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Archival description
West Coast Medical Historical Society oral history collection Hygiene, Public--British Columbia
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Art Hister interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Pine Street Free Clinic PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Medical background; former concept of free clinic; involvement; birth pains of this concept; prominent medical problems; funding; opposition to program; necessity of clinics; changes in the structure of the clinics; interrelationships; role of nurses; staff and services offered; doctors involvement; philosophy. TRACK 2: Directions going; services needed; decision making; summary.

Clarence Bradbury interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Aid to the handicapped & community health services PERIOD COVERED: 1945-1970 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background; training for rehabilitation work, 1945 to 1947; early rehabilitation work in BC; provincial government involvement, 1948 to 1950; development of rehabilitation programs; experimental programs. TRACK 2: Continued discussion of experimental programs; work in Kelowna and Nanaimo; reception of programs by the public and physicians; work in Chilliwack and Prince George; operations and developments since 1967; rapid expansion of programs; finances of cost shared programs; future hopes of programs.;

Alexander Menzies interview

CALL NUMBER: T1984:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health : industrial, municipal, provincial PERIOD COVERED: 1889-1925 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dr. Menzies talks about his early childhood on Pender Island and various jobs in the sawmill and on the farm; early education and entrance into Westminster Hall, Vancouver, and acceptance into the Manitoba Medical College in 1913; description of the medical program; the outbreak of the First World War; problems of finance; recruitment into the 12th Field Ambulance in 1915 and lead-in to wartime experiences; overseas experiences from 1916, including battle conditions and medic responsibilities in Ypres, Amiens, Somme and Grand Serviens. TRACK 2: The return home in March 1919; the problems of leaving England and the trans-Atlantic trip, discussed in some detail; the return to medical school; Dr. Tisdall and the apprenticeship in the summer of 1919; Dr. Menzies completed his final fifth year in 1920 and passed the medical counsel exams; a brief description of his internship at VGH follows; in October of 1921, Dr. Menzies became staff doctor at Britannia Mines; the mine cave in that occurred two days later.

CALL NUMBER: T1984:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health : Dr. A.R. Menzies PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1936 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dr. Menzies goes into some detail about his life at Britannia Mine; flood in 1921 is the major topic, including a description of the disaster and medical problems; a brief description of the main town site and mountain camp and the common injuries and first aid practice; Dr. Menzies' role as Provincial Health Inspector and experience with communicable diseases such as STDs, smallpox and scarlet fever. TRACK 2: The Britannia experience is ended with Dr. Menzies resignation over a conflict of interest; he mentions again the relationships and prevalent accidents; his return to Vancouver; and work in the laboratories of VGH. Dr. Menzies went to U of T School of Hygiene in 1930, under a fellowship, and returned to Vancouver the following year. In 1931, Menzies became Provincial Epidemiologist; his role in such issues as typhoid control, sanitation and food handling.

CALL NUMBER: T1984:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health : Dr. A.R. Menzies PERIOD COVERED: 1936-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The issues involved in public health dentistry, such as fluoridation. Vision and hearing tests in schools were also part of the program. Dr. Menzies relates his most embarrassing situation involving a co-ed student at UBC. In summary, Dr. Menzies discusses the advantages and disadvantages of being involved in public health service. TRACK 2: In 1936, Dr. Menzies joined the Metro Health Committee. He gives a description of its organisation and his first assignments; a discussion of the personnel and programs in the schools and baby clinics; Unit #1 and the issues of food handling and the kindergarten clinic; contact with communicable diseases such as polio; facilities for the handicapped. Dr. Menzies gives a description of the locations of the health units from 1936 to 1959. In 1959, Dr. Menzies became Senior Medical Health Officer. He describes his responsibilities, and discusses changes in the health department, personnel, offices and services.

