LEE, Catharine Eng Neo
Women through the Years: Economic & Family Lives,
Accession Number 001705
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 10
Total Reels
- Lai Ah Eng (Dr)
Interviewer
- 04:41:07
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 10
Metadata
- 1 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Personal background in Pahang. After death of parents, sent to uncle in Singapore. School background in Singapore. Worked after Standard 7, why wanted to work, not study. Boarding school experiences. Why chose nursing work - to help others. Nursing training background and experiences in Singapore General Hospital.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 10
Metadata
- 1 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Nursing experiences through the junior to senior ranks and in private nursing. Incident with patient. Work conditions in Singapore General and Tan Tock Seng hospitals and in private nursing. Nursing volunteer work in St Andrews School, then matron of boarding house there. Description of floods in Potong Pasir squatter area and how helped flood victims. Background to becoming school matron; principal Adams' persuasion; nature of work as matron. How met husband Francis Thomas in the school. Description of marriage background and proposal.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 10
Metadata
- 1 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Gave background to first common law marriage to her patient, had daughter Yvonne; widowed before war. War experiences; how dealt with air-raid, how protected girls. More about first marriage and homemaking, widowhood and then work as private nurse before war broke out. Life in first marriage to Frank Merrells; not allowed to work even though liked to. War experiences; food supplies, how coped with war through prayers, Church services during war.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 10
Metadata
- 8 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:26:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Post-war experiences as St Andrews boarding school matron. How met housemaster Francis Thomas; description of his unusual marriage proposal and how she handled it. Background of children from both marriages. Adoption of a few other girl children; why preferred to adopt girls.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 10
Metadata
- 8 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:24
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Resignation of matron job after marriage to housemaster/principal of St Andrews. Her objections to her husband in politics (Labour Front, then PAP) and becoming Minister of Public Works and Communication. Her home and public roles; her advice and support during husband's political career; her feelings about not working and his attitude. Her mothering role of five girls, her attitude towards raising girls, especially regarding home skills and education.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 10
Metadata
- 8 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Domestic help during her mothering years. Husband became school principal again and moved back to St Andrew school grounds. Volunteer nursing work and her own `clinic' in garage. Her patients from Potong Pasir; doctor volunteers who were old schoolboys. Her experiences with her 'private clinic', attitudes towards the poor and religious factors. How early nursing work affected her volunteer work. Clinic's free services; when it got flooded. How managed clinic during clinic. Women and volunteer work.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 10
Metadata
- 15 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:27:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Church of Ascension - her role in its conception, fundraising and networking, contacts with nuns, other activities. Care of children - how nursing and matron skills and experiences helped, e.g. bathing and illness. Why she was approached to be matron. Husband's role in childrearing - play. Discipline of children and family life.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 10
Metadata
- 15 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
More on her 'private clinic' - her motivations, its origins, common illnesses, her satisfaction, husband's role and support, help from neighbours and church friends, donations and contractor's role and help. Her role in fundraising in St Andrews Church as president of women's fellowship.Raising of daughters; their discipline through manners and values; talk and advice, not punishment. Is now grandmother of many children. Friends - mainly from church and old days, e.g. Victoria Krempl. They now visit her (wheelchair bound) weekly in different groups. Contacts with her sisters during pre- and marriage years. Husband - how she treated him after the war on his return as prisoner-of-war. His death; their first visit to his homeland England.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 10
Metadata
- 15 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:29:14
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How came to live in present Rosyth Road home; its financing. Living with extended family and grandnephews, receiving regular visits. More on her 'private clinic', its organisation and patients. Old age - financial support and living with daughter; activities and friends' visits, reading and letter writing, prayers, 4- digit lottery. Children took her to doctor's, daily care by hired live-in helper. Gender roles at home, wifely roles, daughters' education.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 10
Metadata
- 15 Nov 1995
Recording Date
- 00:21:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Access to recording/transcript requires written permission from interviewee
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Gender equality then and now. If were young again, would like to be in nursing to help sick; how she became nurse and matron. Again on how she got married to Thomas. Religious background and what she prayed for. Her plans about her assets upon her death. How she appreciated daughter Margie with whom she lived.
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