Leather bound minute book of the King’s County Infirmary board of management meetings. Minutes contain the proceedings of meetings such as the overview of the patient admissions and discharges, suppliers of provisions and statements of accounts. Records decisions regarding the hiring and managing of staff, complaints, fees for patients, and building repairs and improvements. Includes occasional notes on specific patients and transcription of correspondence to various bodies including the County Council and notes of thanks to various donors such as the Countess of Rosse from 1895-1905. Other items discussed were the implementation of a new surgical theatre in 1909 and a tuberculosis sanitorium in 1913.

Prominent members of the Board include Rev. Graham Craig, Rev. Maxwell Coote, Reginald Digby, Joshua C Goodbody, J Perry Goodbody, Lewis Goodbody, John Tarleton, Henry Egan, Rev. P Callery, and Rev R.S. Craig, Dr George Ridley. Registrar: Hugh T Love

The first entry in the minute book records a special meeting of the governors in which they appoint a new surgeon to the infirmary following the death of Dr James Ridley. Ridley who also acted as the Tullamore Jail Physician was reported to have died by suicide on the morning he was due to give evidence in court regarding the harsh treatment of John Mandeville, a national league activist who was imprisoned under the Irish Crimes Act in 1887.

A meeting in February 1900 discussed the dismissal of two servants and the cook for gross misconduct after admitting two male patients to their bedroom.

The hospital surgeon Dr Meagher (appointed in 1906 following the death of Dr George Ridley) served in the Royal Medical Corp during WW1 between 1914-1915.

Soft bound minute book of the King’s County Infirmary board of management meetings. Minutes consist of an overview of tenders for supplies, statements of account and building repairs and maintenance. Records decisions regarding the hiring and managing of staff, fees for patients, and transcription of correspondence. The board were often concerned with funding, establishing an ‘Improvement Fund Collection’, received funds from the Tuberculosis Scheme Grant and through Lady Rosse (later, Viscountess de Vesci) petitioned for a grant from the Joint War Committee for the hospital which they received in August 1920.

Meetings between January and August 1921 discuss the possible and eventual closure of the County Infirmary and the amalgamation of the institution with the Central Hospital which was formally the Union Hospital.

Prominent members of board include, Rev. W Phelan (Chairman June 1921), Rev J. Flynn (Vice-Chairman June 1921), R.S. Craig, Rev PJ Egan, Rev Philip Callery, J.M Russell, J.A Lumley, and Rev John Humphries.

It was noted in October 1920, that Fr Thomas Burbage, a noted Republican and a member of the Board had a lucky escape after being shot at by the military on his journey between Tullamore and Geashill by motor bicycle.

Minutes of King's County Council, notable for the annual meeting of 19 June 1920 when Eamonn Bulfin was elected Chairman in absentia, having been deported to Argentina in 1919 following internment by the British government. The same meeting also recorded a proposal put forward by James O'Connor that the elected members of the Council change the name of King's County Council to that of Offaly County Council, with all printed matter in connection with the Council to bear the new title. The vice chairman, John Kelly, observed that King's County was one of the counties 'bearing a name which shows the track of the invader' and that it was time to revive the ancient and illustrious title of Offaly.' The motion proposed by O'Connor was seconded by Robbins and resolved. In the minutes of 25 November (Minute Book 4 OFCC10/4/1/4), correspondence was submitted from the Local Government Board stating that the Council had no power to change the name of the county from King's County to Offaly but the minutes do not record any further action taken on the matter.

Minutes recording proceedings of meetings of the Hospital and Homes Committee containing various reports such as Superintendent's Report from the County Home; Superintendent's Report from County Hospital; and Sub-committee reports from Birr Rural District, Edenderry Rural District, Tullamore Rural District, and Roscrea No 2 Rural District on matters relating to dispensaries and hospitals in their respective areas. Also contains lists of 'Letters and Sanctions' from the Ministry of Local Government.

Issues covered by the various reports are concerned with the appointment and salaries of employees; the arrest and detention of members of the committee during the Civil War (see p5, 10 April 1923); building works at dispensaries and hospitals; compensation and pension claims arising from the winding-up of the poor law unions; matters arising with the TB hospital in Birr; commandeering of Dr Woods house at Kinnitty Dispensary by the military (p 43, 8 May 1923); tenders for the supply of provisions to the county home; details of patients at the hospital; proposal from Ministry of Local Government relating to the abolition of Hospital and Homes Committee and Substitution of the County Board of Health therefor under the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 (p59, 17 May 1923); remaining furniture from Birr Union being taken to Birr Castle on its requisition by Free State Army (pp62-63, 17 May 1923); the condition of Birr workhouse following evacuation by Free State Army (p 64, 2 June 1923); financial issues arising from failure to return 'inmates' in county homes to their counties of origin on amalgamation in 1921; and a proposal by the Ministry of Local Government relating to the appointments of Home Assistance Officers.

