Jump to content

Elizabeth Casson: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
KasparBot (talk | contribs)
1,549,811 edits
Adding infobox
(8 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox person
'''Elizabeth Casson''' (14 April 1881 – 17 December 1954) was the first female doctor to graduate from the [[University of Bristol]]. She set up a residential clinic for women with [[mental disorder]]s at Dorset House in [[Bristol]] in 1929. In 1930 Dr Casson founded the first school of [[occupational therapy]] in the UK at Dorset House.
| name = Elizabeth Casson
| image = Elizabeth Casson.jpg
| caption = Elizabeth Casson in 1902
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1881|04|14}}
| birth_place = [[Denbigh]], Wales
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1954|12|17|1881|04|14}}
| death_place = Bristol
| death_cause = [[Anaemia]]
| resting_place = Backwell churchyard, Somerset<ref name=ODNB/>
| nationality = British
| occupation = Doctor & [[occupational therapist]]
| known_for = Founding Dorset House
}}
'''Elizabeth Casson''' (14 April 1881 – 17 December 1954) was British doctor and occupational therapy pioneer. Initially training as a secretary, Casson began studying medicine at the [[University of Bristol]] when she was 32. She achieved her MD in 1926, the first woman to receive one from the University of Bristol. She also attained the Gaskell prize from the Royal Medico-Psychological Association and a diploma in psychological medicine from the University of London.


Casson set up a residential clinic for women with [[mental disorder]]s at Dorset House in [[Bristol]] in 1929 with enough space for 800 patients in residence, and opened the first school of [[occupational therapy]] in the UK at Dorset House the following year. She took an active role in the therapeutic activities at Dorset House, even playing a part in the patient's production of Pride and Prejudice.
[[Callington Road Hospital#Services|Elizabeth Casson House]] is a [[Psychiatric intensive care unit|psychiatric intensive care]] service for women provided by [[Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust]] in Bristol.

Casson was awarded an OBE for her work at Dorset House and was also made an honorary fellow of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. A memorial lecture was set up in her name, and psychiatric unit was named after her at Callington Road Hospital.

==Biography==
Casson was born on 14 April 1881 in Denbigh. She was the sixth child of a bank manager and amateur organ-builder, Thomas Casson, from Wales, and his wife Laura Ann. One of her brothers, [[Lewis Casson]] went on to be an actor and theatre director. Whilst living in Denbigh, the family encouraged the seven children to enjoy the arts.<ref name=ODNB>{{cite ODNB|63767|Casson, Elizabeth (1881–1954)|last=Bates|first=Victoria}}</ref>

In 1891, Thomas decided to set up a business in organ-building and the family moved to London. There, Casson was educated at St Mary's College, Paddington before going to secretarial college at her father's behest. After qualifying, she worked as a secretary for her fathers' organ-building business until his retirement. In 1908, Casson took a secretarial role working for [[Octavia Hill]], looking after [[Red Cross Hall]] in Southwark. For the next five years she organised recreational activities at the hall, focussing on the arts.<ref name=ODNB />

In 1911, Casson's uncle, [[Isambard Owen]], vice-chancellor at University of Bristol, promised her a place studying medicine if she could be formally [[matriculated]] to the university. She struggled with her Latin exams for two years, but eventually passed them and registered to study medicine on 1 October 1913 at the age of 32. She graduated with her Bachelor of Medicine in 1919, and took on a role at the West Hertfordshire Hospital in [[Hemel Hempstead]]. There she noticed that patients in the women's wards were enjoying using artistic talents, and decided that such pursuits were important to treatment.<ref name=ODNB />

Casson became a medical officer at the [[Holloway Sanatorium]] in 1921, developing an interest in occupational therapy whilst working there until 1929. In that time she gained a diploma in psychological medicine from University of London in 1922, achieved her [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] from University of Bristol in 1926 (becoming the first woman to do so), and winning the 1927 Gaskell prize from the [[Royal Medico-Psychological Association]].<ref name=ODNB />

==Dorset House==
In the late 1920s, Casson decided to open a facility which focussed on [[occupational therapy]]. She borrowed £1000 ({{inflation|UK|1000|1920|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}} from her brother, Lewis, to help set up the centre. Dorset House opened in [[Clifton, Bristol]] in 1929 as a residential centre for women with mental health issues. She expanded Dorset House in 1930 to include the UK's first occupational therapy school, acting as medical director herself.<ref name=ODNB />

Casson's vision for Dorset House was that of a 'community where every individual was encouraged to feel that she had a real object'.<ref name=ODNB /> She actively involved herself in the therapeutic activities, often inspired by her artistic childhood. At one point she even cast herself in Dorset House's drama production, playing [[Mr. William Collins]] in their 1934 rendition of [[Pride and Prejudice]].<ref name=ODNB />

Dorset House had space for 800 patients in residence during the 1930s, moving to [[Bromsgrove]] during [[World War II]]. The building was damaged during the war, so in 1946, the School of Occupational Therapy moved to Oxford, whilst the patients moved to Clevedon. In 1949, Casson created the Elizabeth Casson Trust for focussed on occupational therapy treament and education, with the majority of funds going to Dorset House school.<ref name=ODNB />

