Public health pioneer lauded

A collection of papers belonging to early medical academic Dr Muriel Bell, has been accepted to the Unesco New Zealand Memory of the World Register. Photo: Supplied
A collection of papers belonging to early medical academic Dr Muriel Bell, has been accepted to the Unesco New Zealand Memory of the World Register. Photo: Supplied
A collection of papers of one of the first female academics in New Zealand, held by the Hocken Collections library in Dunedin, has been accepted to the Unesco Memory of the World Register.

The register lists inscriptions of significant documentary heritage that contribute to New Zealand’s history and heritage and are significant to the identity of New Zealanders today.

Since 2011, a total of 40 items have been inscribed on the register, and are held at heritage institutions and other organisations in main cities, small towns and private collections.

Hocken collections librarian Sharon Dell said  Muriel Bell’s collection of papers was one of this year’s five inscriptions accepted to the register from throughout the country.

Dr Bell’s research on nutritional deficiencies of vitamins and minerals and her campaigns for the addition of vital nutrients to the average New Zealand diet would be remembered by older New Zealanders.

One of the first female medical academic researchers at a time when it was unusual for women to pursue such a research career, Dr Bell (1898-1974) became the second woman to be awarded the research degree of doctor of medicine in New Zealand.

She was also the first nutrition officer in 1940 in the Department of Health, director of the Nutrition Research Department, a foundation member of the Medical Research Council, and the sole woman on the Board of Health.

Dr Bell campaigned for the addition of fluoride to public water supplies, free milk in schools, improvements to milk handling and hygiene, the addition of iodine to domestic salt and to improve the nutritional content of bread flour.

Another side of her work was nutritional education, lecturing at the Otago Medical School and in the publication of nutritional advice in pamphlets, magazine articles and radio talks.

Her collection of papers documented the work of a ‘‘brilliant and energetic’’ early woman medical researcher whose life-long interest in many aspects of nutrition research had improved the health of New Zealanders today, Ms Dell said.

That this was the Hocken’s seventh inscription was an indication of the strength and importance of the collection and the research that was generated from it.

‘‘Hocken and the University of Otago are of course delighted to receive this inscription to the New Zealand Memory of the World Register, not least because it draws more attention to the work of one of New Zealand’s pioneering women scientists who’s made an impact on the lives of New Zealanders for generations.’’

On the register

Inscriptions from Hocken Collections on the Unesco Memory of the World New Zealand Register:

  • 2013 Charles Brasch Literary and Personal Papers
  • 2014 Dr Hocken’s Church Missionary Society records
  • 2015 Pickerill Papers on plastic surgery
  • 2016 Lance Richdale Papers
  • 2017 Salmond Anderson Architects Records
  • 2018 Herries Beattie Papers
  • 2019 Dr Muriel Bell Papers

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