Leslie Digdon

Profile

Assistant Professor
B.A. Mount Saint Vincent University
M.A. Dalhousie University
Ph.D. University of Saskatchewan
 
Office: Tower Road 108D
Email: Leslie.Digdon@Smu.ca


Leslie Digdon (previously Baker) is a social historian of medicine, health, science, and technology and is cross-appointed between the Department of History and the Division of Engineering at Saint Mary's University. Originally from Nova Scotia, Leslie holds a PhD in History from the University of Saskatchewan having previously completed her undergraduate and Master's degrees in history at MSVU (Mount Saint Vincent University) and Dalhousie University, respectively.  

Leslie's research interests encompass the historical relationship between science, medicine and associated technologies within society. She's particularly intrigued by how scientific theories and medical technologies have historically been employed to evaluate, monitor, and influence populations. This interest is evident in her ongoing research on the history of eugenics which has focused on the adaption and application of eugenic ideology to the practice of institutionalization as well as the overlap between public health policy and the influence of transnational eugenic theory and discourse. Other current research focuses on the woman-led mobilization of health-related knowledge in rural and remote areas of Canada in the 1970s and 1980s and the global impacts of syphilis. 

Leslie is currently the National Coordinator for the Canada Region Anti-eugenic Scholarship Hub (CRASH) https://www.anti-eugenics.ca

Selected recent publications

Digdon, Leslie. “The ‘Good,’ the ‘Bad,’ and the ‘Irresponsibles’: Alexander Peter Reid and His ‘Utilitarian, If Sordid’ Discussion of Eugenics in Nova Scotia, 1875–1913.” Canadian journal of history 57, no. 1 (2022): 22–46. https://utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/cjh-57-1-2021-0026 

Baker, Leslie. “‘A Visitation of Providence:’ Public Health and Eugenic Reform in the Wake of the Halifax Disaster.” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 31, no. 1 (2014): 99–122. https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/cbmh.31.1.99 

Website: www.networksofknowledge.com 

Past Graduate Students: Delaney Beck, “Bluebirds, Bombings, and Battle : Shell Shock in Maritime Nursing Sisters of the First World War”. Saint Mary’s University, 2021. (co-supervised with Kirrily Freeman)