In Defence Of A Reputation

In Defence Of A Reputation A Critique OF R.H. Brown's "Pickerill—Pioneer in Plas-tic Surgery, Dental Education, and Dental Re-search" (OUP 2007) In Defence Of A Reputation H.P. Pickerill—A Hero For New Zealand Born in the UK, H.P. Pickerill (1889-1957) was the First Dean of the Otago Dental School his biography was written by R.H. Brown. Received and believed by many as we usually do. The Dental history is glowing and repeated many times as factual, but the personal history and attitude towards him is not. Brown's book is dedicated to "Picks" second daughter, Margaret Frazer from who he claims to have collected his information from. Through the Frazer papers, Hocken library No. M34893/004 available 2020, there is ample opportunity to see red flag warnings that all was not well with the relationships and information not being accurate. This critique along with the cuttings and printed facts gives absolute proof that the details of Pickerill’s life were not as espoused by Brown. Throughout his biography of Pickerill, Brown pushes the story of absolute jealousy between Pickerill and Gillies (there was not). To the effect that this theme has been carried on by writers ever since. Evidence is in the critique of a charming postcard to the “Picks” from H.G Gillies himself, given at a personal meeting in 1956. In fact theirs was a collegial friendship for many years. These facts have been pulled together to add to information held at the Hocken Library and to correct the historical record. The Hocken library houses the “UNESCO Memory Of The World Inscription”. It is the only collection documenting the history of plastic surgery in New Zealand.