Nurses on Horseback: Mary Breckinridge, Lilly Pulitzer, and the Frontier Nursing Service
How the scion of a 19th century political dynasty brought safe childbirth to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
This piece first ran on HerKentucky in March 2013. In honor of Nurses Appreciation Week, HerKentucky would like to thank all of the pioneers like Mary Breckinridge who established quality nursing care in the Commonwealth.
Yesterday, I read a biography of Lilly Pulitzer. Now, when I picked that book up, I expected to hear the story that we Lilly collectors have heard time and again -- a bored Palm Beach housewife started a juice stand and inadvertently became a fashion icon. Lilly's life took her from Westchester County to Southern Florida; I certainly didn't expect to find that there was a layover in the most remote corners of Eastern Kentucky in-between. It turns out that, after dropping out of college, the young woman then known as Lilly McKim undertook a stint as a nurse's aide at the Mary Breckinridge Hospital. Before she married into the famed Pulitzer publishing family or designed the dresses about which I obsess every spring, Lilly acted as both a nurse's aide and a courier, riding horses and mules to Frontier Nursing Service's outposts in Leslie, Perry, Clay, and Harlan Counties. It must have been some juxtaposition for a privileged young woman who'd attended prep school with Jacqueline Bouvier and her cousin Edith Bouvier Beale (Y'all -- Little. Edie.) to live and work in 1940s southeastern Kentucky. As I read Lilly's story, I tried to think of what life was like for the women who worked as midwives in that era. I also realized that, although I'd heard so many times that the Frontier School of Nursing and Mary Breckinridge Hospital were invaluable services for the areas just south of my hometown, I didn't know very much about their history.
Lilly Pulitzer in Palm Beach
via FNS
It turns out that, like Lilly McKim, Mary Carson Breckinridge had a fascinating story of privilege. Born in Memphis in 1881, she was the daughter of a Congressman and the granddaughter of a Vice President . She spent much of her youth in St. Petersburg, after President Cleveland appointed her father as U.S. minister to Russia. Mary's early adulthood was marred by tragedy, including the unexpected loss of her first husband, a disastrous second marriage, and the deaths of her two young children. Mary relied upon faith and a commitment to public service as outlets for her grief. She studied nursing and became fascinated by the work of the nurse-midwife, which she learned about while working in Europe. At the time, midwifery training was not available in the United States, so she completed training in England. In 1925, Ms. Breckinridge returned to the States and founded the Kentucky Committee for Mothers and Babies, which would become the Frontier Nursing Service. By 1959, Frontier Nursing Service Midwives had attended over 10,000 home births.
Mary Breckinridge
Today, the Frontier Nursing Service operates a nursing school which offers Master and Doctoral level courses, maintains six rural clinics and a small hospital, and even operates Ms. Breckinridge's home as a Bed and Breakfast. Ms. Breckinridge's commitment to the health of women and children has led to to a better quality of life for countless Kentuckians. In addition to the lives saved from the midwives' service, the FNS has provided valuable educational and professional opportunities for a historically poor rural area. To this day, Mary Breckinridge Hospital is the second largest employer in Leslie County.
Ms. Breckinridge's story -- you can read more about her in her memoir "Wide Neighborhoods", which is available from University Press of Kentucky-- is truly inspiring. As I read of the Episcopal prayer services she led from her home every Sunday, I couldn't help thinking of my own family's stories of the commitment to decorum and manners that Alice Lloyd and June Buchanan maintained. No matter how long she lived on a college campus in a tiny Appalachian town, Miss June never failed to differentiate between a dress she'd wear for tea and one appropriate for breakfast.
