Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1876]-2004 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.319 cubic metres (11 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The International Bee Research Association (IBRA) was incorporated and registered as a company limited by guarantee in 1949 and registered in the UK as a charity as the Bee Research Association (BRA). The word 'International' was added in 1976 to reflect its global view and worldwide membership. The Association began in 1945 when the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) formed a research committee to organise and coordinate research in the United Kingdom on beekeeping and allied subjects. BRA was first established at the home of its first director, Dr E. E. Crane, in Hull, and was transferred to Gerrards Cross in 1955 when the Cranes moved house. BRA acquired its own offices at Hill House, Chalfont St Peters in 1966 before moving in 1986 to North Road, Cardiff, where the Association remains today (February 2012). In 1952 the Bee Research Association took over the editing and publishing of 'The Bee World' which had been the official publication of the Apis Club. The Apis Club was formed in 1919 by Dr Ahmed Zaky Abushady, an Egyptian physician living in England, and was an association of beekeepers. Dr Abushady was also the managing director of Adminson Limited who owned and published 'The Bee World' journal. This was a private company which in 1923 changed its name to Bee World Limited. The Apis Club was disbanded in December 1951, with the BRA inheriting its library collections. The BRA began publishing the abstracts 'Apicultural Abstracts' in 1952, and up to 1961 were presented as a separate section in Bee World; from 1962 to 2005 'Bee World' was a separate quarterly journal. Its purpose was to present a complete survey of research and technical developments concerning all bees and bee-related subjects throughout the world by reviewing books and articles by specialists, and also by preparing abstracts of the most worthwhile publications, including translations of non-English works. Its publication was suspended in 2005 and re-issued in March 2010 - Buzz Extra, a newsletter, filled the void in the interim period. The Journal of Apicultural Research (JAR) was established as a separate publication in 1962 by the BRA. It included original research articles, theoretical papers; scientific notes and comments; together with authoritative reviews on scientific aspects of the biology, ecology, natural history and culture of all types of bees. The Journal of ApiProduct and ApiMedical Science (JAAS) began in January 2009 but was withdrawn in 2011 becoming incorporated into JAR in January, 2012. It focuses upon evidence-based research being carried out on biologically relevant properties of bee and hive products, and their scientific relevance in the fields of medicine, nutrition and healthcare. IBRA maintains its services through the support of members' subscriptions, grants, donations and the sale of publications and electronic formatted material.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Mr Richard Jones, Director IBRA; Cardiff; Donation; December 2006 and January and March 2007; 006215225.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers and correspondence of the Apis Club, 1913-1958; British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) records, mainly correspondence, 1947-1950; and Bee Research Association (BRA)/International Bee Research Association (IBRA) records, [1876]-2004.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Duplicates of minutes, 1949-1985; correspondence and papers relating to pensions, 1972-2005; and a report on a lead coffin which had no relevance to beekeeping, have all been returned to the International Bee Research Association in Cardiff, March, 2012. Other duplicates have been destroyed..
Accruals
Accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged at NLW into three groups: Apis Club; British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA); and the Bee Research Association (BRA) / International Bee Research Association (IBRA).
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
- Chinese
- Dutch
- English
- French
- German
- Japanese
Script of material
Language and script notes
Mostly English, some in German, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch (Flemish) and Chinese, see file level descriptions.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
November 2012.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: 'Bee Research Association, 1949-1974'; the websites of the International Bee Research Association, http://www.ibra.org.uk; and the British Beekeepers Association, http://www.bbka.org.uk (accessed Dec. 2011 to Feb. 2012).
Archivist's note
Compiled by Wil Williams.