Interview with Helen E. Browne, March 26, 1979

Interview Summary

Helen "Brownie" Browne tells of her background in England and her nursing and midwifery training. She also discusses her midwifery experience before she came to the FNS in July of 1938. Her journey to Kentucky and to Wendover is recalled in detail. Browne comments upon meeting the mountain people and later meeting Mary Breckinridge when she returned to Wendover after back surgery. Browne remained with the FNS when World War Two came and nearly all British nurses returned home. She became hospital midwife and eventually Associate Director of the FNS. The informant discusses Mary Breckinridge's original attitude toward Black visitors at Wendover, in addition to many details of her life. According to Browne, Breckinridge attempted to change the direction of the FNS in the 1940s without success. She explains some of the difficulties of that period and how they were handled. [Browne succeeded Mary Breckinridge as Director of the FNS.]

Interview Keyword

African Americans--Social conditions Authorship. Emigration and immigration. Fund raising Health facilities. Maternal health services. Publicity. Race relations--Kentucky World War II World War, 1939-1945--Women

Interview LC Subject

Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965 Childbirth Frontier Nursing Service, Inc. Medical care Medical centers--Administration Medical education Midwifery Midwives Nurses Nursing--Study and teaching Rural conditions Rural health services

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.