Ted Bain interview

CALL NUMBER: T1986:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Director of Medical Services; Veteran's Affairs, Ottawa PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-03-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Goes to Ottawa as Director of Medical Services for Veteran's Affairs. Christie Street Hospital in Toronto from 1942 to 1943; what this position involved; how Sunnybrook Hospital started and the other administrative problems of the building; in 1950, he came to Vancouver and was Chief Medical Officer of Shaughnessy Hospital. Discussion of Shaughnessy and how he worked there; meeting Princess Margaret, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip; John Diefenbaker, Louis St. Laurent; Danny Kaye and Bob Hope. TRACK 2: Discussion of the people he met; being awarded the OBE; conclusion of interview -- how medicine has changed, and prevailing attitudes in medicine today. CALL NUMBER: T1986:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dr. T. Bain, Veteran's Affairs and Shaughnessy Hospital PERIOD COVERED: 1898-1940 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-03-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born in 1898 in Huntley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; schooling in Scotland; came to Toronto at 14; got job at Eaton's; enlisted in 1915; discussion of army life; training and overseas; in 48th Highlanders, 15th Battalion; went overseas in 1916, Vimy Ridge and Ypres; deciding to go to University of Toronto to take medicine in 1920; description of classes and classmates; interest in public health. TRACK 2: Graduated in medicine in 1926; then interned at Toronto General Hospital; lived at Knox College at the university; entered overseas service to examine immigrants to Canada; went to England; went to William Head on Vancouver Island; quarantine station; 30 cases of smallpox; how the Depression affected him and the people he saw; description of William Head and its purpose; stayed until 1939 and went to Vancouver to take over Shaughnessy Hospital; brief history of Shaughnessy Hospital; how he got his next position.

Doris Mellish interview

CALL NUMBER: T1988:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Doris Mellish, General Medicine, Vancouver PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1970 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background; nurses training and early job experiences; life on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island; health care on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island; involvement with the Vancouver Health League; mental health; amalgamation of city health and school health; start of Mental Health committee; description of Parent Teachers Association; parent education courses. TRACK 2: ; Description of courses; formation of Vancouver Health League and the Community Chest; Council of Social Agencies; smallpox epidemics of 1919 and 1932; vaccinations for small pox; school vaccination; Cancer Foundation; BC Cancer Society; Tranquille. CALL NUMBER: T1988:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Doris Mellish, General Medicine, Vancouver PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Community program takeover by government; choosing members of family service organisations; payment for services by government; availability of services throughout BC; care of aged; nutrition; results of Conference of Aged; law resulting from the study of facilities; nutrition in Vancouver; fluoridation. TRACK 2: Fluoridation; water pollution; registry of disabled children; handicapped aids; building codes for handicapped; residential treatment for disturbed children. CALL NUMBER: T1988:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Doris Mellish, General Medicine, Vancouver PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Vancouver Health League; mental health; house for residential treatment; mentally retarded; formation of BC Mental Health Association; volunteers for mental health centres; preventorium; Sunnyhill; formation of Victoria Order of Nurses; industrial health in Vancouver; Community Chest organisations. TRACK 2: Community Chest; changes and budget deficits; opinions of resource boards; Community Chest; future.

Christine Charter interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Victorian Order of Nurses PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1975 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1 & 2: Personal history and introduction; early education; nurses training; St. John's Newfoundland; public health nursing course; University of Toronto; Victorian Order of Nurses, Halifax; brief discussion of Victorian Order of Nurses; Toronto 1943 VON; Liverpool VON during the Second World War; VON in Vancouver; how patients come to the VON's attention; community resources; future of VON now that the government is taking over visiting nurses and doctors.

Angus Mackie interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Angus MacKie discusses public health inspection PERIOD COVERED: 1947-1975 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Starting with the City Health Department; location, staff, duties, etc.; sections of mental hygiene division; becoming public health inspector, duties, public relations; quarantine division 1947, duties, facilities, ambulance, public relations, incidents; changes, functions, attitudes; change to specialist section functions; duties with specialist section; functions. TRACK 2: Duties with specialist section; regulations; marina; rats; pollution; beaches etc.; public relations; changes 1973 to 1975; facilities; standards; salmonella; watershed; water quality control.

