Talk:Susan E. Tracy

Help please: change title / name

Done a major overall of the entry for Susan Edith Tracy. Added more information and citations, befitting a pioneer registered nurse. Sorry, unable to correct her name. Her middle name was Edith, not Elizabeth. This means I cannot link her to another entry - so she is not an 'orphan'.

Help appreciated, thanks. Occupational Therapy History Matters (talk) 12:47, 20 September 2023 (UTC)

Is she normally referred to as Susan Edith Tracy or Susan E. Tracy? It looks like she was identified as Susan E. Tracy in her books. Largoplazo (talk) 15:50, 20 September 2023 (UTC)

Usually Susan E Tracy. Thanks for quick response Occupational Therapy History Matters (talk) 17:19, 20 September 2023 (UTC)

You're welcome. I've moved the page. If you're interested, for future reference, you can move pages if you want to (if you're confident that the move isn't controversial). See Wikipedia:Moving a page for information on this. Largoplazo (talk) 22:40, 20 September 2023 (UTC)

Thanks, much appreciated, plus the other editing changes you've made.

I didn't realise this was a 'moving page' issue. As a newbie I am still learning and very cautious about making changes. I've just removed the maintenance template from her entry as it isn't a stub any more. Occupational Therapy History Matters (talk) 07:58, 21 September 2023 (UTC)

Other details

@Occupational Therapy History Matters, I happen to have noticed in reading around an article [1] crediting Eleanor Clark Slagle with having "organized the first educational program for occupational therapists". Is this inconsistent with the statement that Tracy "instigated" the first occupational training program? Also, it seems to me that the phrase "occupational therapy" (other than in the name of the organization) ought to appear in the lead, and be linked to the corresponding article. But, even if it should, I'm hesitating to add it myself because I don't know what nuances distinguish "invalid occupations" from "occupational therapy" and am not sure what a valid sentence would be to couch it in the existing context. Can you help? Largoplazo (talk) 22:59, 20 September 2023 (UTC)

Thanks very much for your technical help (plus the editing points) and posing a deep, deep question.

I will try to help. It is all about nuance, fidelity and 1917-1921.

Tracy developed invalid occupations as a speciality of nursing almost a decade before occupational therapy was 'named and launched' as a new profession in 1917 - 1921. I wanted to be true to her viewpoint by using her language. Tracy was a forerunner of using and adapting occupations in both practice and education. She used occupations / activities in treatment for individuals with particular problems, such as concentration or confiidence, as prescribed by a medical practitioner, with the aim of helping that person return to school or work. Her writing suggest she considered 'invalid occupations' was part of nursing and was not involved in the professionalisation of occupational therapy after 1921.

Eleanor Clark Slagle is a significant figure in the history of occupational therapy. Reed (1918) reports that there were 70+ occupation based training course in America between 1906 and 1923. Reed identifies Tracy as the first, which is why I did so too.

I struggled to summarise Tracy's notable contribution and be true to her beliefs. So, I will use Twitter to promote Tracy's entry and invite others to contribute to this debate.

Thanks again. Occupational Therapy History Matters (talk) 08:59, 21 September 2023 (UTC)

Sorry, typo in the reply. Reed was 2018. See Tracy's references. Thanks again @Largoplazo Occupational Therapy History Matters (talk) 09:39, 21 September 2023 (UTC)