As Women's History Month draws to a close, I am humbled at the thought that "society ladies" like Ms. Breckinridge, Mrs. Lloyd, Miss June, and my own style icon Mrs. Pulitzer traded in their lives of opulence to improve the lives of Eastern Kentucky. This isn't driving through a poor area and complaining about the lack of restaurants or cell signal, nor is it coming home from a Junior League charity project to open a bottle of wine and take a bubble bath. It's moving to a cabin in a town where you know no one -- in a time when there were barely roads or telephones. These ladies couldn't email or FaceTime, or use the Nordstrom's app to order new spring shoes. They moved their lives seemingly back in time to help others. Appalachian towns still benefit from these sacrifices decades later. It's an amazing legacy.
A Thank You to Kentucky Teachers
Kentucky teachers who've made a tremendous impact on the Commonwealth.
Here in Kentucky, we don't always get the best reputation for our educational system. A lot of persistent (and pernicious!) stereotypes about our collective intellect and education. Now, I personally grew up in a family of educators, and I can tell you so many stories about the amazing job that Kentucky teachers undertake. So many teachers I know freely spend their own time and money to fill in the gaps that public school funding may have missed. It's impossible to individually thank all the teachers who've worked to improve the quality of education in Kentucky, but here are a few of the most unique stories.
The First School House in Kentucky was built in 1783, near the site of the present-day Old Fayette County Courthouse. The school's teacher, the story goes, was attacked by a wildcat.
Interior of First School House in Kentucky
The Science Hill School was founded in 1825 by Julia Tevis, the wife of a Methodist minister. When Julia and her husband John were transferred from their Virginia home to a Louisville parish, they settled in nearby Shelbyville, where Julia worked on her vision of a boarding school for local girls. Science Hill was so named because the curriculum was far more intensive than the traditional finishing schools of the time, and because the campus sat upon a hill.
The Hindman Settlement School was founded in 1902 by May Stone and Katherine Pettit; it was the first rural settlement school in America. The school's principal during the 1940s, Fred Williams, was a Methodist missionary who'd spent time working to abolish the caste system in India; he considered Mahatma Ghandi an ally and personal friend.
Rowan County teacher and School Superintendent Cora Wilson Stewart was a pioneer of Adult Literacy Education. In 1911, she instituted a program known as "Moonlight Schools" in Rowan County; the schools were open in the evenings for adults who wanted to learn basic skills, especially reading. The movement soon spread throughout the Commonwealth and into other states. Mrs. Wilson soon published a local newspaper and reader to address the vocabulary that everyday adults would need to learn. You can learn more about Mrs. Wilson in Yvonne Honeycutt Baldwin's biography. It seems that, in addition to being a maverick in her professional life, Mrs. Wilson led an interesting personal life -- she was thrice-married, twice to the same gentleman!
A Kentucky moonlight school, led by teacher Gladys Thompson.
Greenup County native Jesse Stuart is perhaps the most celebrated of all Kentucky educators; his book of poetry, Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow, remained continuously in print for over 50 years, and his autobiographical novel The Thread that Runs So True is considered the definitive source of the teaching profession in 20th century Kentucky. Lest y'all think that the late Kentucky Poet Laureate was one-dimensional, we have it on good authority from our friends at Kentucky from Kentucky that "the Stuart family—male and female alike—was known as one of the toughest in the holler, and Jesse described himself as a 'first-class fighting man.'"
Here's to all the fascinating, colorful, brilliant and brave teachers who make Kentucky an infinitely better place! Thank y'all so very, very much!!
Kentucky Born and Bred
For Sarah Stewart Holland, it was important that her sons got the right start in life -- as Kentuckians.
Sarah Stewart Holland of bluegrass redhead first published this essay on HerKentucky in 2012. She has since added a third son to her family; he is also a proud Kentuckian! -- Heather
Recently, I was talking to two close friends about birth options in the Louisville area. Apparently, most women who would like to give birth with the assistance of a midwife and avoid an increased risk of medical intervention take the bridge across the river to Indiana.
"That's not an option for me," I told them.
"Why not," my friend asked.
"Because my child has to be born in Kentucky."
