Interview with Winifred Brown [sound recording]
Winifred Brown, wife of Archbishop Leslie Brown, is interviewed by Margaret Macdonald about her life in India, from 1939 when she married leslie Brown, until 1952 when they left. Summary of interview: Education and medical training in N. Ireland; description of her marriage in Cochin; preparations f...
| Order number: |
OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED] |
|---|---|
| Date(s) of creation: |
8 December 1982 |
| Level: |
Item |
| Format: | Archive |
| Main author: | Brown; Annie Winifred (fl 1939-1982); doctor |
| Other authors: | Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer |
| Order number: |
OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED] |
|---|---|
| Summary: |
Winifred Brown, wife of Archbishop Leslie Brown, is interviewed by Margaret Macdonald about her life in India, from 1939 when she married leslie Brown, until 1952 when they left. Summary of interview: Education and medical training in N. Ireland; description of her marriage in Cochin; preparations for life in India and the changing fashions of European dress in India while she was there; her experiences of running a household and their lifestyle in India; contacts with other Europeans; her experiences as a patient in various hospitals and of medical treatment in India; running a small dispensary and educating Indian women on hygiene, sanitation, diet, etc.; bringing up her daughter in India; effect of Indian independance.
Summary: Background in Northern Ireland and medical degree at Queen's University, Belfast, 1937. 1939 sailed to India to marry Rev. Leslie Brown. Description of her marriage in Cochin. Outbreak of World War II, delay in receiving mail. Preparations for life in India. Three months training in tropical medicine. List of recommended clothing from the Church Missionary Society. Changing fashions of European dress in India during her time there. Their lifestyle and running a household. Problems with language, non verbal communication. Contacts with other Europeans, description of the local European community. Leslie Brown's operation for appendicitis and her own appendix operation. Further experiences in hospitals, and the difference in care between government and mission hospitals. Her awareness of political activity for independence. Running a small dispensary, treating students and their families. Her attempts to educate the local women about hygiene, sanitation, diet, etc. Bringing up her small daughter in India. The minimal effect of Independence on their lives. Problems of keeping food in the hot climate. |
| Main author: | Brown; Annie Winifred (fl 1939-1982); doctor |
| Other authors: | Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer |
| Previous numbers: |
OA2/79/1-2 |
| Extent: |
1 sound casette |
| Note: |
India - British rule, 1765-1947 - European community India - independance, 1947 Medical care - India - British rule, 1765-1947 Health - India - British rule, 1765-1947 India - Kerala - British rule, 1765-1947 - Reminiscences |
| Admin history: | Trained as doctor. 1939, married Rev. Leslie Brown, a missionary. Assisted him in work, and carried out a little medical work (ran a dispensary). |
| Custodial history: | Recorded as part of the ’Memories of the British in India’ project by India Office Library & Records [subsequently the Oriental and India Office Collection, British Library]. This recording was previously held at SOAS Library as part of the 'British in India Oral Archive Project' collection [Reference OA2], removed from this collection in August 2014 to reflect the recording’s alternative provenance as part of the ‘Memories of the British in India’ project. |
| Access status: |
Closed |
| Access conditions: |
Sound recording currently unavailable at SOAS Library due to preservation reasons. Researchers can access a copy of this audio recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418. |
| Copyright: | Copyright held by British Library |
| User restrictions: | Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist |
| Language: | English |
| Originals: |
Original sound recording of interview available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service [Reference: C63/15-16] |
| Format: | Archive |