Occupational Therapy History Matters

Anyone remember Wendy Wood's work - linking occupational therapy and primatology from the 1990s?
research.aota.org/ajot/article-a…
Anyone know of anything more recent?

Dame Jane Goodall revolutionised our understanding of our closest primate cousins The conservationist, who died aged 91 on Wednesday, challenged how we relate to the natural world.

Oops, meant to add this from the BBC bbc.com/news/article...

Vale Jane Goodall, an extraordinary and innovative researcher of natural behaviour in real life settings.

Screen shot of details and description

Love the title of this new book: Woman in Health Management - global revolutionaries.
Includes a chapter about Ann Beckett: A Pioneering Irish #OccupationalTherapist, by Judith Pettigrew, Mairead Cahill and Jennifer O’Mahoney.

We do too. A historic, meaningful icon replaced by a full stop in a rebranding exercise in 2022. Surely it's time to revert to hope and recovery?

It certainly is! Fantastic library- space for contemplation and inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

Curious image but the link works!

OT History Matters on X: "@jcreektv @DrWMB @tai_the_ot @DunfordCarolyn @theRCOT 3/7 Favourite example: MD Barr and EM Macdonald invited members of Ministry of Health Committee to make recommendations about supply, demand, training and qualifications of occupational therapists in new NHS. Occupational Therapy, October 1949 p26. https://t.co/N9LhLKbNrW" / X @jcreektv @DrWMB @tai_the_ot @DunfordCarolyn @theRCOT 3/7 Favourite example: MD Barr and EM Macdonald invited members of Ministry of Health Committee to make recommendations about supply, demand, training and qualifications of occupational therapists in new NHS. Occupational Therapy, October 1949 p26. https://t.co/N9LhLKbNrW

Respect to the pioneers of #OccupationalTherapy in each country around the world. Remarkable activists one and all.

Here's an example of Margaret Barr Fulton working in synergy with Evelyn Mary Macdonald:
x.com/HistoryOt/st...

Well done Scotland - NHS Grampian for marking the centenary of Margaret Barr Fulton
www.nhsgrampian.org/100-years-si...

Presentation about innovative strategies to curate OT history on Thursday 12 February 2026.

Two presentations on Wednesday 11 February 2026: about OT education archives and local history- precursors of Occupational Therapy

Wow! 3 papers about #OTHistory on the @thewfot Congress programme in Bangkok in February 2026.

Thanks for sharing, so many wonderful stories and images.

Dr Justina Wilson – the ‘forgotten’ first female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh It’s not often these days that we make a truly astonishing discovery about the history of our College, but in late June 2025, researchers in the Heritage team made such a discovery. For as long as any...

Well done to the Heritage Team @RCPEdin and @thecsp for correcting history (and obituary) of Dr Justina Wilson: to recognise a pioneering woman and her contribution to health.
www.rcpe.ac.uk/heritage/her...

Recommended reading: a moss bag is such an evocative metaphor. A giant step towards decolonising #OccupationalTherapy research. Free to read in Canadian Journal @CAOT_ACE
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Oops, link didn't work
journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/sa...

Fascinating history of the South African Journal of Occupational Therapy from 1953 to 2025.

Exemplary open access since 2023; plus archives from 2010.
Serves as a model for all those journals that restricit #OccupationalTherapy knowledge to a few.
journals.assaf.org.za/index.php/sajo…

What Isn’t at the V&A Storehouse You can’t escape it: this is the same colonial museum we know, in a shiny new suit

A devastating critique of an uncurated, uncatalogued collection @profdanhicks.bsky.social
A new museum/archive/warehouse in London with 'at least a thousand unlabelled items sitting on the shelves. There’s no way of finding out what they are'. Extraordinary!
artreview.com/what-isnt-at...

Friday essay: ‘Like a detective examining a crime scene.’ Natalie Harkin charts the intimate history of Aboriginal domestic service In an extract from her new book, Narungga poet and researcher Natalie Harkin reveals intimate truths about the shameful history of Aboriginal domestic labour.

Harrowing stories from the archives:

theconversation.com/friday-essay...

Pleasure. Acknowledges significant contributions to health sector. Suspect many examples, sadly hidden or forgotten. @BAMEOTUK striving to rectify this sorry state in #OTHIstory

Fabulous resource: so easy to navigate and full of fascinating histories.
Thanks @remakingbritain.bsky.social

OT History Matters on X: "2/13 A thread with 10 papers showcasing some rare histories of #OccupationalTherapy education. They are from America, Brazil, England and Ireland. Apologies, most are behind paywalls." / X 2/13 A thread with 10 papers showcasing some rare histories of #OccupationalTherapy education. They are from America, Brazil, England and Ireland. Apologies, most are behind paywalls.

Always disappointed that there are so few histories of #OccupationalTherapy education across the world. Here's a thread of 10 research papers from 2022. Enjoy and let's create more!
x.com/HistoryOt/st...

It's one of the Lost Hospitals of London. Lots of information at
ezitis.myzen.co.uk/botleyspark....

The archive for Botley's Park Hospital is held at
archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archi...

Botley's Park was one of the first #OccupationalTherapy training schools in the UK, opening in January 1949 with 6 students. It provided a rare opportunity to gain experience of working with people with profound learning disabilities. Training ended in 1976.
A brief history Wilcock's 2002 book.

OT History Matters on X: "Are you following Eleanor Clarke Slagle, #OTHistory maker extraordinary, on Facebook? Lovely archival papers about 1941 reception in the White House and relationship with Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt. https://t.co/PxgaxNzOvR" / X Are you following Eleanor Clarke Slagle, #OTHistory maker extraordinary, on Facebook? Lovely archival papers about 1941 reception in the White House and relationship with Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt. https://t.co/PxgaxNzOvR

Reminds of Eleanor Clarke Slagle's connections with the White House.
Check out Slagle's Facebook page.

x.com/HistoryOt/st...

Congressman Kennedy Introduces Bill to Improve Access to Occupational Therapy

This link works! kennedy.house.gov/news/documen...

Exemplary advocacy and activism: OT Mental Health Parity Act, led by Congressmen Tim Kennedy & Zach Nunn.
'It’s about giving folks meaningful tools to stay independent, safe, and healthy.' Rep. T. Kennedy #OccupationalTherapist in USA Congress. More at kennedy.house.gov/news/documents…

Everyday Welfare in Modern British History This open access book offers a new approach to understandings of welfare in modern Britain by tracing deep connections across diverse settings.

New book about 'welfare' intriguing chapters and free to download:
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

Topic: sustainability. Method: philosophical

Topic: professional identity. Method: analysis of Muriel Driver Memorial Lectures

@CJOT_RCE is becoming a favourite journal! Why?
Authors take deep, thoughtful dives into topical subjects, often using innovative methods. Also, many free to read articles.
Why not share your favourite #OccupationalTherapy journal?
Two examples from early view

Looks fabulous. Enjoy!
Always associate Philadelphia with one of the first schools of #OccupationalTherapy in the world; and the legendary Willard & Spackman. Open access history research at
encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol1/is...

Volume 79 Issue 2 | The American Journal of Occupational Therapy | American Occupational Therapy Association

See March/April 2025 at
research.aota.org/ajot/issue
A few articles are open access.