Leaflet, "Ventilated Perambulator"

This leaflet with the heading 'Ventilated Perambulator' was produced by the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society in 1913. Below the heading is a photograph of a white wicker perambulator with horizontal vents in the hood. The leaflet discusses the ventilated pram canopy designed by Lady Victoria Plunket, as well as other features of the pram that were beneficial to the baby's health.It was produced to promote the pram to manufacturers, committees, nurses, and mothers.

The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society
Sir Frederick Truby King founded the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children in 1907 in an effort to improve childcare standards, and it is still active today. It is, however, more commonly known as Plunket, after Lady Victoria Plunket, wife of the Governor of New Zealand at the time of the Society's establishment and a great supporter of King's work. In 1980, the Society officially changed its name to the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society.

Lady Plunket
Lady Victoria Plunket allowed her name to be associated with the Society. She designed this perambulator, which increases air flow to the baby. The pram was featured in Sir Truby King's book Feeding and Care of Baby, which was published by Plunket in 1913 and promoted his methods on childcare and domestic hygiene.

Acquisition
In the late 1980s, Te Papa received a collection of objects and ephemera from the Plunket Society, including promotional leaflets, a 'Well Child' baby book, and a set of scales for weighing infants. These items date from different periods in the history of Plunket, from its inception in 1907 to the time of this acquisition.