Douglas Yeo interview

CALL NUMBER: T2001:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dentistry Developments in BC PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1969 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dr. Yeo gives a brief description of his early education including the U of T dental school; after graduating in 1950, Dr. Yeo join the public health department in BC as a regional dental consultant; he describes equipment, offices and refinements. In 1951, he was assigned to the Cariboo Health Unit; he relates problems and changes there; after a year in graduate training at Michigan, Dr. Yeo joined the Metropolitan Health Unit as director of dental services; he describes the organisation and follow-up treatment; a discussion of the fluoridation issue; distribution of clinics and votes; arguments. TRACK 2: A summary of the uses of fluoride and alternatives available; Dr. Yeo mentions the distribution of services and minor problems and controversies. In 1964, the dental school at UBC opening. Dr. Yeo gives a description of the courses, practical experiences, length of courses; specializations and size of classes; this is followed by some statistical information on the number of dentists in BC and distribution and the idea of regional licensing; a description of the College of Dental Surgeons, the Dentistry Act, registry and qualifications and some changes in the number of registered dentists. CALL NUMBER: T2001:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dentistry Developments in BC PERIOD COVERED: 1960-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: A discussion of the issue of Dental Mechanics and Technicians and the Dental Technicians Act; qualifications and licensing and the National Dental Examining Board; a discussion of the idea of dental insurance and proposed plans; Dr. Yeo discusses trends, preventions, group practices, para-dental professions; COT system; Saskatchewan dental nurse and specializations; a brief comparison of the size and composition of the UBC dental classes over its initial years including a discussion of women in dentistry; summary impression; the direction of dentistry in the coming years. [TRACK 2: blank?]

Winnifred Neen interview

CALL NUMBER: T2002:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health nursing ; a practical experience in involvement PERIOD COVERED: 1902-1950 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miss Neen describes her personal and early educational background up to beginning nurses training in 1923; a description of life in the nurses residence, curfew and roommates; the emphasis of the course, lectures, duties, and Ward X; a statement of qualifications for nursing in 1923 and the size of the VGH class; a brief statement of jobs held after graduation; special nurse in Trail, Nanaimo and San Francisco; introduction to the Rotary Clinic, staff, location and an aside on relief. TRACK 2: More on the Rotary Clinic and treatment available for TB patients; isolation techniques, enforcement and placarding; a brief recollection of Dr. Norman Bethune and his visit to Vancouver; changes in the Rotary Clinic; association with VGH; amalgamation with Metropolitan Public Health staff in 1936 and changes in treatment with the introduction of PAS and streptomycin; a discussion of the effects of the Depression on health units; the growth of baby clinics; services, restrictions and time spent at; involvement in social work; referrals to out-patients VGH, Social Services; Children's Health Centres. CALL NUMBER: T2002:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health nursing ; a practical experience in involvement PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1965 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Involvement in school health programs and an anecdote about Miss Elizabeth Breeze; activities in schools, examinations, iodine tablets, athletics; growth of mental health program and an anecdote about TB derangements and problem of civil rights and forced hospital admissions; public health nurse and changes in VD clinics; anecdotes of follow-up situations; Shanghai Alley at Alexander and Cordova Streets; Stella the prostitute. TRACK 2: A continuation of the story of Stella; the Stafford Hotel and the issue of money; Miss Neen took a supervisory course and McGill in 1947 and returned to coordinate the TB program; a description of the mobile TB units and their locations; the involvement at Oakalla, including the installation of the TB units; staffing and training, the hospital, problems, security, and an anecdote about arriving at the prison gates; anecdote about a Lancashire man as an example of the scope and involvement of a public health nurse; retirement in 1963 after forty years in service.

Rosamond Sarles interview

CALL NUMBER: T2003:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Nutrition and community education PERIOD COVERED: 1939-1970 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: A brief summary of early education; Bachelor of Home Economics in 1939, and teaching experience from 1941 to 1946; joined the Metropolitan Health Department in August of 1946 and remained until May of 1975; description of the early organisation, IODE, Greater Vancouver Health League; direct services; home visits and a definition of nutrition; a discussion of food values; interest and participation, and the effect of the Second World War; relationship between community and nutritionist and a success story; program for education, newspaper, radio booklets and flimsies; work in school system; rat experiments; classroom work; radio program; use of television; Mrs. Random versus Mrs. Cautious. TRACK 2: Involvement in the lunch program; problems, results and measurements; help for the ethnic community, classifications and response, advice; interpretation and a brief anecdote; involvement in child health centres; services of a nutritionist, popularity, problems and old wives tales; response to the 1960s, day care and youth centres; activities with the Social Assistance program; budgeting, standards and problems, SPARK and defining needs and wants; geriatric problems and counseling service; the relationship of the nutritionist and the community and various social service agencies. CALL NUMBER: T2003:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Nutrition and community education PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cooperation with the BC Nutrition Council on such programs as breast feeding, infant nutrition, vegetarians, and low income; a comparison of federal assistance in the 1940, 1950s and the 1970s; the low cost food plan and a discussion of the proposals and problems; involvement in continuing education at UBC; conferences at Berkley; changes in the goals and priorities of the nutritionist; increased involvement in prenatal and geriatric problems; complexity of problems; additives and enrichment; the changing role of the city; growth of department; special programs and projects; dial-a-dietician; trends in relationship with community; problems and achievements. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Trenna Hunter interview

