Interview with Ann D. Mulhauser, January 17, 1979

Partial Transcript: --Mulhauser, who was the courier Ann Danson, for the oral history project, Frontier Nursing Service, by Marion Barrett at approximately two o'clock on January 17,1979 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Segment Synopsis: Ann Danson Mulhauser is introduced. She discusses her duties as a courier working for the Frontier Nursing Service. She talks about her impressions of Mary Breckinridge.

Keywords: Barns; Care; Clinics; Couriers; Districts; Dorothy Caldwell; Duties; Errands; F.N.S.; FNS; Fundraising; Help; Home visits; Homes; Hospitals; Houses; Interests; Jobs; Local people; Locals; Mary Lib Rogan; Money; Resentment; Responsibilities; Rounds; Secretaries; Tea time; Uniforms; Visiting; Wendover; Working

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Horses--Care; Medical care--Appalachian Region; Medical care--Kentucky; Nurses; Nursing; Rural health services

Partial Transcript: Did you know, as a courier, that much about the way the organization was run?

Segment Synopsis: Mulhauser talks more about being a courier for the FNS. She talks about the nurses that lived and worked at Wendover. She talks more about Mary Breckinridge and her future plans for the organization. She discusses the availability of electricity and plumbing at Wendover.

Keywords: "Wide Neighborhoods"; Animals; Backs; Berea (Ky.); Board of Governers; Districts; Electricity; Errands; F.N.S.; FNS; Future; Geese; Guests; Home births; Houses; Injuries; Jobs; Leaders; Marriage; Organizations; Plans; Plumbing; Relatives; Training; Visiting; Wendover; Working

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Childbirth; Families.; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Hazard (Ky.); Horses--Care; Nurses; Schools

Partial Transcript: Mrs. Mulhauser, what were some of the most striking things about FNS? I mean, what was it that you came away with? As a courier? That has kept your interest?

Segment Synopsis: Mulhauser talks about how the local people felt about the Frontier Nursing Service. She discusses her continued interest in the FNS. She speculates about why others are or are not interested in the organization.

Keywords: Audiences; Bulletins; Care; Chairman; Cincinnati Committee; Conditions; Couriers; Culture shock; Debts; Donations; F.N.S.; FNS; Fees; Food; Free; Grateful; Margaret Rogan; Money; Mountain people; Shame; Speakers; Speeches; Support

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Church; Cincinnati (Ohio); Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Medical care, Cost of; Medical care--Appalachian Region; Medical care--Kentucky; Public health; Religion

Partial Transcript: What is your feeling about the districts? What--what element of FNS do you think is the most important part?

Segment Synopsis: Mulhauser discusses those who volunteer their time or donate money to the Frontier Nursing Service and speculates about why people do or do not donate.

Keywords: Bulletins; Business; Changes; Contributions; Couriers; Districts; Donations; Donors; F.N.S.; FNS; Family background; Fundraising; Generous; Help; Horses; Hospitals; Loyalty; Meetings; Money; Movies; Opinions; Organizations; Outposts; Philanthropy; Prestige; Prestigious; Professional; Protective; Rivers; Speeches; Stuck; Support; Talking; Volunteering; Volunteers; Wealth; Wen

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Medical centers --Finance; Nurses

Partial Transcript: You knew Miss Lester, didn't you?

Segment Synopsis: Mulhauser discusses the changes that have been made to the Frontier Nursing Service since she was a courier. She talks more about her impressions of the Appalachian culture. She talks about the effects of the Great Depression on the area.

Keywords: Appalachian culture; Assistance; Betty Lester; Business; Cars; Changes; Dedication; Effects; F.N.S.; FNS; Friendships; Gardens; Government aid; Government relief programs; Great Depression; Healthcare; Horseback; Hospitals; Livelihood; Mines; Mining; Money; Outposts; Relax; Roads; Tea time; Vegetables; Volunteers; Wendover; Work; Working

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Depressions--1929--Kentucky; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Hyden (Ky.); Regionalism--Appalachian Region

Partial Transcript: What did you notice about the family structure there, that was, say, different from city life?

Segment Synopsis: Mulhauser talks more about the Appalachian culture she experienced during her time with the Frontier Nursing Service. She talks more about the changes that have occurred within the FNS over the years. She discusses religion at Wendover.

Keywords: Betty Lester; Bible; Changes; Chapels; Clinics; Donations; Donors; F.N.S.; FNS; Family structure; Fear; Feuds; Grateful; Growing; Loyalty; Money; Prayers; Purpose; Qualities; Respect; Shoot-outs; Traditions; Volunteering; Volunteers; Wendover

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Church; Families.; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Religion

Partial Transcript: Do you think that being a courier at FNS changed your life? Or the way you look at life?

Segment Synopsis: Mulhauser discusses whether the Frontier Nursing Service has affected her life. She talks about what the town of Hyden was like when she was there. She discusses the midwives' training and the British influence on the FNS.

Keywords: Bonding; British; Changes; Clinics; Contact; Couriers; Deliver babies; Delivery; Dog trots; Exercise; F.N.S.; FNS; Horseback riding; Hospitals; Influence; Newspapers; Patients; Pity; Post offices; Stores; Towns; Training; Walking; Wealth

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Childbirth; England; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Midwifery--Appalachian Region; Midwives--Appalachian Region; Women

Partial Transcript: The last question that I'd--I'd like to ask you is just about--um--government influence in FNS and how do you think--d--FNS can remain a private organization?

Segment Synopsis: Mulhauser discusses the potential government influence on the operation of the Frontier Nursing Service. She talks about the local midwives that practiced in the Appalachian area before the FNS nurses arrived and their reactions to the FNS. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: "Granny midwives"; Books; Cleanliness; Experiences; F.N.S.; FNS; Germs; Government influence; Grants; Medicaid; Medication; Patients; Private organizations; Religion; Sanitary; Superstition; Superstitious; Training; Trust

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Medical care--Appalachian Region; Medical care--Kentucky; Medicare; Midwifery--Appalachian Region; Midwives--Appalachian Region; Nurses