Interview with John Rock, June 15, 1979

Partial Transcript: This interview with Dr. John Rock for the Frontier Nursing Service oral history project by Dale Deaton, at approximately 9:00AM on June 15, 1979 at Temple, New Hampshire.

Segment Synopsis: John Rock, M.D. is introduced. He discusses how he met Mary Breckinridge through his wife. He talks about how the two women worked together driving ambulances in France. He discusses the Boston Committee of the Frontier Nursing Service.

Keywords: Ambulances; American Committee for Devastated France; Benefits; Boston Committee; C.A.R.D.; Committee members; Driving; F.N.S.; FNS; Mechanics

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; France; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.

Partial Transcript: I'm most interested in the research that was done, or the study that was done at--at the Frontier Nursing Service in connection with the birth control pill.

Segment Synopsis: Doctor Rock discusses his involvement with the Frontier Nursing Service in his birth control experiments.

Keywords: Birth control pills; Condoms; Contraception; Contraceptives; Controlled experiments; Diaphragms; Dr. Beasley; Efficacy; Estrogen; Experimental groups; F.N.S.; FNS; Gregory Pincus; Helen Browne; IUDs; Intrauterine devices; Medical studies; Organized; Prenatal clinics; Preventing pregnancy; Research; Rhythm method

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Medicine--Research

Partial Transcript: So, the development of the pill was a conscious effort at contraceptive?

Segment Synopsis: Doctor Rock discusses the development of the birth control pills including the research on hormones and the testing performed on animals and human subjects.

Keywords: Biochemists; Birth control pills; Contraception; Contraceptives; Development; Experiments; Gregory Pincus; Hormones; Human trials; Ovulation; Patents; Preventing pregnancy; Progesterone; Research; Testing; Wooster Foundation

Subjects: Medicine--Research

Partial Transcript: The study at the Frontier Nursing Service, it was designed to test the--

Segment Synopsis: Doctor Rock talks more about the studies done with the Frontier Nursing Service on birth control. He discusses his conflicts with the FDA when trying to get his birth control pills approved.

Keywords: Birth control pills; Contraception; Contraceptives; Efficacy; Experiments; F.N.S.; FDA; FNS; Food and Drug Administration; Gregory Pincus; Helen Browne; Marketing; Norethynodrel; Preventing pregnancy; Records; Research; Sell Corporation; Studies; Testing; Trials

Subjects: Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Medicine--Research

Partial Transcript: In the scheme of all this, did you have--uh--was the idea of population control in your mind?

Segment Synopsis: Doctor Rock discusses whether he was interested in population control when developing birth control pills.

Keywords: Birth control clinics; Birth control methods; Birth control pills; Contraception; Contraceptives; Cooperation; Family welfare; Fertility; Gregory Pincus; Husbands; Margaret Sanger; Population control; Preventing pregnancy; Rhythm method; Rock Strap

Subjects: Families.; Medicine--Research

Partial Transcript: Do you recall discussing your study uh--at the Frontier Nursing Service with Mary Breckinridge?

Segment Synopsis: Doctor Rock discusses whether his Catholic religious beliefs affected his work on contraception.

Keywords: Birth control pills; Communion; Contraception; Contraceptives; Drinking; Excommunication; F.N.S.; FNS; Memory loss; Natural; Personal lives; Personhood; Pregnancy; Preventing pregnancy; Puerto Rico; Religious beliefs; Souls

Subjects: Abortion; Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Catholicism; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Medicine--Research; Religion

Partial Transcript: Do you feel that you knew Mary Breckinridge well?

Segment Synopsis: Doctor Rock discusses his views of Mary Breckinridge's opinions on contraception and tubal ligation surgery. He discusses the change in lifestyle brought about by the availability of the birth control pill. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Birth control pills; Cocktails; Condoms; Conferences; Contraception; Contraceptives; Cooperation; Dangerous; Diaphragms; Drinking; Experiments; Grants; Lifestyle changes; Marketing; Opinions; Preventing pregnancy; Puerto Rico; Research; Sell Corporation; Studies; Supportive; Testing; Trials; Tubal ligation surgeries; Women's liberation

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Medicine--Research; Surgery