Dr. EMMA and Dr. FRANCIS TUCKER Correspondence 1947

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
Dr. Emma Boose Tucker (1870-1963)
Dr. Francis Fisher Tucker (1870-1957)
School Physicians, PMSS Infirmary 1942-1951
Correspondence 1947

Office. Distant view with Infirmary and Jubilee above and School House on right. [II_5_old_log_office_228e.jpg]

TAGS: Dr. Emma Tucker, Dr. Francis Tucker, PMSS physicians, Drs. Tuckers’ correspondence for 1947, H.R.S. Benjamin, The Pine Cone, Notes, Dr. Elizabeth Henderson, Miss Grace Rood, Dorothy Nace, PMSS graduating class of 1947, prospective donor, workships

Dr. EMMA and Dr. FRANCIS TUCKER Correspondence 1947

[Note: Letters from PMSS staff in the PMSS Collections are typewritten carbon copies, unsigned, and meant for the Office files. The original signed documents were sent to the correspondents. Letters from others are typewritten originals unless specified otherwise.]

March 1947

01 March 1. To H.R.S. Benjamin from Francis F. Tucker, Olds Hall, Daytona Beach, FL, giving the Tuckers’ arrival and ending dates at PMSS. He mentions a visit from Shirley Holbrook Hugas and husband, Miss [Minerva] Sparrow, and Miss Spinney; requests back and present issues of The Pine Cone. “Someone is evidently helping those budding citizens to express themselves very well indeed, – and it is a valuable experience.”

02 March 10. To Benjamin from Dr. F.F. Tucker, recommending Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Cleverdon of Chatam, MA, as possible PMSS hires. He provides their background information; also knows someone from Oberlin who may serve as a housemother, if needed.

03 March 18. To Dr. F.F. Tucker from Benjamin, who has written to the Cleverdons and is interested in the Oberlin woman. He describes the snowy weather.

April – June 1947

04 April 1. To Benjamin from Dr. F.F. Tucker. The Tuckers will have to end their PMSS work on an earlier date, June 4, and hope that Dr. Elizabeth Henderson and husband and Miss [Grace] Rood can adjust their vacation plans. Arrival at Harlan by bus will be on April 24 and they expect Mr. Wilder will take them to PMSS in the School truck.

05 April 10. To Dr. F.F. Tucker from Benjamin, asking if the Tuckers can arrange their visit around Dr. Henderson’s vacation so that Miss Rood is not left to work alone.

06 April 14. To Benjamin from Dr. F.F. Tucker, who agrees to adjust their plans in order to be at PMSS early July through early September.

07 April 17. To Dr. F.F. Tucker from Dorothy Nace. In answer to Tucker’s letter in place of Benjamin who is away, she welcomes the Tuckers to PMSS.

08 April 20. To Benjamin from Dr. F.F. Tucker, recommending Mr. Wells of Longwood to replace Mr. [Glenn] LaRue.

09 May 24. To Drs. Tucker in Chicago, IL, from Benjamin, thanking him for the oranges. PMSS’s largest graduating class “was properly dismissed” on May 23.

010 A clipping of an article in The Chicago Sun, dated June 29, 1947, and titled “All Doctors, Family Will Reunite Here” describes a gathering of the Tucker family to celebrate Drs. Emma and Francis’ golden wedding anniversary. The article gives brief updates on each of their four children.

September 1947

011 September 20. To Benjamin from Dr. F.F. Tucker at Daytona Beach, FL, suggesting that PMSS recruit new hires from Pleasant Hill Academy which is rumored to close at the end of the school year. Tucker feels that Mrs. Rainey is a possibility. He describes Florida weather; asks about Jean Carroll.

012 September 24. To Dr. Francis from [unsigned, Benjamin], thanking him for his advice. Benjamin asks for Dr. Tucker’s guidance about whether to stay at PMSS or answer to those pressing for the couple to return to China. He has contacted Pleasant Hill but with little success and wonders if he should visit the school. He provides updates on Jean Carroll.

November – December 1947

013 [Date stamp: November 21] Address side of postal card sent to Miss Dorothy Nace, PMSS.
014 November 21. To “Friend” from Francis Tucker, Daytona Beach, FL. “That summary of the SURVEY GRAPHIC article in the NOTES for November is finely done and is fine publicity material.” He asks for extra copies.

015 December 9. To Benjamin from Dr. F.F. Tucker with a story about a woman who wishes to donate money in the form of a grant to help PMSS students, but stipulates that the students must also work. He asks whether PMSS would agree to this arrangement.

016 December 18. To Dr. Francis from Benjamin, agreeing to the idea of a student aid fund. He describes the “workship” plan at PMSS, “whereby a student is given a job of special responsibility such as milking or tending furnaces in return for the year’s tuition. Although the student is paying for his keep with his work, actually we must have money from another source to enable us to support him….” He asks if the prospective donor would be interested in ‘underwriting several of these workships.”