Dr. FRANK W. NEWMAN Correspondence

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
Dr. Frank W. Newman Correspondence, 1933-1941
PMSS Physician 1934-1935

044 Dr. Frank W. Newman, PMSS physician. 1934-35. Photo take in 1927. [newman_frank_w_044]

TAGS: Dr. Frank W. Newman correspondence, Newark City Hospital, Williams College, Columbia University, C.S. Butler, U.S. Naval Hospital, Betty Anderson) Newman, Infirmary, PMSS physicians, medical licensing, Rev. Fred B. Newman, China, National Board of Foreign Mission, Dr. Nutter

Dr. FRANK W. NEWMAN Correspondence, 1933-1941

[Note: All letters from PMSS staff are carbon copies, typewritten, often unsigned, and meant for the Office files. All other letters are original and typewritten, except where noted otherwise.]

1933

[001], [001a] November 4, 1933. To Glyn Morris, PMSS Director, from Frank W. Newman M.D. on Newark (NJ) City Hospital letterhead, [001] who learned from the Medical Bureau of Chicago that the School was looking for a doctor and asks Morris to consider his letter as his application. He is 28 years old; son of a Presbyterian minister; graduate of Williams College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in 1931, where he is completing his internship; tells of additional training and his experience; engaged to a nurse. Asks for information about the work at PMSS. [001a] Describes his financial needs.

[002] November 4, 1933. To the Chicago Medical Bureau from Morris, asking for Newman’s credentials.

[003] November 7, 1933. To Newman from Morris, who tells him although he has “some fifty odd applications for this position, yours interests me particularly.” Suggests he contacts “our representative in your area…Dr. C.S. Butler at the Brooklyn Naval Station.” Morris gives dates when he will be in New York and can meet with Newman. Encloses literature about the School & community; offers $100 a month plus maintenance.

[004] November 9, 1933. To Morris from Newman, who states that he will meet with Butler; he and Betty [Anderson] look forward to Morris’s visit.

[005] November 9, 1933. Page 2 of a paper to Morris from the director of the Chicago Medical Bureau, sending “reference reports on Dr. Newman.” A list of comments from Newman’s various acquaintances concerning his abilities. [PAGE 1 IS MISSING]

[006] November 11, 1933. To Morris from C.S. Butler, U.S. Naval Hospital, who is sending a report of his interview with “Dr. Frank Watson Newman” and states that “he will be the ideal man for you.” Explains why Newman is qualified to practice in Kentucky; his marriage plans; lists information about Newman’s address (Tunkhannock, PA), schooling, religion, age, internship.

[007] November 16, 1933. To Morris from Newman. He and Betty are reading Dr. Withington’s Atlantic article, “Mountain Doctor” and John Fox’s stories for background information.

[008] December 1, 1933. To Miss [Betty] Anderson from [unsigned, possibly Mrs. Morris], who heard from Mr. Morris that Anderson and Newman have been hired; describes the clothing and items they will need.

[009] N.D., A list of “Duties of the Doctor” on PMSS letterhead. ”It is also expected that Mrs. Newman will supervise and instruct the girls who are given in her charge for the housework at the Infirmary.”

[010], [010a] December 2, 1933. Two-page letter to Newman from [unsigned, likely Morris], [010] confirming his appointment as school and community doctor at PMSS; salary $100 a month and maintenance, increased to $125 after six months if his work is satisfactory; describes what maintenance consists of and vacation and days off. After one year, if acceptable to both sides, he “will be automatically engaged from year to year.” Advises about drugs and instruments in the Infirmary; encloses an outline of his duties; asks his plans to ride to Kentucky with the Morrises. [010a] “I am glad that you have decided to work at Pine Mountain.”

[011], [011a] December 5, 1933. Two-page handwritten letter to Morris from Newman on Newark (NJ) City Hospital letterhead, [011] sending a list of drugs; asks if they can be picked up in Washington; needs to buy his instruments. [011a] He will send his credentials and application for a Kentucky license to be submitted to Dr. E.M. Howard in Harlan.

[012] December 15, 1933. To Morris from Newman, stating that he sent his credentials and application for a KY license to Dr. Howard and awaits his reply; will not establish a residence in KY until January 6; sending their purchases to PMSS (or Laden if by freight); arranges to be met in Washington; asks for an advance of $100 from their salary or budget to buy instruments.

[013] December 19, 1933. To Newman from Morris, who will check with Dr. Howard; some of Newman’s packages have arrived; send freight to Putney, KY, a “better stop”; may have a horse for Newman; encloses a $100 check.

