Rock, John, 1890-1984

Variant names

Hide Profile

John Charles Rock (1890-1984), was the founder of the Rock Reproductive Study Center at the Free Hospital for Women in Brookline, Mass., and Clinical Professor of Gynecology at Harvard Medical School. Rock collaborated with colleague Gregory Pincus and Pincus's assistant Min-Chueh Chang, during the 1950s in the clinical trials and development of oral contraceptives, commonly known as the birth control pill. Rock is also credited with colleague Arthur Hertig and laboratory assistant Miriam F. Menkin for completing the earliest human in vitro fertilization experiments in the United States in 1944. As a fertility specialist, gynecologist, and medical educator, Rock, a Roman Catholic, gained notoriety for advocating the usage of birth control despite his religious beliefs. His research areas included fertility, early stages of contraception, human embryo development,in vitro fertilization, the freezing and preservation of sperm cells, and clinical disorders of human reproductive physiology.

From the description of Personal and Professional Papers, 1918-1983. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 281439003

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Pincus, Gregory, 1903-1967. Papers of Gregory Pincus, 1920-1969 (bulk 1950-1967). Library of Congress
creatorOf Harvard Medical School. Department of Anatomy. Course Records, 1960. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Research and Publication Records, 1944-1984, undated (Inclusive), 1962-1967, 1979 (Bulk) Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine
referencedIn William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Calderone, Mary Steichen, 1904-1998. Papers, 1904-1983 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn McLaughlin, Loretta. Research and Publication Records, 1944-1984, undated. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
creatorOf Rock, John Charles, 1890-1984. Personal and Professional Papers, 1918-1983. Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn Freedom Forum. Freedom Forum records, 1959-1978. University at Albany, University Libraries
referencedIn Family Planning Oral History Project. Records, 1909-1984 (inclusive), 1973-1977 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933. Additional papers, 1841-1940 Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Calderone, Mary Steichen, 1904-1998. person
associatedWith Carnegie Institution of Washington. corporateBody
associatedWith Chang, Min-Cheuh. person
correspondedWith Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933 person
associatedWith Family Planning Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith Freedom Forum. corporateBody
associatedWith Free Hospital for Women. corporateBody
associatedWith Garcia, Celso-Ramon, 1921- person
associatedWith Harvard Medical School corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard Medical School. Department of Anatomy. corporateBody
associatedWith Hertig, Arthur Tremain, 1904- person
associatedWith McCormick, Katharine Dexter, 1875-1967. person
associatedWith McLaughlin, Loretta. person
associatedWith Menkin, Miriam Friedman. person
associatedWith Pincus, Gregory, 1903-1967. person
associatedWith Planned Parenthood Federation of America. corporateBody
correspondedWith Provine, William B. person
associatedWith Rice-Wray, Edris. person
associatedWith Rock Reproductive Study Center. corporateBody
associatedWith Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Artificial insemination
Birth control
Conception
Contraception
Contraception
Contraception Agents, Female
Contraceptive Devices
Corpus luteum
Estrogen
Fertility, Human
Fertilization in vitro
Frozen semen
Gynecology
Human embryo
Menstruation disorders
Oral contraceptives
Ovulation
Ovum
Progesterone
Reproduction
Semen Preservation
Tuboplasty
Occupation
Gynecologists
Obstetricians
Activity

Person

Birth 1890-03-24

Death 1984-12-04

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fb6943

Ark ID: w6fb6943

SNAC ID: 39555363