University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Scope and Contents "This woman is a "dirty old slut", never washes her face has a "notorious smell". The Parish Council have tried unsuccessfully to get her to clean up her house, but as it is her own property they can't do anything. Widow. Parents dead was brought up by aunts who spoilt her and were senile before they died. One daughter has two illegitimate children. One daughter has three illegitimate children. All verminous. Housing "two ends" for 8, filthy. [Male informant] used to visit them because the...

Scope and Contents

"This woman is thoughtless, not very bright mentally, a loose old dame, went with soldiers. Use to send her husband on the bus for messages and then had a good time. PAO says this woman is hypochondrial, aye girning. Dr says they are both a bit peculiar. Nurse "peculiar, awful tongue, not just quite....". Dr confirms - she is MD."

Relatives in survey: husband 12.4, children 12.5, 12.42

Scope and Contents "After-care case. Now on farm work but can't settle, is talking about re-joining the army. Was in the far East. Fine lad, was good at school. Parents dead, father was an alcoholic. Sister died recently. Another sister - Dr says she used to be anybody's meat. Very decent people. Diagnosis: Hebephrenic Schizophrenia, recovered. Was an agricultural worker until he joined up. Very overcrowded - patient, his borhter in law and sister and 6 children in two rooms. Was working at [farm] and doing...

Scope and Contents

"This woman is dirty, thoughtless, keen on dancing and a good time, a "lazy trollop", face devoid of character, receding chin, neglects her children. Feckless. Husband a shepherd, not a good shepherd, not very bright "A sumph"."

Relatives in survey: 12.27, 12.24, 12.25

Scope and Contents

"This woman is a bit strange, funny, very bossy. She is illegitimate. Dr confirms mental weakness. [Male informant] confirms this woman has been queer all her days. A slut."

Relatives in survey: husband 12.43, brother

Scope and Contents

"This woman is a wee bit soft. She lives in a filthy little house, full of hens and cats. She has an illegitimate son. Lives rent free. Is deteriorating. The son "nothing in him" earns 25/- a week. No sibs know. Has always been queer - soft, untidy, slovenly. The house is so dirty you daren't sit down. Always on P.A. Nurse confirms - very dirty. Dr confirms - a slut, filthy. Son has been utterly spoilt, soft, no home training."

Scope and Contents

"Definitely MD - nurse. Mother, dead. Married, husband a labourer in the factory. Dr confirms that she is a virago, but thinks she is sharp rather than dull. Not honest. No public assistance. Children were slow. Now both seem quite smart. Condemned house."

Relatives in survey: Father 16.92, uncle to 16.89, son 16.311.

Scope and Contents

"Promiscuous and immoral. Feckless, but can look nice. Mother dead. Sergt. - a proper gyp, a dead wrong one. No PA, was offered indoor relief but refused it. Known to RSSPCC. Nurse: A problem woman, dirty, soft and MD. Labour exchange - working as a char, a bad lot."

Relatives in survey: children 28.14, 28.15

Scope and Contents "Any man's meat - the soldiers are said to have queued up for her. Dr confirms that she is a bad character, husband has left her, has VD. PA: Hopeless woman. Large house, not overcrowded, filthy, she is never at home. LE - does not work."[Male informant]: The family give an interesting example of the effect of environment. The eldest was brought up elsewere and stayed at school to 15, obtaining the junior secondrary certificate. He is now an apprentice electrician and a good...

Scope and Contents

"This girl is thickheaded, you can never do anything with her, has not got a brain to develop. IQ will probably be about 70. Family have not got a good social background. For a time a menage a trois. Mother was also going with soldiers and black men - was reprimanded for neglect of the children. [Male informant] refused to be drawn on their morals - says there is something nice about them."