Don Ezekiel unveiling of a London blue heritage plaque for Professor Ida Mann

Historical Significance: Professor Ida Mann is a sufficiently well regarded figure in the history of ophthalmology for her place of residence from 1902 and 1934 at 13 Minster Road Kilburn to have a London 'Blue sign' stating 'Dame Ida Mann (1893-1983) Ophthalmologist lived here 1902-1934'. It was installed in September 2012 and is located in the Fordwych Road frontage of the house. Australian optometrist Don Ezekiel unveiled the blue sign with Ida Mann's niece. The announcement (College of Optometrist UK blog) of the unveiling of the plaque provided some interesting biographical material, namely 'An accomplished anatomist, Ida Mann went on to produce the standard work on ocular embryology, making best use of perhaps the finest collection of embryos in any hospital at the time. Later as a qualified ophthalmologist she was instrumental in introducing the slit lamp to the UK in 1921 and in travelling to Budapest in 1937 to persuade Dr Josef Dallos, the pioneering contact lens practitioner, to come to Britain. She would go on to be the first president of the Contact Lens Society in 1946. She was the first woman professor of ophthalmology and the first woman professor (in any subject) at the University of Oxford. Ida Mann was one of the first ophthalmologists to pay proper respect to optometrists as professional equals, a point which the distinguished Australian optometrist Don Ezekiel made at the unveiling. The Contact Lens Society was the first inter-professional group of its type and a forerunner of the multi-disciplinary British Contact Lens Association.' See books by Ida Mann held in the Museum. The catalogue entries for these books give more biographical information