1934

[014] October 8, 1934. To Rev. Fred Newman in Tunkhannock, PA, from [unsigned], thanking him for his letter of support that was read at the Board meeting.

1935

[015] April 29, 1935. To “Frank” from [unsigned], who advises Frank and Miss Cobb on how to “facilitate Mr. Cutler’s visit here…,” including that he read various PMSS material and is given a tour of the surroundings; warns that Cutler “is a businessman and will probably be interested in concrete facts and figures.”

[016] May 18, 1935. To “Frank” from [unsigned], who asks, in his absence, that Newman uses his discretion in dealing with guests using tobacco and committing other “sins.”

[017], [017a], [017b] October 13, [no year]. Three-page letter to “Glyn, Old Thing” from “Frank” in Plainfield, NJ, [017, page 1] who tells about his and Betty’s health, and that “Bessie” received a letter from Mrs. [Barbara] Faulkner about the Diesel. [017a, page 2] Describes his courses in religion; a Princeton-Williams game he attended. He and Bessie think of Morris daily. [017b, page 3] Expresses his admiration for Morris’s work. Writes about “Mary’s” progress (his baby daughter). Heard from Oscar [Kneller] who “could now read a fair amount a day with the help of a glass. He was also much elated over the small income” from an insurance policy until he is able to work. Fondly remembers [Arthur W.] Dodd, Wilson, the Faulkners, Miss [Alice] Cobb, etc.

[018] October 16, 1935. To Frank from [unsigned, likely Morris], who jokingly refers to Newman’s letter. He plans to be in New York mid-November and may visit.

[019] November 27, 1935. To Frank from [unsigned, likely Morris], who asks for tickets for him and Gladys for “At Home Abroad”; asks that Frank and Betty join them. “Being short I prefer balcony seats….”

1938

[020] January 31, 1938. To Mr. Morris from Fred B. Newman on letterhead for “The Presbyterian Church, Tunkhannock, PA, F.B. Newman, Minister,” who provides information about his son, Frank, at Morris’s request. “Frank and his family are now at the Phillips House…, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. It was deemed advisable that they leave Heng Yang while the Hankow-Canton R R was still open and they have now been in Hong Kong since about the first of the year. They are anticipating the coming of a ‘little brother’ for Weemary (sic) some time early in February and the council in China gave Frank a leave of three months that they might be under more favorable conditions for Betty.” They hope to return to Heng Yang but it depends on the decision of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. Fred Newman writes that he will forward Morris’s invitation and photo of a woman on a horse and appreciates Morris’s confidence in Frank.

[021] February 22, 1938. To Frank from [unsigned, likely Morris]. “We have been trying all year to find the right doctor for Pine Mountain. I am convinced that the most tangible thing we can do in this community is to help the sick. Our nurse and her girls are doing a swell job but they are terribly limited because we have no doctor.” The School is changing Practice House into the doctor’s home. Asks about the possibility of Newman returning to the U.S. and coming back to PMSS. “My plans for the future are to stay in Harlan County and to make Pine Mountain at least twice as large as it is and to reach young men and young women of junior college age who are not going on to college. For the community we plan a larger and more intensive program using as many of our students as possible.” Gladys has had “a vicious attack of malaria…” Sends his love to Betty and Wee Mary.

[022], [022a] March 25, 1938. Two-page letter to Morris from Newman in Kowloon, Hong Kong, [022] who declines Morris’s request to return to PMSS, writing “any doc who knows any Chinese at all has no business being anywhere but in China to-day…to practice his trade where it will do the most good.” He is sending this letter on the Clipper instead of cable which is cheaper. “Ann Lilian…arrived March 4th, two days after Mary’s birthday.” He hopes to return to Hengchow soon and describes the war situation in the area. After graduating from Park College this June, “Alex starts studying medicine this fall at Bellevue (NYU).” Alex is interested in medical work at PMSS. [022a] Suggests that Morris read Japan Over Asia, by Chamberlin. Suggests writing “prayer letters” as a way for ordinary people to deal with the many international crises.

[023] November 14, 1938. To Morris from Fred B. Newman in Tunkhannock, PA, who suggests sending the book to Frank that Morris mentioned, writing that his letters are getting through despite the “situation over there.” Miss Benfer of the National Mission Board visited and they talked about PMSS “and its good folk of whom she speaks in the highest terms.”

1940

[024] August 23, 1940. To Fred Newman, The Herald Tribune, NYC, from [unsigned], who announces that the “first Junior Counseling Service in rural area in America [is] here at Harlan as a result of last year’s Institute.” Asks, “Where is Frank?”

