Records of The Aberdeen Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (AAPCA)
- Reference:GB 230 AAPCA
- Dates of Creation:1870 - 1994
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:1563 items; 97 volumes; 50 bundles; 12 folders; 30 files; 12 sheets; 22 photographs; 14 slides; 5 films; 15 posters; 1 plan; 3 prints; and 2 blocks
Scope and Content
AAPCA/1: Minutes (1870-1971)
AAPCA/2: Financial Records (1877-1977)
AAPCA/3: Collection and Subscriber Papers (1889-1970)
AAPCA/4: Correspondence (1888-1976)
AAPCA/5: Annual Reports (1872-1896)
AAPCA/6: Administrative Records (1887-1979)
AAPCA/7: Inspectors' Records (1882-1979)
AAPCA/8: Property Records and Related Papers (1891-1951)
AAPCA/9: Legal Papers (1877-1927)
AAPCA/10: Publications and Printed Ephemera (1887-1987)
AAPCA/11: Photographs and Films (1960-1977)
AAPCA/12: Loose Items (1876-1977)
AAPCA/13: Miscellanea (1880-1915)
Administrative / Biographical History
The Aberdeen Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (AAPCA) was founded in 1870 by a group of Aberdeen civic representatives, advocates and ministers, in direct response to growing contemporary concern over the inadequacy of existing provisions for animal welfare in the north-east of Scotland. Undoubtedly the founding fathers drew inspiration from the work already achieved by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, formed in Edinburgh in 1840, the Glasgow and West of Scotland Society, founded in 1856, and the Dundee Society established in 1864. Generally speaking the aims of these organisations were broadly comparable - the repression of cruelty to animals, the promotion of more vigorous animal welfare legislation on both a local and national level, and the implementation of an education programme focusing especially on the young. Entirely self-funding, the AAPCA Board of Directors traditionally relied on funds from subscriptions, donations and bequests to support the Association's work. Although collectors could expect a small payment from the Association, the only salaried employees were the inspectors. Principally, the inspectors' duties comprised the investigation of public complaints of cruelty to domestic pets, farm animals and wildlife, as well as the fostering of goodwill towards animals through educational talks to schools in the Aberdeenshire area. In more recent times the AAPCA staffing levels was increased to include a full-time education and publicity officer. On 20 August 1996, one hundred and twenty-six years of autonomy came to an end when the Association merged with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals whose head office is located in Edinburgh.
Access Information
Open
This collection is stored remotely; please contact Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives directly to arrange access. Data Protection closures may apply to some more recent records.
Other Finding Aids
Please see the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives catalogue at https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/
Archivist's Note
Catalogued by Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives in 2002
Custodial History
Two deposits of AAPCA records were made to the City Archives through its Secretary. The majority of the collection was transferred to the City Archives in 1982 from the offices of Cochran & McPherson at 1 Diamond Street, together with other records of the firm, and accessioned initially as ACC 5. There was a second minor deposit of AAPCA material in January 1995, from 6 Bon Accord Square. The material from the latter deposit has been incorporated into the collection - provenance has been noted in the item's Custodial History. It should be noted that a number of 16 mm films have been returned to the RSPCA Archives.
Subjects