The National Asylum Workers' Union (NAWU) was founded in 1910 and renamed the Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers' Union in 1930. In 1946 the union merged with the Hospitals and Welfare Services Union to form the Confederation of Health Service Employees. The Modern Records Centre has copies of the NAWU / MHIW magazine from 1912 to 1945 and the first 18 volumes (1912-1929) have been digitised and are available through our online catalogue.

The earliest issues were edited by Rev. H.M.S. Bankart, a former Chaplain at Lancaster County Asylum, and are a quirky mix of union news, articles, cartoons and short stories. In June 1913 two rival editions of the magazine were produced, one by Bankart and the other by the union's Executive Committee, who objected to the production costs of the Bankart version. From July 1913, the Executive Committee had undisputed control of the publication and it turned into more of a standard union journal, with a range of articles, branch news, obituaries, correspondence, etc. Editions published during the First World War include information about military service of members.

Vol.1, Jan-Dec 1912Link opens in a new window

Vol.2, Jan-Dec 1913Link opens in a new window

Vol.3, Jan-Dec 1914Link opens in a new window

Vol.4, Jan-Dec 1915Link opens in a new window

Vol.5, Jan-Dec 1916Link opens in a new window

Vol.6, Jan-Dec 1917Link opens in a new window

Vol.7, Jan-Dec 1918Link opens in a new window

Vol.8, Jan-Dec 1919Link opens in a new window

Vol.9, Jan-Dec 1920Link opens in a new window

Vol.10, Jan-Dec 1921Link opens in a new window

Vol.11, Jan-Dec 1922Link opens in a new window

Vol.12, Jan-Dec 1923Link opens in a new window

Vol.13, Jan-Dec 1924Link opens in a new window

Vol.14, Jan-Dec 1925Link opens in a new window

Vol.15, Jan-Dec 1926Link opens in a new window

Vol.16, Jan-Dec 1927Link opens in a new window

Vol.17, Jan-Dec 1928Link opens in a new window

Vol.18, Jan-Dec 1929Link opens in a new window

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