We are pleased to announce the first meeting of our working group with the the Consortium for History of Science, Technology and Medicine takes place this Tuesday, 13 October at 11:00-12:30 EST/17:00-18:30 CEST. Our very own Elma Brenner (Wellcome Collection) will be presenting ‘Work in Medieval French Hospitals and Leprosaria.’
To join the working group and receive the Zoom link to the meeting, please visit: https://www.chstm.org/group/international-network-history-hospitals
We are very excited about the first entry into this year’s series exploring the theme of work in hospitals. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!
Abstract: While medieval European hospitals for the sick poor and leprosaria were sites of healing and palliative care, these institutions were also productive participants in local economies. The notion of work was central to the core mission of hospitals and leprosaria, since their staff and benefactors sought to fulfil the Christian works of mercy, especially tending the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and providing shelter. Within the hospital, these activities ranged from spiritual care to physically demanding labour – laundering clothing and sheets, providing personal care to disabled patients, preparing daily meals for both sick residents and staff. Yet French hospital and leprosarium statutes and archival documents from the 13th to 15th centuries reveal that other activities took place in spaces specifically designated for work, especially textile crafts. Reflecting also on the popularity of textile crafts in medieval French nunneries, the paper considers the function of such productive work, from generating income to providing staff and patients with a fulfilling and rehabilitative occupation. It also examines how this work contributed to discipline, regulation and control in these communities.