==Legacy==
In 1951, Casson received an [[OBE]] for her work establish Dorset House and was also elected a fellow of the [[World Federation of Occupational Therapists]]. She was considered a pioneer in the field of occupational therapy. Casson died in Bristol on 17 December 1954 after suffering with anaemia. The [[College of Occupational Therapists]] hold a memorial lecture in her name and [[Callington Road Hospital]] has a psychiatric intensive care unit named after her.<ref name=ODNB />

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 15: Line 53:
[[Category:20th-century English medical doctors]]
[[Category:20th-century English medical doctors]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol]]


{{England-med-bio-stub}}

Revision as of 13:14, 9 August 2016

Elizabeth Casson
Elizabeth Casson in 1902
Born(1881-04-14)April 14, 1881
Denbigh, Wales
DiedDecember 17, 1954(1954-12-17) (aged 73)
Bristol
Cause of deathAnaemia
Resting placeBackwell churchyard, Somerset[1]
NationalityBritish
OccupationDoctor & occupational therapist
Known forFounding Dorset House

Elizabeth Casson (14 April 1881 – 17 December 1954) was British doctor and occupational therapy pioneer. Initially training as a secretary, Casson began studying medicine at the University of Bristol when she was 32. She achieved her MD in 1926, the first woman to receive one from the University of Bristol. She also attained the Gaskell prize from the Royal Medico-Psychological Association and a diploma in psychological medicine from the University of London.

Casson set up a residential clinic for women with mental disorders at Dorset House in Bristol in 1929 with enough space for 800 patients in residence, and opened the first school of occupational therapy in the UK at Dorset House the following year. She took an active role in the therapeutic activities at Dorset House, even playing a part in the patient's production of Pride and Prejudice.

Casson was awarded an OBE for her work at Dorset House and was also made an honorary fellow of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. A memorial lecture was set up in her name, and psychiatric unit was named after her at Callington Road Hospital.

Biography

Casson was born on 14 April 1881 in Denbigh. She was the sixth child of a bank manager and amateur organ-builder, Thomas Casson, from Wales, and his wife Laura Ann. One of her brothers, Lewis Casson went on to be an actor and theatre director. Whilst living in Denbigh, the family encouraged the seven children to enjoy the arts.[1]

In 1891, Thomas decided to set up a business in organ-building and the family moved to London. There, Casson was educated at St Mary's College, Paddington before going to secretarial college at her father's behest. After qualifying, she worked as a secretary for her fathers' organ-building business until his retirement. In 1908, Casson took a secretarial role working for Octavia Hill, looking after Red Cross Hall in Southwark. For the next five years she organised recreational activities at the hall, focussing on the arts.[1]

In 1911, Casson's uncle, Isambard Owen, vice-chancellor at University of Bristol, promised her a place studying medicine if she could be formally matriculated to the university. She struggled with her Latin exams for two years, but eventually passed them and registered to study medicine on 1 October 1913 at the age of 32. She graduated with her Bachelor of Medicine in 1919, and took on a role at the West Hertfordshire Hospital in Hemel Hempstead. There she noticed that patients in the women's wards were enjoying using artistic talents, and decided that such pursuits were important to treatment.[1]

Casson became a medical officer at the Holloway Sanatorium in 1921, developing an interest in occupational therapy whilst working there until 1929. In that time she gained a diploma in psychological medicine from University of London in 1922, achieved her MD from University of Bristol in 1926 (becoming the first woman to do so), and winning the 1927 Gaskell prize from the Royal Medico-Psychological Association.[1]

Dorset House

In the late 1920s, Casson decided to open a facility which focussed on occupational therapy. She borrowed £1000 (equivalent to £50,736 in 2023} from her brother, Lewis, to help set up the centre. Dorset House opened in Clifton, Bristol in 1929 as a residential centre for women with mental health issues. She expanded Dorset House in 1930 to include the UK's first occupational therapy school, acting as medical director herself.[1]

Casson's vision for Dorset House was that of a 'community where every individual was encouraged to feel that she had a real object'.[1] She actively involved herself in the therapeutic activities, often inspired by her artistic childhood. At one point she even cast herself in Dorset House's drama production, playing Mr. William Collins in their 1934 rendition of Pride and Prejudice.[1]

Dorset House had space for 800 patients in residence during the 1930s, moving to Bromsgrove during World War II. The building was damaged during the war, so in 1946, the School of Occupational Therapy moved to Oxford, whilst the patients moved to Clevedon. In 1949, Casson created the Elizabeth Casson Trust for focussed on occupational therapy treament and education, with the majority of funds going to Dorset House school.[1]

Legacy

In 1951, Casson received an OBE for her work establish Dorset House and was also elected a fellow of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. She was considered a pioneer in the field of occupational therapy. Casson died in Bristol on 17 December 1954 after suffering with anaemia. The College of Occupational Therapists hold a memorial lecture in her name and Callington Road Hospital has a psychiatric intensive care unit named after her.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bates, Victoria. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elizabeth_Casson&oldid=733686632"