[025] November 14, 1940. To Gladys and Glyn [Morris] from Newman in Plainfield, NJ, who is on furlough from China; appreciates the check Morris sent; supports PMSS’s building program; cannot give a definite answer concerning Morris’s request that he return to PMSS, since conditions in the Pacific are uncertain; will go to China only he can do so as a family; hopes to stay in surgery and live near a lab and a good medical library to keep up-to-date. He welcomes Morris to visit him in New York.

[026] December 4, 1940. To Frank from [unsigned, likely Morris]. “We had Miss Suen-i-Wu of China with us this last weekend. She is a delightful person. After completing some graduate work at Cornell, she is going back to China next summer.”

1941

[027] N.D. Postal Telegraph to Morris from Newman. “Clearly unable accept personnel investigating board possibilities….”

[028], [028a] January 28, 1941. Two-page letter to Glyn from Frank, [028] who discussed his future and PMSS with Betty and Dr. Dodd and Dr. Young at the Board of Foreign Mission; decided to stay with surgery since “there will be many vacancies in good hospitals due to the calling out for military service of the regular appointees….” Explains additional reasons for his decision. Tells of his attempts to find an applicant for PMSS. The Board wonders why Dr. Van [?] has left early. [028a] “Conditions in the Pacific seem to be getting worse….” Asks when he can visit PMSS and why Morris hasn’t visited him in NY.

[029] NO IMAGE

[030] February 3, 1941. To Frank from [unsigned, likely Morris], who understands his decision about not coming to PMSS; mentions Dr. Van K[olken] and Joanna D.; grateful that Newman is helping find a doctor for PMSS; welcomes him to Pine Mountain any time.

[031] February 7, 1941. To Glyn from Frank. The Board Candidate Dept. has not found any medical candidates for PMSS. “The army is taking all available doctors….it is this kind of situation which may help me to get the kind of Surgical Hospital Residence which I might otherwise have to wait a couple of years for.” Suggests staying in touch with the Foreign Boards for the best possible candidates, including the Southern Presbyterian in Nashville, who may have some Conscientious Objectors on their rolls.

[032] February 19, 1941. To Newman from [unsigned, likely Morris], who regrets that “Things are certainly out of whack…when so much of rural America can’t have medical service.”

[033] March 14, 1941. To Glyn from Frank, who empathizes with Morris’s problems finding a doctor for PMSS; says his plans are still indefinite but he’s sending letters of introduction to two important New York surgeons, asking for meetings with them. Gives advice on how to handle the aftermath of an episode with Dr. Van Kolken.

[034] March 19, 1941. To Frank from [unsigned, likely Morris], who appreciates his suggestions and gives the best time in May to visit.

[035] April 8, 1941. To Gladys and Glyn from Frank and Betty, who have a new son, David. Provides plans for their PMSS visit in May. The Board is sending the Newmans on a temporary appointment in Persia for a year or two if China’s conditions remain bad.

[036] April 21, 1941. To Betty and Frank from [unsigned, likely the Morrises], who look forward to their visit.

[037] NO IMAGE

[038] May 29, 1941. To “Frank, Betty, Mary, Anne, and David” from [unsigned, likely Morris], who tells them how much their visit was appreciated. Miss Grant will mimeograph the baccalaureate sermon that Newman left money for.

[039] July 24, 1941. To Dr. Newman from [unsigned, apparently, Miss Grant], who is sending two mimeographed copies of Mr. Morris’s baccalaureate sermon. Mentions that the School is hosting the Kiwanis camp children and the “Work Campers.”

[040] July 29, 1941. To Miss Grant from Frank W. Newman, who thanks her for the copies of the sermon. Suggests that she tell Morris about “Rammed Earth” houses.

[041] August 4, 1941. To “Frank and Betty and Three Little Newmans” from [unsigned, likely Morris], who tried to contact him while in New Jersey; is interested in Newman’s July 29th letter and asks for more information. Dr. Nutter, the new hire, seems to be doing well.

[042], [042a] August 12, 1941. Two-page letter to Frank from Morris. [042] Thanks him for the rammed earth buildings information; appreciates Newman’s suggestion about keeping the doctor on campus; and that the hospital can be 90% self-supporting. “I wish this were true; offhand,…my guess is that ours might be about 30% self-supporting,” because, currently, the School cannot enlarge its service. Morris hears that Dr. Nutter is “well-received by the community and is taking his work at Pine Mountain very seriously. [042a] He has had some theological background, I believe, and is very much interested in man’s spirit, as well as his body.”

[043] NO IMAGE

[044], [045], [046]. Two photographs of Frank W. Newman and the reverse side of one of them, with the handwritten notation, “Frank W. Newman. Taken 1927.”