Interview with Dr. Dorothy Potter

Dr Dorothy Field Potter talks about her mother's background, her father's education and their attitudes to their children's education. Describes her love of learning and educational experiences, recalling Mary Holland of Woodford House. Mentions the first women to climb Mt. Cook by the southern route, Ed Hillary and Harry Ayres. Recalls positive and negative attitudes to women in medicine and gives her reasons for choosing ophthalmology. Talks of trachoma research, working in a glaucoma clinic and cataract operations. Mentions Moorfield's Eye Hospital in London, meeting New Zealand ophthalmologists and Ida Mann, the first woman professor of ophthalmology in Britain. Describes innovations in eye treatment, life in London and the journey to New Zealand after her father's accidental death. Talks of the farm at Masterton and tax arrangements, finding work and the constraints on women in medicine. Mentions marriage and children, childcare and attitudes to keeping her own name. Recalls joining the Ophthalmological Society of New Zealand, setting up the Glaucoma Society, the Wellington Branch of New Zealand Medical Women's Association and the New Zealand Branch of the Australian and New Zealand Aviation Medical Society. Mentions Ida Mann's New Zealand visit, eye diseases of Maori and papers on various eye conditions presented at conferences, the benefits of attending conferences and places visited. Talks of her Wellington, Auckland and Masterton practices, her CBE and medallion of the Ophthalmological Society, recalling its merger with the Australian College of Ophthalmologists, and the coat of arms. Mentions her feelings about research, her work with patients and demands of family and medicine on women, the support of other people.

Abstracted by - Paula Martin

Interviewer(s) - Anna Cottrell

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009014 - OHC-009617

Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 4 C60 cassette(s). 4 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2797.

9 photographs - portraits of Dorothy Potter, some coloured

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

Alternative form available: Listening copies are available at OHLC-004677 to OHLC-004680