Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Elizabeth Fitch (1899-1986) oral history

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Track 8: Track 8
Transcription: TRACK 8 (Indistinct) come back home from the expedition. EF: In Labrador? RA: Yes. EF: I came home about the latter part of August. RA: I see. Elizabeth Fitch, cont. 22 EF: And then I wanted to go right into training at the nurses' school because when I was up there I was so ignorant of what to do. I had had first aid courses, but that didn't prepare me for bringing these fishhooks that got caught in their hands and, oh, they had body lice and head lice and everything. And the only time they could wash was when they went into the water and that was salt. RA: So where did you go to nursing school then? EF: I went to Walter Reed -- the army school of nursing. RA: Oh, you went directly there? EF: Yes. I thought I would go to Johns Hopkins at first, but - oh, that interviewer, I didn't like her at all. RA: A personality clash. EF: Well, now -- rather, but, you see, when she found out I was a Wellesley graduate - oh, she would take me right in. Regardless of me, it was the degree. RA: Yes. EF: And I didn't like that. Well, father was stationed in Washington at that time. RA: He was still in service then? EF: Well, off and on he was. RA: I see. EF: He got called back. RA: I see. EF: Or he volunteered rather and he had been out to Walter Elizabeth Fitch, cont. 23 Reed because one of the men was a classmate of his.... RA: I see. EF: .. ..at Annapolis and so he went out there and he said, "Well, why don't you go there?" He said, "They have an excellent school of nursing." RA: Um hum. EF: So I applied. No trouble, but when I went to take my initial physical up at Fort Sheridan there was a Dr. Duval and I had all kinds of body bites from those lice and things up there and he said, "Oh, I guess you've been down to the beach, have you?" Well, I didn't say anything. RA: You didn't tell him you'd been to Labrador? EF: Well, I did later, but I was sort of embarrassed with all of these body. RA: Yes. EF: Well, I had my initial physical and passed it so I went to Walter Reed and we had to take enough money with us for a return trip home if we didn't pass it. RA: I see. EF: Well, I passed all right and by that time I was all cleared up with those funny spots and so I stayed right there and we were on a Civil Service status in those days and we had excellent instructors. Most of them were doctors and then I had four months over at St. Elizabeth's in psychiatric training. Elizabeth Fitch, cont. 24 RA: Oh, yes. EF: Psychiatric experience - and then six months at Philadelphia General - three months for obstetrics and three months for pediatrics. RA: Oh. EF: You see, we didn't have enough at Walter Reed to cover the standard. RA: I see. EF: So that we did. RA: That was a most unusual training for that -- that was all prior to World War I? No? EF: No, that was.... RA: We were in the war, were we? Was it about that time? EF: No, I forget. RA: You were six when you came here. EF: Yes. RA: It was after World War I? EF: Well, it was in the 20's. RA: Oh, in the 20's. Yes. EF: Yes -- because I finished at Wellesley in 1922, but I had to stay extra because of flu. RA: Um hum. EF: So I finished in '30 -- in '23. RA: Yes. EF: And my sister also finished in the same class. RA: In the same class? Elizabeth Fitch, cont. 25 EF: Yes -- my sister, Rebecca. RA: Oh, yes. EF: And, let me see, what next?
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
Email:refdesk@wilmettelibrary.info
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https://www.wilmettelibrary.info/

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