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Oral history interview with Jessie Laird Brodie

 Collection
Identifier: SR 9027

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Dr. Jessie Laird Brodie was conducted by Roberta Watts from February 14 to March 30, 1978. The interview was conducted in two sessions, and the collection includes a transcript.

In the first interview session, conducted on February 14, 1978, Brodie discusses the history of laws regarding birth control and the beginnings of Planned Parenthood in Oregon. She talks about her reasons for going into the medical field, her medical education, and her later focus on providing birth control. She also discusses sex education in schools. She talks about her involvement with the United Nations and the Pan-American Women's Medical Association, including her work with family planning programs in Central and South America.

In the second interview session, conducted on March 30, 1978, Brodie discusses her research into how the birth control pill interacts with sickle-cell anemia. She talks about the success of international family planning programs, as well as opposition they face in some countries. She also discusses the career of her husband, Dr. Francis Walter Brodie. She closes the interview by revisiting the topic of her involvement with the World Health Organization and the Pan-American Women's Medical Association, including her work with family planning programs in Central and South America.

Dates

  • 1978 February 14-March 30

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.

Biographical note

Dr. Jessie Laird Brodie, nee Jessie Laird, was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1898. Her family soon relocated to Oregon. In 1920, she graduated from Reed College. In 1921, she and Dr. Francis Walter Brodie were married; they later had six children. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Oregon. In 1965, she became the first executive director of Planned Parenthood in Oregon. She established family planning programs throughout Oregon and in Central and South America during her career. She was involved in the passage in Oregon of landmark legislation in favor of birth control. She died in 1990.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (2 audiocassettes (1 hr., 40 min., 11 sec.) + transcript (39 pages))

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Oral history interview with Dr. Jessie Laird Brodie conducted by Roberta Watts from February 14 to March 30, 1978. Laird was the first executive director of Planned Parenthood in Oregon.

Related Materials

Jessie Laird Brodie, M.D. papers, Call Number 244, Drexel University: College of Medicine Legacy Center. Collection guide available online at: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/pacscl/DUCOM_WM244.

General

A handwritten index (2 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Creator

Title
Guide to oral history interview with Jessie Laird Brodie
Status
Completed
Author
Sarah Stroman
Date
2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.
Sponsor
Digitization funded by the James F. Miller Endowment.

Repository Details

Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240