Papers of Luesa (Lisa) Pottesman

This material is held atWomen's Library Archives

  • Reference
    • GB 106 7LPO
  • Former Reference
    • GB 106 7/XX20; 7/XXX20
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1933-1956
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 0.5 A box

Scope and Content

The archive consists of correspondence between Lisa Pottesman and Sylvia Pankhurst, letters concerning the petition for Dr. Burt White' s re-instalment, press cuttings and biographical notes about Lisa Pottesman.

Administrative / Biographical History

Lisa Pottesman (1881-1959) was born in Romania in 1881 and came to London as a member of a theatre troupe. In 1903 she married Wolf Pottesman and in the early 1920s became a patient of Dr Harold Burt White, who in 1932 was subsequently struck off the Register for ' improper conduct with a lady patient' . Lisa’s campaign for his re-instalment brought her into contact with Sylvia Pankhurst and a friendship developed between the two women. After Lisa’s organisation of a petition to the General Medical Council, and her seeking of public support for Dr Burt White, he was reinstated in 1937. Restrictions on his practice however caused Lisa again to plead his cause with County Hall (London County Council) in 1939. He died in 1952, Lisa died in 1959.

Access Information

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women' s Library in advance of their first visit.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to the Library in 1987, by Luesa Pottesman' s granddaughter Jill Dresden

Other Finding Aids

Fawcett Library Catalogue