Accessing a copy of MRC National Archives material via PDF
Shortlink: http://wp.me/p5foE-34g
NB: If the link isn’t working for you, try this:
Go to this URL:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/default.asp
which is the National Archives Documents Online page
Put this Catalogue reference code into the Search box
FD 23/4553
Select date range 1950-99
that should bring up the page. Then pick up my instructions from there.
Instructions:
Go here:
http://tinyurl.com/NationalArchivesMRC
that is:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?queryType=1&resultcount=1&Edoc_Id=8553429
The National Archives Documents Online
Description Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/postviral fatigue syndrome (PFS) : papers and journal articles; correspondence and enquiries with MRC replies
Date 1988-1997
Catalogue reference FD 23/4553
Dept Records created or inherited by the Medical Research Council
Division General Records of the Medical Research Committee and Medical Research Council
Series Medical Research Council: Registered Files, Scientific Matters (S Series)
Image contains complete documents usually loaded
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Click “Add to shopping” (there will be no charge, so don’t worry)
Click “Check out”
An email address will be requested.
Fill in a working email address.
Click “Proceed with your download”
An auto generated email will be sent to you.
The email you receive will include an order number and the date up until which the file will be available to you. (This was 28 days.)
Beneath the words:
“Your images are now available. If you have not already downloaded them, please go to the download screen at”
There is a clickable link “Download my documents now”.
Click the link which will take you to a PDF URL. The URL will be specific to your email address.
The URL will open a PDF of approximately 30 MB which you can save to your hard drive in the usual way.
The file consists of a 143 page bundle of copies of letters, responses, papers, notes of meeting and handwritten notes.
Some pages, extracts, names and addresses have been redacted and are marked:
“REDACTED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION
SECTION 40 (2)
CLOSED UNTIL 2071”
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(Note: This is a very large file which is why National Archives do not supply it via an email attachment. I accept no responsibility for the consequences of anyone being inconsiderate enough to forward the file as an email attachment which may cause considerable problems for some email account holders.)
Related material
28 December 2009
Response from Public Services Development Unit, National Archives
11 December 2009
The Medical Research Council’s secret files on ME/CFS: Margaret Williams
meagenda.wordpress.com 