Ovulation Thermometer
date: label: date made
content: 1960s
label: copyright date
content: 1961
notes: label: Description
content: Edward F. Keefe (1920-1994) was a Catholic gynecologist who, in his own words “simply wanted to help Catholic couples live the Church’s teachings.” To that end, he developed an ovulation thermometer and promoted the rhythm method of birth control. In 1948, dba Linacre Laboratories, he introduced the term Ovulindex; and he applied for a copyright the following year. Advertisements termed Ovulindex “The Women’s Thermometer Since 1948.”
label: Description
content: This mercury-in-glass thermometer has a red scale extending from 96 to 100 degrees F., red inscriptions reading “L-3 Ovulindex Linacre, N.Y.”, and a black plastic case. Inscriptions on the cardboard box read “Ovulindexr THERMOMETER / LINACRE LABORATORIES.”
label: Description
content: Ref: William J. Gibbons, S.J., “Medical Research and Fertility Control,” Catholic World 191 (May 1960): 86-93, on 91.
label: Description
content: “N.F.P. PIONEERS: A Life Time of Service, Edward F. Keefe, M.D.,” pp. 3-4.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: associated place
content: United States: Louisiana, Saint Martinville
topic: label: Subject
content: Women's Health
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
label: See more items in
content: Health & Medicine
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: The Fournet Drugstore Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1985.0475.145
label: accession number
content: 1985.0475
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0475.145
objectType: label: Object Name
content: ovulation calculator, thermometer
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cardboard (box material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (thermometer material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (chart material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (capsule material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 13 cm x 7 cm x 1.7 cm; 5 1/8 in x 2 3/4 in x 11/16 in
label: Measurements
content: overall, cardboard box: 2 3/4 in x 5 1/8 in x 3/4 in; 6.985 cm x 13.0175 cm x 1.905 cm