CALL NUMBER: T2004:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health nurse; response to change PERIOD COVERED: 1925-1955 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-27 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miss Hunter sketches her education and decision to enter VGH nursing school in 1936 with a description of the courses, emphasis and class size when she graduated in 1939; in 1940 she was on the staff of the Metropolitan Health Committee of Greater Vancouver and in 1941 spent some time instructing at the Normal School until 1942, when she was assigned to Hastings Park; a lengthy description of conditions, problems, attitudes, numbers, and babies in Japanese relocation camps. In the fall of 1942, Miss Hunter took an administration course at McGill, and in 1943 was student advisor in the health department; in 1944 she became director of nursing and remained so until her retirement in 1966. TRACK 2: A discussion of responding to community needs with examples of pre-natal clinics and the polio epidemic in 1946; the relationship between the health department and social agencies; the role of the public health nurse and how activities were chosen; changes and programs; how the role changed in the control of TB; changes that occurred in the nurses role in VD clinics; time study statistics on the division of a nurse's work; trends in the role of a public health nurse; shift to mental health, nutrition, counseling; introduction of more specialists. CALL NUMBER: T2004:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health nurse; response to change PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-27 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Miss Hunter provides a day-in-the-life account, describing duties and responsibilities of the Director of Nursing; a description of responses to emergencies; the Fraser Valley flood of 1948; blood clinics; satisfactions of administration; struggles to get transportation; disposal equipment; traveling and activities with the Canadian Public Health Organisation and Canadian Nurses Association; the idea of public health and the issue of whom to serve; Miss Hunter relates the mystery story about the acceptance of the public health nurse. [TRACK 2: blank?]

Reba Willets interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): General Medicine and Public Health PERIOD COVERED: 1906-1966 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background; description of father's early pharmacy in Kelowna; early Kelowna history; interest in medicine; medical training at the University of Toronto; description of a few of the women in class; internship at Vancouver General Hospital in 1932; went to Kelowna for five years; the Depression; Indian doctor; description of practice there; decision to go into public health. TR;ACK 2: Public health course in Toronto; war wound commission in Toronto; unit director of Metropolitan Health; Director of School of Health Services; community health projects; Mary Pack; Jericho Hill School; involvement with Community Chest; polio outbreak in 1952 to 1955; Director of Metropolitan Health.

Harry Kennedy interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Involvement in VD control; Director of VD clinic, 1965 to 1976 PERIOD COVERED: 1965-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Background, education; situation of VD control in 1965; epidemic of syphilis and gonorrhea; high risk groups were in skid road and a booming BC north; identifying problems and trying to eliminate them; male homosexuality, 1965; economic and social factors affecting VD control; clinic opens 1975; outbreak continues; spreads to students and secretaries; 1975, conference identifying problems and solutions in VD control; development of clinics; treatment changes since 1965, development of new drugs; public attitudes; history of VD; public education; alternate clinics. [TRACK 2: blank?]

Grace Donald interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): VD control, 1943 to 1975 PERIOD COVERED: 1929-1970 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Early childhood; education; training at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in 1929; description of the Laurel Street Clinic in 1943; VD treatments used prior to 1947, penicillin, malaria, "hotbox", society's attitudes toward venereal disease, public education; penicillin, 1947; beginning of city jail clinic; personal attitudes; dispensing penicillin in the streets in the 1960s; Oakalla Prison, Willingdon School for Girls - clinics established on a weekly basis. TRACK 2: Interest in job; Mrs. Donald's personal opinion; Vancouver leper colony discussed; discussion of transient youth in the 1960s.