They insisted that their children were still Kentuckians really. They argued it doesn't really matter where you were born.
Maybe for some but not for me.
Both of my children are ninth-generation Kentuckians. For over two hundred years, almost every branch of my family tree has grown tall and strong in the fertile soil of Western Kentucky. Kentucky is in my blood.
There is something poetic and important about knowing you took your first breath on the same land as generations of your ancestors. There's a reason I get angry at Illinois - the supposed Land of Lincoln. Your land is where you were born and Abraham Lincoln was born IN KENTUCKY. (Mitch McConnell wasn't. Draw your own conclusions.)
Kentucky Born & Breaded Onesie via Kentucky for Kentucky.
I know it might seem silly or antiquated but I do believe there is a certain magic to the place of your birth. Not that you can't make another place your home. I first visited Washington, DC, when I was in middle school and my best friend remembers me saying dreamily, "I want to live here one day." And I did. And it will always hold a very special place in my heart.
But where Washington, DC might hold a little piece of real estate there, Kentucky has taken over every remaining crevice and corner like kudzu.
Deep down, I hope the state holds the same draw for my boys. I want them to grow and explore and travel all over the world but then - if I'm being honest - I'd like them to come home. Every time someone asks where they are from or where they were born I hope the answer draws them closer.
"I was born in Kentucky."
~ Sarah Stewart Holland
{As always, any political opinions expressed on a post belong to the individual contributor; HerKentucky, LLC does not endorse any political candidate.}
Derby Detox with B.You's B.Silque Yoga
Detoxing from Derby with Silque Yoga
It's that time of year, y'all. Those few days after Derby when we realize that, as amazingly fun as it all was, we kind of overdid it. Some of us partied like frat boys, investment bankers, or any other character that James Spader would play in a movie.
A gratuitous PiP reference for my '80s ladies.
Others of us didn't quite take it that far, but we certainly availed ourselves of the fun treats of the season -- bourbon, Derby Pie, and delicious, decadent appetizers were everywhere. I don't know about y'all, but I had an absolutely wonderful season of Derby Parties -- I took in the launch of Moët & Chandon's new label at the #MoëtMoment White Party, enjoyed amazing food, drinks, and friends at the Original Makers Club Pimento Cheese Social, tasted some of Kentucky's best wines at WineFest, and enjoyed the Historic Homes Foundation/ Garden & Gun Bourbon & Biscuits breakfast on Derby morning. (I even took over their Instagram for Derby Morning!) And... well, there may have been more parties. It's all one big blur of seersucker, and Lilly Pulitzer, and friends, and fun, and horse races, and trying to get some work done!
By yesterday morning, I was ready to relax and detox. I just wanted sparkling water, clean proteins, plant-based carbohydrates, and a gentle nudge back into normal, non-Derby life. My beau and I took in a morning movie (where I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why Mark Ruffalo's Hulk is so much taller than Lou Ferigmo's...) and I signed up for a B.Silque Yoga class at B.You Fitness.
It seemed right that, on my 30th class at B.You and on the first day of Derby Detox, I should try something new. Now, I've done plenty of yoga in the past, but to be honest, I've been more than a little apprehensive about trying a silque class. It just seemed so intimidating to integrate an aerial silk hammock into my workout routine.
It's more or less like regular yoga. Except for the part where you're hanging in a silk hammock.
When I got to the studio, I was relieved to see Beth, whom I know from the studio. She and I have taken classes together, she has been my instructor, and we have chatted many times. It was great to have a supportive instructor, especially one who knows my history of back injury.
I have to say, I absolutely loved the class! The silque was a great medium for enhancing stretches and reaching new positions and inversions. It was a little odd, at times, to realize that I was standing up in a hammock, suspended from the ceiling, but it soon felt natural, as though I was floating. One of my favorite things about my B.You instructors and classmates is that there is no room for competition and intimidation; the women are wonderfully supportive and friendly. We all acknowledged that flips and inversions are a challenge, and that even folks who'd achieved the postures in the past might not make it that day. It was a really freeing experience that helped everyone feel comfortable with their own yoga practice.
