Eleanor Easley
Dr. Eleanor Easley was the first woman to receive a four-year medical degree from Duke University. Upon graduation, Easley worked in obstetrics and gynecology at Lincoln, Watts, Durham County General, and Duke Hospital. In 1941, Easley co-founded the Durham Women’s Clinic with Dr. Richard Pearse with the goal of improving women’s health care. Throughout her career at the clinic, and in the face of gendered skepticism, Easley proved herself a shrewd businesswoman, an excellent physician, and a leader in her field. Dr. Eleanor Easley was a fierce advocate for the legalization of abortion. She had seen firsthand the consequences of illegal abortion and “identified with women…who had undergone back-alley abortions, so to speak, [and] had infections.” Moreover, she understood the importance of socioeconomic factors in a woman’s decision to terminate a pregnancy. Quite simply, Easley believed that women deserved autonomy over their bodies. To this end, she delivered talks around Durham, communicated with state representatives, and participated in legislative hearings to fight for safe, nondiscriminatory, legal abortions. Easley was adamant that women deserve a voice in decisions concerning their health, wellbeing, and livelihood. Yet, Easley also believed that abortion was not a satisfactory substitute for contraception and comprehensive sex education. Easley felt that “for women or couples to be educated in how to have sexual relations without having an unwanted pregnancy was very important.” She advocated the importance of contraception in preventing unintended pregnancies and of open dialogue in promoting safe sexual practices. She saw such tools as important opportunities in preventive medicine. A trailblazer in obstetrics and gynecology, Easley dedicated herself to patient care and health equity, tirelessly advocating for women throughout her career. Outside of her work in the clinic, Easley was the first female president of the North Carolina Obstetrics and Gynecology Society. She also stayed active in medical politics through involvement with organizations like the North Carolina Medical Society.
Interview 1: Philip Pearce
A graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Philip H. Pearce was a partner in the Durham Women’s Clinic from 1967 to 2004. A physician and obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Pearce is also a fellow of the American College of OB/GYN. Dr. Pearce met Dr. Easley during his rotation in the OB/GYN department at Watts Hospital. He then worked with Dr. Easley at the Durham Women’s Clinic until her retirement in 1972.
Full Interview Audio:
Interview 1 Topic Log
00:00 Introduction 00:21 Dr. Pearce’s graduation from the Duke University School of Medicine; time spent in the United States Air Force; origin story for work in OB/GYN; return to Duke; meeting Dr. Easley during rotation in Watts Hospital 04:20 Dr. Easley’s family in Idaho; Easley’s husband, Dr. Howard Easley; their community involvement; Easley Elementary School; Pearce’s experience with abortions; opening of nearby abortion clinic 06:14 Dr. Easley’s experience as a Duke medical student; Easley’s experience being the first woman to receive a four-year medical degree from Duke 07:51 Dr. Easley’s motivation to pursue OB/GYN 08:07 Dr. Pearce’s first impressions of Dr. Easley from rotation through Watts Hospital 08:39 Dr. Easley’s work with Lincoln Hospital 09:23 Dr. Easley as a mentor to Dr. Pearce 09:54 Dr. Pearse and hypnotic labor techniques employed at the Durham Women’s Clinic 11:41 Dr. Easley’s primary responsibilities at the clinic; role as organizer and primary business negotiator 12:48 Role of WWII in providing Dr. Easley the opportunity to practice 13:51 Details on the business side of the Durham Women’s Clinic 14:32 Dr. Easley’s motivations for abortion advocacy; “back-alley” abortions 16:06 Dr. Easley’s interactions with the North Carolina General Assembly 17:26 Dr. Easley’s local activism in the Durham community 17:46 Reception of Dr. Easley’s abortion advocacy among patients and the Durham community 19:42 Political climate surrounding abortion during the time of Dr. Easley’s advocacy 21:27 Consultation procedure for abortions 22:04 Relationship between abortion and contraception/sex education, as seen by Dr. Easley; speeches at local high schools 24:31 Dr. Easley’s reputation among her patients; “no-nonsense” honesty 25:43 Dr. Easley’s relationships with Durham Women’s Clinic providers and staff 27:06 Dr. Easley’s office belongings 28:20 Dr. Pearce’s memories of Dr. Easley 29:11 Dr. Easley’s impact on women’s health and the communities of Duke and Durham; nurse midwifery program and collaboration with Yale University; Ms. Nancy Carreras 33:24 Educational classes for pregnant patients; their role in improving health outcomes 36:10 Dr. Pearce’s closing words on Dr. Easley
Link to Full Interview TranscriptPodcast Episode by Ava Meigs
This podcast details Dr. Eleanor Easley’s professional career and advocacy for women’s health. It includes clips from an oral history interview conducted with Dr. Easley through the Southern Oral History Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and from an oral history interview conducted with Dr. Philip Pearce for the Duke Medical Center Archives. We chose to record this podcast to provide a more comprehensive view of Dr. Easley’s work and to spotlight archival materials we found through the research process.
Podcast Topic Log
00:00 Dr. Easley’s childhood in Idaho and early education 00:38 Experience as a student at the Duke University School of Medicine; gender-based barriers 01:51 Work after medical school; motivations for pursuing obstetrics and gynecology 02:35 Role of WWII in providing opportunities for women physicians; founding of the Durham Women’s Clinic; patient dedication to the clinic 03:49 Nancy Carerras; nurse midwifery internship program and relationship with the Yale School of Nurse Midwifery 04:41 Educational classes for pregnant patients 05:31 Progressive labor and delivery techniques; hypnosis 05:58 Motivations for Dr. Easley’s involvement in medical politics and abortion advocacy 06:52 Appearances in Raleigh at the North Carolina General Assembly 07:41 General thoughts on abortion (e.g., “typical” abortion case; consideration of future children) 08:43 Advocacy for comprehensive sex education and increased access to contraception
Link to Podcast Transcript