Membership records

The records include full global membership lists for available years, in alphabetical order, which provide details of members' name, title, institution, status (dues, etc). Membership lists also provide number of countries/regions represented; new members (those elected, under consideration and nominations awaiting seconding). The 1976 and 1977 Membership Directories include published article on the history of the IEA, and its (revised) Constitution and By-Laws, formally adopted in September 1977.

During this period, British and North American members were in the majority (largely due to the organisation's origins in the UK and USA); active efforts were made to broaden representation by encouraging members to nominate epidemiologists from other countries, while maintaining the standards for membership including proposer's recommendation and review of the nominee's contribution to epidemiology.

Reports of membership committee include on-going discussion to increase membership, especially in developing countries. Successful membership drives resulted in a significant growth of paid-up ordinary membership of ~ 25% between 1974 and 1977, although not a large increase in number of countries represented. By the 8th ISM in 1977, there were over 900 members representing 66 countries.

Due to difficulties of obtaining articles and contributions from members for the Bulletin, the decision to 'upgrade' the Bulletin to the International Journal of Epidemiology (IJE) was taken in 1971; the new Journal was published from Spring 1972. Membership dues included subscription to the IJE, which was also used to communicate IEA policy and other organisational updates to members.

To improve the collection of membership dues and record-keeping, a computerized file and billing system for collection of dues and journal subscriptions was developed in 1975; additionally, a database of members' interests/skills was created to be made available to the World Health Organisation (WHO) or other international agencies as required.