
Zurich, the Centre was re-organised as the BCIIC, with
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger (born Margaret Louise Higgins; September 14, 1879September 6, 1966), also known as Margaret Sanger Slee, was an American birth control activist, sex educator, writer, and nurse. Sanger popularized the term "birth control ...
as Honorary President and How-Martyn as Honorary Director.
Activities
The Centre served as a clearinghouse for birth control information, published pamphlets, newsletters, bulletins and other information about contraception methods, new research and clinic updates. It also sponsored several tours of Asia, Russia and the Middle East, for How-Martyn and Sanger to encourage the adoption of birth control and formation of clinics for birth control in regions around the world. This included Sanger's tour of Scandinavia and the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
in 1934, How-Martyn's tour of
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
in 1934, and Sanger and How-Martyn's World Tour for Birth Control in 1935–1936, during which they spoke to numerous groups and organised
birth control
Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
organisations in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, Burma, Malay, China, the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, Japan, Hawaii, Canada, and the West Coast of the United States.
The BCIIC coordinated international birth control activities (the organisation of clinics and conferences) with the help of correspondents in over 30 countries. Centre staff also arranged for visitors to tour clinics in London and New York City, and hosted weekly meetings in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
with guest speakers from various countries. It was a member society of the National Birth Control Council (Britain), but received independent support John and Gerda Guy, Clinton and
Janet Chance
Janet Chance (10 February 1886 – 18 December 1953) was a British feminist writer, sex education advocate and birth control and abortion law reformer.
Life
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland to Scottish Calvinist minister and New College principal A ...
, and others.
[BCIIC, "News Letter—no. 6" August 1936 ‘‘Margaret Sanger Papers Project Microfilm Edition: Collected Documents Series,’’ (University Publications of America, 1997) reel C12, frame 1051]
Margaret Sanger Papers Project Microfilm Edition
Administrative problems
In 1935 How-Martyn resigned from the BCIIC in a dispute about finances, followed a few weeks late by organising secretary Olive Johnson. How-Martyn was replaced by Dr. Maurice Newfield, and Johnson by Eleanor Hawarden.
In 1937, Sanger decided she too would not be able to effectively run the organisation from the United States and resigned as president. She was replaced by Lord
Thomas Horder. In addition, the Centre, which was privately financed, suffered budget shortages as the global Depression limited donations.
In 1938, at the suggestion of Lord Horder, the BCIIC merged with the National Birth Control Association of England (renamed the
Family Planning Association
FPA (Family Planning Association) was a UK registered charity (number 250187) working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health. It was the national affiliate for the International Planned Parenthood Federat ...
of England, which continued much of the Centre's international agenda until after World War II.
[Margaret Pyke to Margaret Sanger, 6 May 1938, ‘‘Margaret Sanger Papers Microfilm Edition: Collected Documents Series,’’ (University Publications of America, 1997) reel 6, frame 78]
Margaret Sanger Papers Project Microfilm Edition
; Harry Guy to Margaret Sanger, 11 July 1938, Margaret Sanger Papers Microfilm, Library of Congress, reel 16, frame 664
Sources
* Matthew Connelly, ''Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Population'' (Cambridge, MA, 2008), p. 101.
* Michael Fielding, ''Birth Control in Asia: A report of a Conference held at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 24–25 November 1933.''
* ''The Eugenics Review'' XXVII:1 (January 1936): 328.
* Esther Katz, et al., eds. ''Margaret Sanger Papers Microfilm Editions: Collected Documents Series and Smith college Collections'' (University Publications of America, 1996, 1997
Margaret Sanger Papers Project Microfilm EditionMargaret Sanger Papers Project
References
{{Authority control
Birth control providers
Birth control in the United Kingdom
1929 establishments in England
1938 disestablishments in England
Medical and health organisations based in London
Organizations established in 1929
Organizations disestablished in 1938