May Humphreys interview

CALL NUMBER: T2013:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Health care and social assistance PERIOD COVERED: 1928-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Brief personal introduction with a description of UBC in 1928 and the decision to go into nurses training at VGH in 1929; includes a description of courses, hours, and discipline; job shortages of the Depression years and the decision to study public health at McGill from 1931 to 1933; work in Family Services in Montreal; description of service; religious divisions, problems in Griffintown; juveniles and comparison with Vancouver; job offers and the return to Vancouver; out-patients at VGH in 1936, with a description of buildings, patients, dental clinic, staff, volunteers and cup of soup; joined the City Relief Department in 1937 and describes the staff under the direction of Dr. Jack Muscovitch. TRACK 2: Social workers and the medical section with mention of responsibilities and services; effects of the Depression on people, allowances, violent attitudes; reporters; unique service of medical section; doctors services and medical histories; post-war years; employment on the Sea Wall; mental assessments; placement program growth out of VGH overcrowding; problems in regulating; lack of staff; numbers of clients; anecdotes on persuading people to enter boarding homes; atmosphere at placement institutions; night school courses; private homes, problems associated with uprooting and adjustment of elder clients. CALL NUMBER: T2013:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Health care and social assistance PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Conclusion of anecdote; role with alcoholics and Salt Spring Farm; hospital; drunk tank; need for a cleansing station; social life in boarding houses; sitting room regulations; recreation and; the role of volunteer organisations; effects of the Second World War and the reduction in staff; changes in public attitude; rise in young people on relief; increase in professional social workers; involvement in rationing and accompanying anecdote; changes in the services; dental plan; appliances; caseloads; increases in allowances; clothing allowances; nutrition services; referral resources; relationship with the Metropolitan Health Department; consultation, referrals, overlapping interests; geriatrics. TRACK 2: Gradual acceptance of geriatric centres; trends in services; attitudes of staff and public; customer orientation of building and furniture; medical aspects of the social assistance program; 60% of clients; promotes health problems; problems of single men; staff experiment living on an allowance; effects on social assistance and trend to younger people in the 1960s and 1970s; lessons learned about human nature with examples of New York and Sweden and the nature of Canadians; summary of medical program; services; abuse; payments.

Henry Bryson interview

CALL NUMBER: T2014:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Inspection services : public health watchdog PERIOD COVERED: 1937-1965 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: A brief personal introduction and a description of the Ontario Veterinary College and courses from 1937 to 1941; the flexibility of the OVC education; practical experience; decision to study public health in 1946; a description of the U of T School of Hygiene; the connection of public health and veterinary medicine and the popularity of the course; experience in the federal government meat control program; tests, standards and diseases; the provincial government of Saskatchewan, milk supply and the issue of pasteurization; joining the city health department in Vancouver, 1948, and duties and services as Director of Environmental Sanitation; involvement in food handling, housing, sewage disposal; rodent control; school inspections; communicable disease control, including some information on placarding and the role of the health inspector; lodging house by-law and aspects of food and safety; the Vancouver water supply. TRACK 2: Sources of water; additives; pollution and cooperation with other agencies; growth in department and response to community growth, housing and industry; urban trends in the 1950s due to sociology, politics and inter-provincial migration; socio-ecological changes; problems of assessment; political input; planning department; issues such as pasteurization and ethnic community adaptation; permits and licences department; joined in 1965 as an agent of enforcement and coordination; decision of the department in licensing, control and morality.; CALL NUMBER: T2014:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Inspection services : public health watchdog PERIOD COVERED: 1965-1975 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Discussion of the process in licensing, using plumbing as an example, emphasizing the inter-relationship of all functions including the morality factor; summary of continued involvement in health care in its broadest context. [TRACK 2: blank.]

F.O.R. Garner interview

CALL NUMBER: T2015:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Traveling clinics and TB control PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dr. Garner discusses the success of the tuberculosis control program; financing; relations with TB Christmas Seals Society and the Tranquille Sanatorium canteen; conclusion of the interview. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T2015:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Traveling clinics and TB control PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dr. Garner discusses his background and arrival in BC; starting in tuberculosis treatment in 1935; working at Tranquille Sanatorium in 1936; the incidence of TB; work with the Nelson traveling clinic, 1938; conditions; staff; area; the Kamloops traveling clinic, 1938; Director of Traveling Clinics, 1939; attending School of Hygiene in Toronto; military service 1942; work with the health unit in Victoria in 1946. TRACK 2: Discussion of Victoria staff; return to Tranquille in 1951; changes there; changes in treatments during the 1950s and the closing of Tranquille; return to traveling clinics.

