Defective: the story of Dr Theodore Gray

About this episode

William Ray explores the life and legacy of Dr Theodore Gray, a prominent eugenicist in New Zealand.

“Oh Mummy save me from Dr Gray, because teacher says he’s coming today, and if I’m stupid he’ll take me away”. William Ray looks at the life and legacy of Dr Theodore Gray, a staunch eugenicists who was head of New Zealand's Mental Hospitals Department for 20 years. Further reading: Statement of Hilary Stace to the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care A Brief History of Disability in Aotearoa by Dr Hilary Stace DBNZ Biography of Dr Theodore Gray by Dr Warwick Brunton The Fertility of the Unfit by Dr William Chapple Mental Defectives Amendment Act 1928 Statement of Tony Ryder to the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

People in this episode

Host: William Ray

Topics covered

• eugenics
• mental health
• New Zealand history
• disability
• abuse in care

Keywords

• Dr Theodore Gray
• eugenics
• mental hospitals
• New Zealand history
• disability rights

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Zealand's Mental Hospitals Department

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