Includes report by the Visiting Committee (James O'Connor, J. Scally and Teresa Wyer) on condition of county home (p71, 10 July 1923) and remarks on unfulfilled recommendations from the previous year's report. Also includes extracts from the report of Dr Florence Dillon, medical inspector with the Department of Local Government on the condition of the hospitals at Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry, recommending the closure of the latter (p76, 22 June 1923) .

Contains lists of boarded out children, their foster parents and details of their accommodation, general health and condition in a report of the inspector of boarded out children. (p.87, 10 July 1923)

Minutes recording proceedings of meetings of the Hospital and Homes Committee containing various reports such as Superintendent's Report from the County Home; Superintendent's Report from County Hospital; Registrar's reports; and Sub-committee reports from Birr Rural District, Edenderry Rural District, Tullamore Rural District, and Roscrea No 2 Rural District on matters relating to dispensaries and hospitals in their respective areas. Also contains lists of 'Letters and Sanctions' from the Ministry of Local Government.

Matters arising from the reports include financial orders relating to the appointment and salaries of officers in the hospitals and dispensaries throughout the county; building works and alterations to premises; tenders for the supply of provisions to the county home; issues relating to Birr TB hospital; details of medical cases and transfers to extern hospitals; details of the recipients of Home Help including boarded-out children; referrals of complaints against named doctors and midwives; the financial state of Offaly Board of Health which is owed £6,055 by Offaly County Council (p31, 11 December 1923); the removal of furniture from Birr Union buildings and damage to same by Free State soldiers (p40, Nov 1923); reports on every dispensary district in the county (p44, 15 Nov 1923); arrangement for the workhouse buildings in the county which are not required for poor law purposes; the proposed closure of Edenderry District Hospital (p59, 19 February 1924); and the administration of home assistance.

Includes a resolution passed to refuse to hold a meeting or transact any business as a protest to the failure of Offaly County Council to transfer £6,055 as owed to the Board. (p54, 15 January 1924).

Includes reports from the Inspector of Boarded-out Children, in respect of arrangements for various children throughout the county.

Minutes recording proceedings of meetings of the Hospital and Homes Committee containing various reports such as Superintendent's Report from the County Home; Superintendent's Report from County Hospital; Registrar's reports; and Sub-committee reports from Birr Rural District, Edenderry Rural District, Tullamore Rural District, and Roscrea No 2 Rural District on matters relating to dispensaries and hospitals in their respective areas. Also contains lists of 'Letters and Sanctions' from the Ministry of Local Government.

Matters arising include employment and remuneration of staff; building and maintenance of hospitals and dispensaries throughout the county; the winding up of the poor law unions and final audits of their accounts; the administration of home assistance and the employment of home assistance officers; transfer of patients to extern hospitals; notification of a new 'most fatal' disease of encephalitis lethargica (sleeping sickness) in the fever hospital (p22, 13 May 1924); the TB hospital in Birr; proposal to appoint a dentist to the county hospital on recommendation of Surgeon Meagher; military occupation of the dispensary residence in Kinnitty and damages arising therefrom (p60, 10 June 1924); the designation of Edenderry District Hospital and Birr District Hospital (St. Brendan's) as permanent institutions by the Ministry of Local Government; the burial expenses of the poor; and financial distress of the Board due to Offaly County Council's inability to transfer funds and consequent non-payment of home assistance to the poor (p95, 19 August 1924)'.

Includes report of the Visiting Committee on the state of the County Home (p2, 8 April 1924). Responds critically to the proposal by the Ministry of Local Government to replace some attendants with 'inmate' labour. Also requests resolution of the 'urgent matter' in providing a separate institution to house unmarried mothers, noting that there are twenty-one unmarried mothers in the county home for which there is not sufficient accommodation. Proposes taking over a disused workhouse for this purpose to which two or three counties would contribute to its upkeep.

Includes resolution made in response to a request by Tipperary North Riding Board of Health to set up an institution under the care of religious orders for maintenance and education of children at present in various county homes: 'This Board is not in favour of bringing up children in any institution believing that boarding-out in suitable homes throughout the county is better for the child as well as for the community.'(p68, 26 May 1924).

Includes copy of the order issued by the Ministry of Local Government dissolving Offaly County Council and the Offaly County Board of Health and placing them under the commissionership of David O'Keefe, Blair's Hill, Cork. (p125, 12 September 1924).

Contains details of boarded-out children, names and addresses of foster parents and general conditions of children and their accommodation.

Includes:
Recommendation of the establishment of a First Aid Service under the Local Security Force as a result of the break out of World War II, as it will be expected that the Board of Health will place its transport and personnel at its disposal. The Board further resolves to clean and disinfect the old infirmary building and lay on electric light and water in the event of an emergency (July 1940).

Correspondence relating to the delay in building works for the County Hospital featuring the contractors, Phoenix Building Works, and the architect, Michael Scott.

Includes:
Order that under the Emergency Powers Act, boards of health and public assistance to encourage the production of turf for persons who will be dependent on home assistance.

Contains report of Inspector Miss Murray of the Local Government Department on boarding-out of children which was critical of Offaly Board of Health (Aug 1941), and rebuttal reports from the Board (Dec 1941).