John Smith interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Provincial Health RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-03-16 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born in 1926 in Northern Ireland; early schooling and university at Queen's in Belfast; why he got into medicine; liked orthopaedics; interned at Queen's University Hospital, Royal Victoria, Belfast. Went to aircraft company after a residency, general rotating, worked at Short Brothers for two years in industrial medicine; new field worked with Dr. Smiley; what duties were his as industrial health officer; goes to work with the Slough Industrial Health services outside London, 1953-55; Dr. Eager started this program; comes to BC in 1955 and takes his degree then joins the provincial health department and goes to work in Prince Rupert for a year; changes from England and Ireland in medicine; spends three months at Tranquille, and then back to Toronto for Diploma of Public Health in 1957-58; did Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons certificate in November 1958; goes to provincial health, North Fraser Valley Health Unit; responsible for environmental health, communicable disease control; 1959-61, Director of Public Health/Occupational Health for the City of Vancouver; duties. Worked for American boards in occupational medicine; goes back to provincial health as director of Occupational Health; his definition of occupational medicine; the programs and progress of the bureau: 1962-72, Dr. John Mackenzie was the first assistant director; director of special health services in 1973; study of alcoholism in industry. TRACK 2:Alcoholism in industry, continued; why alcoholism is so prevalent; coming area of drug rehabilitation; assessments concerning asbestosis; silicosis, mercury poisoning, environmental pollution, noise pollution and radiation; unions' reaction to occupational health department. Environmental pollution. Physical fitness programs for government employees. Health hazard appraisals.

Lillian Hiltz interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Development of Red Cross health care RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-03-19 SUMMARY: Miss L.G. Hiltz, Director of Family health, discusses: personal introduction; arrival in BC in 1954; joined Red Cross in 1964; history of the Red Cross in BC, beginning in 1900 in Victoria; in 1919, became a provincial organization; early programs in public health -- at UBC, at lighthouses, and placing eight nurses between 1920 and 1923; from 1924 to 1927, the home nursing courses were popular; described the growth of the outpost hospital program, beginning in Pouce Coupe in 1921; description of the facilities; services; subsequent additions to program; locations, financing changes; beginning of homemaker service in 1944; sick room equipment loans since 1945; description; number of items; past services; trends in programs and future developments.

Robert Herbison interview

CALL NUMBER: T2365:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Public health inspector, 1943-1973 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-03-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background; arrival in BC in 1919; early education and effects of the Depression; interest in health inspection; history of provincial organization; course description; examinations,; and certification in 1942; description of city health department in 1943; staff; location and jurisdiction; involvement in the Second World War; tropical medicine studies; health inspection duties; DDT experiments and demobilization in 1946; return to Vancouver, rat and mouse control by-laws, plague survey; education and baiting program and the work in city dumps. TRACK 2: Concluding information; on the city dumps; pest control program; cockroaches, mosquitoes, bats, raccoons, field mice and commercial controllers; communicable disease control; quarantine office; common diseases and placard description; enforcing and involvement in TB and VD control; some information about a health officer's role in the tidy by-law and in swimming pool regulations and problems.;

CALL NUMBER: T2365:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-03-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Regulation of public swimming pools, tide water pools, restrictions and closing of facilities; food inspection in Vancouver; domestic chickens and pigs; butcher shops, type of control; boarding house by-laws, and experiences in the West End of Vancouver and in the Skid Road areas; the problem of foreshore shacks; their location, description, problem and demolition; the Greater Vancouver Health League and the BC Safety Council; a description of the organization, growth and changes; Herbison's involvement in the Home and Family Safety Section from 1953. TRACK 2: Continued involvement in the Safety Council and work with bicycle and babysitting information and traffic studies; trends in health inspection politics; changes and improvement and developments in health care programs and the problem of duplication; the difference between city and provincial health inspections.;

Beverly Hopkins interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Mental Hygiene Division : early years, 1948-1954 RECORDED: West Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-03-18 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background; education; psychology graduate from UBC in 1948; joined Mental Hygiene Division in 1948; description of staff; Dr. Gundry; interest in mental health; clinical set up; educational functions; work in well-baby clinics; relationship with Public Health Nurse; counselling; publications and flimsies; training at Toronto Sick Children's Hospital in play therapy and speech therapy; descriptions; various testing guides; work in schools; referrals; PTA; concern for 7-12 year olds; relationship with provincial organisations and other community groups. TRACK 2: Community services; special facilities for the emotionally handicapped; community work in PTA and at UBC, Clinical role of the psychologist: the set-up, tests, counselling, conferences, and public health follow-up. Ideas about mental health in the early years; Vancouver the provincial leader. Growth of Mental Hygiene Division, staff, information, acceptance and awareness of problem. Summary: results of work; publications for reference.

