Oxford LibGuides: Disability History Resources: Occupational Health and Therapy

Key resources

The Retreat Archive - The Wellcome Collection
A selection of photographs of The Retreat in York an institution serving people with mental health issues. The images span the decades from the 1940s-70s and show residents and activities which took place at the institution, many related to occupational therapy.
Papers of Rudolph Karl Freudenberg - The Wellcome Collection
These papers relate to psychiatric practice at Netherne Hospital, Freudenberg's involvement with various professional bodies, and his writings on psychiatry, 1930s-1970s.
Occupational Therapy Records for Gartnavel Royal Hospital -The Wellcome Collection
Papers relating to the Occupational Therapy that occurred at Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
A brief historical outline of the history of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
An early occupational science? A pragmatic interpretation of the ideas of Eleanor Clarke Slagle
This paper describes the contributions Slagle made to occupational therapy and her connection to important pragmatists in the early 20th century. It then reviews background information about pragmatism in occupational therapy, as a basis from which to describe some of Slagle's theoretical contributions which are interpreted from pragmatism and could have epistemological interest for occupational scientists. Article by Rodolfo Morrison in Journal of occupational science, 2022-04, Vol.29 (2), p.225-251

Reconstruction therapy by William Rush Dunton
Publication Date: 1919

The first Western textbook on the principles of occupational therapy, written by the American doctor William Rush Dunton and one of the founders of the US National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy.

American Journal of Occupational Therapy
Publication Date: 1947-

Official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Publishes peer-reviewed research examining the effectiveness and efficiency of occupational therapy practice so that occupational therapy professionals can make informed, evidence-based decisions about best practice.
Journal of Occupational Science (Australia)
Publication Date: 1993-

Publishes articles that build understanding of occupation, which is understood to be a complex biological, cultural, spiritual, temporal, relational, political, and historically situated phenomenon, broadly defined as the things people do that have meaning and occupy time and space. Considers Humanist, Indigenous, population, transactional, evolutionary, biological, ecological, historical, socio-political, philosophical, critical, and biographical perspectives of occupation.
Occupational Therapy in Health Care
Publication Date: 1984-

A journal focused on everyday practice, addressing the concerns of new and experienced therapists by presenting innovations in client evaluations and treatments, current research findings, clinical experiences, and developments in therapeutic techniques.