Interview with Yola Swindells

Yola Elsie Swindells, born ca 1925 in Portsmouth, England. Describes family background, a first generation New Zealander, parents from England. Talks about growing up in Whangarei, and talks about how parents' interest in nutrition and a variety of diets fuelled her interest. Talks about studying physics at a boys' high school in the upper sixth grade. Talks about studying home science and chemistry at Otago University, and how she was encouraged to do a masters, in the utilisation of ascorbic acid, under Dr Elizabeth Gregory. Talks about teaching nutrition and textile industry, becoming a lecturer in 1956, and Marion Robinson joining the Department. Talks about spending two years at University of Edinburgh, gaining her PhD in 1962. Discusses her PhD research, studying metablolism in relation to energy expenditure and weight in people, and talks about furthering this upon returning to New Zealand. Talks about becoming a senior lecturer in 1963, and supervising masters students.

Talks about researching the way nutrition was taught in different parts of the world, and visiting many academic institutes in these countries. Discusses gender issues and status at the faculty. Notes there are few women professors, and that Medical School staff got more easily promoted than staff at the School of Home Sciences. Mentions the battle to get nutrition as a subject into the Science Faculty. Talks about helping to establish the Nutrition Society of New Zealand. Major issues were fluorodation, the iodisation of salt and the labelling of foods. Talks about the need to prevent quackery in nutrition, and the growth of the Dietetic Association. Discusses being Co-Head of Department with Marion Robinson from 1963 for ten years. Talks about developing the meat loaf and icecream diet. Talks about receiving Nuffield research grants in 1971 and 1972. Describes how gender issues weren't as much a issue for her as for newer staff who had studied overseas under a broader approach.

Interviewer(s) - Ruth Barton

Accompanying material - Interview information, curriculum vitae, publications list

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2638.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.