I can't wait to try more silque classes as I try to burn all of the Derby calories out of my system!
{This post was brought to you by B.You Fitness. All opinions are my own.}
Kentucky Derby Giveaway!
Happy Derby Day, y'all!
We've teamed up with Deanna at Mirabelle Creations to bring you a fun Derby Day Giveaway!
This set of Kentucky Derby Watercolor Prints are the absolute perfect way to show your love for the Commonwealth on Derby Day and throughout the year!
Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below!
Derby Celebrations for the Entire Family
For the past week or so, we've given you tips about all the special events and observations that make the Kentucky Derby such an incredible and unique event. As we bid you a Happy Derby Day, I want to reflect on my very favorite aspect of Derby: the sense of community that unites Kentuckians, especially Louisvillians.
The Kentucky Derby can be, as the gonzo genius Dr. Thompson wrote, Decadent and Depraved. Of course it can; there's bourbon to drink and bets to be made. Things can get really weird in a hurry.
But, the thing that is so very magical about the Kentucky Derby is that it isn't just a horse race. It isn't merely a day, or a single occasion. It's Louisville's very own two-week Carnival Season. There's something for folks of every age and income bracket, from parades and firework displays and food trucks to galas and private parties.
Ensley O. with the Derby Princesses on the Fillies Float at Pegasus Parade
My favorite part, though, is the way that the youngest residents of the Commonwealth aren't excluded from the festivities.
Heidi P. Walks the runway at the Derby Princess Tea
Throughout Louisville, there are opportunities for kiddos to celebrate Derby. Of course, they can watch the Pegasus Parade, but many local preschools and elementary schools also put on parades of their own. Last year, I even saw some little girls in my neighborhood dressed up in their Sunday best on Derby morning, running a Mocktails stand. (They had non-alcoholic mint juleps and everything, y'all. Cutest. Thing. Ever.)
Madison and her dads watch the Pegasus Parade
Foster K. at a school parade
Eloise and her classmates at a preschool parade
Eloise's sisters Anne-Miriam and Bea take in the parade
Brayden S. gets some tips at the track.
I love that these kiddos get to have fun with Derby week in their own way. If it teaches them a little bit about tradition -- and maybe even the words to our state song -- then that's even better!
Sam C. at Keeneland's Derby Party
Katherine Belle F. in a Derby-themed Lilly dress and a Beaufort Bonnet.
Happy Derby to your entire family from HerKentucky!!!
The HerKentucky Guide to Derby Lunches
Box Lunch options for the Kentucky Derby
All week, we're bringing you tips for how to do the Kentucky Derby like a local. Nothing says "local" like ordering a box lunch for your trip to Oaks or Derby.
A trip to the track is an all-day affair. When you think of a trip to the Derby, of course, you think of sipping mint juleps. From a practical perspective, however, several hours at the track require more provisions than just cocktails. Of course, you can order food and drinks at the track. A lot of folks find it much easier and more economical to order a boxed lunch from one of Louisville's favorite restaurants.
The food guidelines for Churchill Downs allow the following:
- Food items in clear plastic bags (maximum size 18” X 18” - no trash bags)
- “Box” lunches in clear plastic bags or containers (maximum size 18” X 18” - no trash bags)
- Water and soft drinks – plastic bottles only (sealed, clear and unopened)
Here in the Derby City, our favorite restaurants find a way to accommodate most every taste or dietary restriction. You can order from chains like Panera or Chick-fil-a, grocery stores like Whole Foods, or one of our wonderful local spots. The best offerings I've seen have been from Stevens & Stevens Deli, The Cafe, Ghyslain, and Plehn's.
Image via Ghyslain.
If you haven't already, go ahead and call in your order now!