Interview with Elsie Maier, December 5, 1978

Interview Summary

Elsie Maier attended nursing school in New York City, and in 1962 enrolled in a midwifery course at the Frontier Nursing Service school. She subsequently was employed as a district nurse-midwife at the Red Bird Center. Maier became well acquainted with Mary Breckinridge, who she describes as a strong individual who maintained a family atmosphere at the FNS. Maier explains the roles of the local district committees, and the relationship between the FNS and the local people. She also discusses the effects of government programs of the 1960s and the FNS family planning program. Maier taught in the FNS midwifery school and later became its director. She comments upon how much she has learned from area residents.

Interview Keyword

Children--Health and hygiene--Kentucky Education--Appalachian Region

Interview LC Subject

Family nursing Frontier Nursing Service, Inc. Medical care Midwifery Midwives--Appalachian Region Nursing Rural health services

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Interview Usage

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