Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Elizabeth Fitch (1899-1986) oral history

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Track 5: Track 5
Transcription: TRACK 5 EF: There were about 200, I think. RA: In the whole high school? EF: In the whole high school there were about 600. RA: Oh, were there really? Two hundred to a class? EF: Oh, no -- two hundred in my year. RA: I see. EF: Oh, we had about 15 in each class. RA: I see. Yes. So it had gotten to be a good sized high school by that time? EF: It was a very good high school - well rated among the high schools in the country. RA: And still is. Elizabeth Fitch, cont. 15 EF: Oh, yes. And, oh, I had Miss Elizabeth Packer for Latin and a Mr. Harper for Math and a Mr. Kaylor. RA: That's right. EF: I can't remember what I had Mr. Kaylor for. RA: Mr. Kaylor was a Science teacher, wasn't he? EF: Yes. Chemistry, I think. RA: That's right. And that's the senior Kaylor - not the one who later taught. EF: No. And also there's another Harper, too. RA: And which Harper was that? Was that J. Robb Harper? EF: No. RA: Or was it his brother? EF: His brother was up there. J. Robb was here. RA: That's right, but he had started up there I found out. EF: Oh, did he? RA: That's what - I taped Robb Harper last week. EF: Oh. RA: And he told me.... EF: Um hum. RA: ....his father had started there. EF: Yes. Well, Miss Birchard taught English and then I had Miss Ulrich for History and Miss Winton - there was something else. I forget now. Anyhow, they were excellent teachers. RA: Did you have gym? EF: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. We had a woman and a man for gym Elizabeth Fitch, cont. 16 and we had Music - I had Music and Music Appreciation and Art. RA: Was Dr. Small there when you were there? EF: Yes. RA: You had Latin from him then? EF: Yes, as well as from Miss Packer and I also studied Greek with Dr. Small. RA: Yes. EF: But I didn't do very well with that and, let's see, after I was graduated from New Trier, I went to Wellsley and I had flu. And, oh, I was very sick with it. RA: Oh. EF: So I had -- I was there for five years. RA: Oh. You were graduated from Wellsley? EF: Yes and then I went up later to the Grenfell Association Medical.... RA: Oh, tell me about that. EF: Well, that was founded by this Dr. Wilfred T. Grenfell of England and he went over to the East coast of Newfoundland and also part of the East coast of Labrador. And he founded these schools and hospitals and nursing homes. Oh, he was just so active in building up this community. RA: Tell me, were you on the same trip with Dr. Fred and Catherine Merrifield? EF: Yes. Elizabeth Fitch, cont. 17 RA: You were? EF: I met them there. RA: Oh. EF: And then they were married later on when they came back. RA: Yes. Yes. EF: And Dr. Fred and another doctor, a dentist, came around the coast periodically to check on all of the people. RA: I see. EF: On their teeth and then there was a Dr. Fernald from the University of Philadelphia who went up there and he brought all kinds of seeds and little plants - little shrubs for the people to plant and eat. RA: I see.
Creators: Fitch, Elizabeth, 1899-1986, Interviewer; Adler, Rhea Saul, 1906-1900
, Interviewer
Media Type: Audio; Image; Text
Item Type: Audiocassettes
Description: Interview with Elizabeth Fitch by Rhea Adler in Wilmette, Illinois, in 1984.

ABSTRACT:

Early history of both parental backgrounds prior to
Wilmette in 1906

Childhood and schooling in Wilmette, New Trier, Wellesley and nursing degree at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C.

Summer spent in Labrador and Newfoundland with Grenfell Expedition at the same time Drs. Frederick and Katherine Brooks Merrifield were there (before their marriage)

Years spent in D.C. until sent to Austria in 1955 as Chief of Hospitals in various European areas

Return to U.S.A. and D.C. until retirement from Army Nurses Corps and Wilmette

Has continued to travel widely
Place of Publication: Wilmette, Illinois
Date of Original: 1984
Subject(s): Oral histories
Wilmette (Ill.) -- Residents
Personal Name(s): Fitch, Elizabeth
Local identifier: R 977.31 FI
Language of Item: English
Copyright Statement: Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Public Library
Copyright Holder Contact Information: 1242 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette, Il 60091
U.S.A.
Recommended Citation: Fitch, Elizabeth, and Rhea Saul Adler. Elizabeth Fitch. Wilmette, Ill: Wilmette Public Library District, 1984.
Contact: Wilmette Public Library
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