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...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA4/23 Closed

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

collection SOAS Archive
id OA4.23
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
scb_order_with OA4, Memories of the British in India, Sound Cassettes, Box 1 [CLOSED]
callnumber OA4/23
callnumber_txt OA4/23
callnumber-sort OA4/23
prefix_number 23
scb_previous_numbers OA2/79/1-2
title Interview with Winifred Brown [sound recording]
scb_date_creation 8 December 1982
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 1 sound casette
author Brown; Annie Winifred (fl 1939-1982); doctor
author_facet Brown; Annie Winifred (fl 1939-1982); doctor
Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer
authorStr Brown; Annie Winifred (fl 1939-1982); doctor
author_letter Brown; Annie Winifred (fl 1939-1982); doctor
author2 Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer
author2Str Macdonald; Margaret (fl 1984); interviewer
format Archive
scb_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).
scb_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.
description 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.
scb_access_status Closed
scb_conditions_gov_access 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.
scb_copyright Copyright held by British Library
scb_use_restrictions Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist
language English
language_search English
scb_originals Original sound recording of interview available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service [Reference: C63/15-16]
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
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA4
hierarchy_sequence OA4.0023

Similar items