Child Health and Welfare in Newfoundland before 1949 with Dr. Rick Cooper

Thursday, March 27, 7:30-9 p.m.

A-1043; online

Please joins us on March 27th for a presentation by Dr. Rick Cooper on Child Health and Welfare in Newfoundland before 1949.

Pre-Confederation Newfoundland was a challenging place to grow up, especially for children in low-income families. Infectious diseases – including cholera, typhus, smallpox, tuberculosis, diphtheria, gastroenteritis, and whooping cough circulated unchecked. Poverty, meagre sanitation, inadequate transportation, ignorance and isolation compounded the effects of poor health. Health care was difficult to access, particularly in outport communities. Faced with these and other challenges, Newfoundland’s early days painted a sombre picture of Public Health.

It was only in 1900 that Newfoundland began recording the number of child deaths, revealing a shockingly high mortality rate – significantly higher than the rest of Canada. Dr. Cooper will discuss the reasons behind those numbers placing them in historical and political context, vis-a-vis details found in community and family histories, anecdotal and primary sources, and scanty formal records. Dr. Cooper will provide important context for reflection on the public health care challenges of the 20th century.

This lecture is in person at A-1043 and will also be available online at the following link: https://mun.webex.com/mun/j.php?MTID=m6679b1b39bda27333f10e91d88bf34a4

Presented by N.L. Historical Society

Event Listing 2025-03-27 19:30:00 2025-03-27 21:00:00 America/St_Johns Child Health and Welfare in Newfoundland before 1949 with Dr. Rick Cooper Please joins us on March 27th for a presentation by Dr. Rick Cooper on Child Health and Welfare in Newfoundland before 1949. Pre-Confederation Newfoundland was a challenging place to grow up, especially for children in low-income families. Infectious diseases – including cholera, typhus, smallpox, tuberculosis, diphtheria, gastroenteritis, and whooping cough circulated unchecked. Poverty, meagre sanitation, inadequate transportation, ignorance and isolation compounded the effects of poor health. Health care was difficult to access, particularly in outport communities. Faced with these and other challenges, Newfoundland’s early days painted a sombre picture of Public Health. It was only in 1900 that Newfoundland began recording the number of child deaths, revealing a shockingly high mortality rate – significantly higher than the rest of Canada. Dr. Cooper will discuss the reasons behind those numbers placing them in historical and political context, vis-a-vis details found in community and family histories, anecdotal and primary sources, and scanty formal records. Dr. Cooper will provide important context for reflection on the public health care challenges of the 20th century. This lecture is in person at A-1043 and will also be available online at the following link: https://mun.webex.com/mun/j.php?MTID=m6679b1b39bda27333f10e91d88bf34a4 A-1043; online N.L. Historical Society Add to Calendar