Interview with Brooke Alexander, September 24, 1979

Partial Transcript: Are we on?

Segment Synopsis: Brooke Alexander discusses his relation to Mary Breckinridge. He talks about spending a winter visiting her and her son Breckie.

Keywords: "Breckie"; "Wide Neighborhoods"; Children; Clifford Breckinridge Thompson; Cousins; Death; Games; Nicknames; Playmates; Relatives; Visiting

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Families.; Genealogy

Partial Transcript: My next--um--uh--memory--uh--is again, my grandmother, Aunt Jane, and I--uh--this time we've come to Kentucky and--uh--I'm just sixteen.

Segment Synopsis: Alexander discusses the first of his four summers at Wendover. He discusses the work he did including running errands on horseback and working as the postmaster. He talks about the dedication ceremony for the new hospital at Wendover.

Keywords: Dedications; Duties; Errands; F.N.S.; FNS; Families; Horseback riding; Jobs; Krypton (Ky.); Photographers; Post offices; Postmaster; Relatives; Responsibilities; Roads; Sir Leslie MacKenzie; Visiting; Wagons; Wendover; Working

Subjects: Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Hazard (Ky.); Hyden (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Uh--Krypton was on the--uh--on the middle fork. Uh--I remember making many trips--uh--in and out there.

Segment Synopsis: Alexander discusses his summers at Wendover including talk about food, sleeping in a tent with several dogs, and playing Bridge and swimming with his friend Jim.

Keywords: Bridge; Cards; Clifton Rodes Breckinridge; Dogs; F.N.S.; FNS; Food; Friends; Games; Harassment; Krypton (Ky.); Local people; Locals; Marvin Breckinridge; Relatives; Risque; Social activities; Socializing; Songs; Swimming; Tents; Wendover

Subjects: Families.; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.

Partial Transcript: Did you take care of the animals--the horses when you were there?

Segment Synopsis: Alexander talks about the animals that lived at Wendover and his duties caring for them. He talks about being the first courier for the FNS. He talks about travelling to Wendover in a car.

Keywords: Animals; Cars; Chickens; Couriers; Duties; Electricity; F.N.S.; FNS; Flat tires; Food; Fundraising; Hogs; Jobs; Livestock; Money; Mules; Responsibilities; Travelling; Volunteers; Wendover; Working

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

Partial Transcript: Well, my next--uh--recollection--uh--with the FNS--uh--or connection with the FNS was--uh--in the winter of '33--uh--when--uh--as a fundraising--uh--project--uh--Aunt M. sponsored a--a cruise in the Caribbean--uh--in the month of February.

Segment Synopsis: Alexander discusses some of the fundraisers that were held by the FNS. He talks about his role on the FNS Board of Governors. He talks about Mary Breckinridge's religious beliefs.

Keywords: "Breckie"; Board of Governors; Clifford Breckinridge Thompson; Co-chairman; Cost; Couriers; Cruises; Debutantes; Donations; Episcopalian; F.N.S.; FNS; Films; Fundraising; Marvin Breckinridge; Mary Breckinridge Hospital Fund; Meetings; Money; Relatives; Spiritualism; Sponsors; Trustees

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

Partial Transcript: Uh--have you been active with the New York Committee from time to time? Or assisted them in any way?

Segment Synopsis: Alexander discusses the FNS committees, and the New York Committee in particular. He talks about their fundraising efforts.

Keywords: Bargain Box; Betty Alexander; Capital Fund Drive; Chairman; Christmas Preview party; F.N.S.; FNS; Fundraising; Hospitals; Involvement; Kate Ireland; Meetings; Money; New York Committee

Subjects: Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.

Partial Transcript: I know you've seen a lot of changes through the years--um--especially, probably since Mrs. Breckinridge's death. Can you think of any in particular?

Segment Synopsis: Alexander discusses the changes that have occurred within the Frontier Nursing Service throughout the years. He talks about why he believes the organization will continue to survive.

Keywords: Appeal; Awareness; Banks; Board of Governors; Changes; Death; F.N.S.; FNS; Founders; Government; Helping; Independence; Medicaid; Needs; Responsibility; Support; Survival

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.; Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing; Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um--you might be interested in a new grant that the FNS has gotten from the Kentucky--I believe it's the Heritage Commission, to restore part of the foundation of the Big House and some of the walls need work and--um--you know, with the mountainside the way it is.

Segment Synopsis: Alexander talks about the restoration of the house at Wendover. He discusses the quality of the food while he was there. He talks about the barn on the Wendover property that was built using donations from a member of Mary Breckinridge's family.

Keywords: Barns; Civil War veterans; Confederate soldiers; Donations; Eating habits; F.N.S.; FNS; Family; Food; Grants; Houses; Kentucky Heritage Commission; Money; Resources; Restoration; Support; Visitors; Wendover

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

Partial Transcript: Can you remember anything about her fir--her second husband, I mean?

Segment Synopsis: Alexander discusses his knowledge of Mary Breckinridge's second husband and where she and her children are buried. The interviewer, Anne Campbell Ritchie discusses a nickname given to Mary Breckinridge. Alexander talks about the current leadership of the FNS. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Anglican Digest; Cemeteries; Clinics; Consolidation; Dr. Beasley; Eureka Springs (Ark.); F.N.S.; FNS; Husbands; Kate Ireland; Leadership; Lexington Cemetery; Lost; Nicknames; Outposts

Subjects: Breckinridge family; Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965; Frontier Nursing Service, Inc.