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Kate Fraser (physician)
EWANS>> - Ewan, E. Innes, S.  Reynolds, S. (eds). Pipes, R. (co-ordinating Ed). 2006. The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women: from the earliest times until 2004. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.

Kate Fraser: p 128

CBE, born Paisley 10 Aug 1877, died Paisley 20 March 1957. Phy, mental helath pionner. Dauter of Margaret Coats, of the firm of thread and textiles manufarutrers, and Donald Fraser, MD.

p. 129 Her physical exuberance and irascibility, like her father's, earned her the nickname of 'stormy petrel' (Mayes 1995). Plans to study medicine ignorged, father enroled her in Swanley Horticulrual College. She rebelled. Father finlly supported her fanancially. Registered at arts faculty of Q Marg College in 1893, she joined pionners of uni deucation for women in Scotland, switched to Faculty of Science, and grad with BSC with Disction in Physiology in 1900, then MBChB in 1903.

Early work with the ppor in Glasgow. Residents pot in Crichton Rolay Lunatic Asylum exposed her to challenge of work in mental health. Founded Paisley Mental Welfare Assoc in 1907 (model fo the SAMH, 1920), become its President. In 1908 she was first woman School Meidcal Officer in Govan Parish. Drawing on postgrad stud in Vienna and Paris, she pinoeered Binet-Simon intel tests in Briatin to help cetoise children. Her MD thesis on syphils related metnal deficienty in school childs (Glasgow 1913) was highly commended.

In April 1914, Bacem first woman Deputy Commissioner on the General Board of Control for Scotland (after it was legal, Mental Deficiency Act 1913). In 1935 she bcemae a full Commissioner, the first woman to sit on the Board.

Aged 68 she was awared the CBE for her contribution to mental welfare. After retiirng in 1947, she remained active in metnal health issues, serving on hostipal boards, holding office in the SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health), and the Scottish Division of the RMPA.

Alongside her interantion professional reputation, she maintianed close relationships with her faimly and home town. Determined and independed, sh was not a domesticaeted woman, remaining unmarried and being looked after by a long-serving housekeeper until her death.

* (1947); SB; The Times, 21 March 1957 (obit.)


 * Mayes. M. 1995. The stormy petrel, A life of Kate Fraser, CBE, MD, BSc, DPH 1877-1957. University of Glasgow: Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine.

GLASGOW UNI BLOG:

Kate Fraser used her unrivalled knowledge and understanding of the social implications of mental health to ensure that the mentally ill were included in the provisions of the Disabled Persons Employment Act 1944.

A pioneering psychiatrist who was influential in establishing the employment rights of those with mental health issues.

GU Degrees: BSc, 1900; MB ChB, 1903; MD, 1913;

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NO -> Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: http://www.oxforddnb.com/