Lenore Patterson interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Co-ordinator of Health Care Services, Vancouver Resources Board RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-04-14 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Background; brief career as a dietitian here and in UK; involvement in dental care; came to Vancouver and became a nutritionist with Catholic Child Care; last year, 1975, became the head of dietetics in the Vancouver Resources Board. Health care as it was before integration last year; decentralisation (see Foulkes Report) responsible for reorganisation of social services; mandate of Resources Board; 14 local offices and 5 special offices; Mincome delivered at Dunsmuir Street office; advent of resources boards, and their disbandment; definition of health care according to resource boards, defined by programs: old people's care and children. Staff of specialists in psychiatry department, to help children; work closely with all community resources; public health nurses' duties. Adult; care resource homes: Taylor Manor and Kinna Mair. Nutritionists help recipients and community groups to budget food and balance with goodness; also help baby home. Children in care of the Resources Board present with a variety of health problems. One medical clinic under Resources Board; one full-time physician and a part-time pediatrician. Dental health arranged. Post-partum group handles new mothers with problems; program for counseling these women. Types of problems handled. Men's group started. Child abuse dealt with. TRACK 2: Other programs of Resources board: nutrition program for healthy babies; drug and alcohol abuse an ongoing problem. Taylor Manor, for adults with mental and physical problems who are not able to function in the community, and are not expected to get into the community; 894 new contacts in 1974 under the psychiatric counseling. Taylor Manor has 58 beds and a waiting list; government pays for all. Per diem rate for five levels of care, set by government. Relations with other community health services. More involvement with Attorney-General's Department hoped for. Future of Resources Board.

Agnes Campbell interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dial-A-Dietitian RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-04-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: University of Saskatchewan; interned at VGH; born in Wellesley; graduated from VGH in 1939; worked at the YWCA for two years; house mother and dietician; joined RCAF and was in it for 25 years as a dietician for tri-services as wing commander; quit or retired and came to Vancouver and worked at Department of National Health and Welfare counseling native Indians in nutrition; started this in January 1972; this was done under LIP grant; description of planning the project and setting up the publicity; early in the project, they were very swamped, what the goals were of this project; June 1972, they were operational; funding discussed; LIP grant fan from January 1972 to December 1973; donations given and a provincial government grant; one full time person on staff; Miss Campbell worked three days a week and two other dieticians worked one each in their office; diets; nutrition and food additives etc.; what their library contains; increase in work; received 11,395 calls to date; breakdown of types of calls; used a recorder phone after funding ran out in December 1973; donations lasted until December 1974 when city hall provided them with an office, phone and salary for three months; government will provide funds for a year; usefulness of this service; people's interest; state of nutrition in Vancouver; list of objectives now; covers BC Telephone non-long distance area; would like a toll free line for the province.

Gary Mavis interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Crisis centre and health care RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-04-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background; got interest in crisis centre in 1969 as trainee; had worked at Oakalla from 1966 to 1969; worked as a phone helper for a year then went on the flying squad; 1972 hired by doctor at VGH to initiate Safer program to follow up suicide failures; 1972 took registered social worker courses at night and summer school; been director at crisis centre since 1975; how crisis centre came into being in Vancouver; 1 July 1969; fund raised through mental health organisation; junior league, and churches; initially was 24-hour line for people in crisis; funded now by United Way and the government, VRB and donations; youth line set up in 1970; senior line set up for homebound older people; youth line now disbanded; youth bus traveled around to rock concerts etc., involved with post partum counseling first before it was taken over by VRB; present staff 8 people in main office; publish directory of community social services and 7 people work there; directory is sold; approximately 100 volunteers; training program designed; 600 calls per month first year; peaked at 3,000 calls and gone down to 2,500 per month; information line gets 1,000 calls per month; keep lists of calls as to type, i.e. alcohol or drug abuse; depression calls, lonely calls, few crank calls; language barrier problems. TRACK 2: Feels there is a need for multilingual centre; function as crisis prevention, has emergency beds, flying squad LIP; not controlled by centre but may become so when grant runs out; Vancouver highest suicide and alcohol problem; reasons for this; other crisis services available in Vancouver; state of crisis services in Vancouver; recommend integration; would try to alter by increasing telephone lines, attempted suicide counseling team; emergency night counseling; flying squad to keep going; face to face counseling should be available; boarding homes available; try to keep ahead of community needs.