Eleanor Clarke Slagle: The Younger Years. Kathlyn L. Reed, PhD, FAOTA, MLIS Lori T. Andersen, EdD, FAOTA

Transcription

1 Eleanor Clarke Slagle: The Younger Years Kathlyn L. Reed, PhD, FAOTA, MLIS Lori T. Andersen, EdD, FAOTA

2 Objectives 1. Identify and source early events in the life of Ella May Clark (birth name) and Eleanor Clarke Slagle. 2. Summarize significance of her early life and career on leadership in the profession. Note: Some photographs are not included in this handout because permission from the copyright holder has not been obtained.

3 Source Materials Census records, church records, archival newspaper articles, historical accounts in books and atlases, military and veterans records, marriage and divorce records, school records, telephone and business directories, resumes, old photographs, and our research trip to Delaware County, New York were all used to learn more about the early life of Eleanor Clarke Slagle. These sources provided interesting insights and clues, and solved some mysteries. Some mysteries remain.

4 Ella May Clark Born October 13, 1870 in Hobart, New York

5 Hobart is located in Delaware County, NY

6 Verification of Birth Year 1900 Census

7 Aerial View Of Hobart Clark family house located in this area St. Peter s Episcopal Church Locust Hill Cemetery

8 Her Parents Father - William J. Clark (June 27, 1840 January 30, 1897) Mother - Emma John Davenport Clark - (April 1, 1849 January 6, 1920)

9 William J. Clark - (June 27, 1840 January 30, 1897) At 18 went to Kansas with John Born, the adolitionist. Was short in the leg chasing some horses thieves. Served with the Union Army during the Civil War; Achieved rank of Lieutenant; suffered a gunshot to the neck during the war which resulted in neuralgia. He received a monthly pension from the government ($8/month) Married July 17, 1867 to Emma J. Davenport Worked as a cooper in Hobart. Also as a carpenter. Elected Sheriff of Delaware County, New York at the end of 1876 and moved to Delhi, the county seat, to take his position

10 Emma J. Davenport Clark Happ - (April 1, 1849 January 6, 1920) She was related to Reverend John Davenport, whose vision help found Yale University Her grandfather John was the first supervisor of Davenport, NY Father, also named John, was a farmer Married July 17, 1867 to William J. Clark Divorced William J. Clark in 1891 Had two children: John Davenport and Ella May Married William A. Happ in 1891

11 John Davenport Clark Her Brother (January 15, 1869 November 5, 1933)

12 John Davenport Clarke Her Brother (January 15, 1869 November 5, 1933) Studied theology and law He suffered from consumption and went West to help his health Served as a US Congressman from New York s 34 th Congressional District from and 1927 to 1933 (Four county area including Delaware) He was killed in an automobile accident in 1933.

13 Baptized in St. Peter Episcopal Church Hobart, New York She and her brother (almost two years her senior) were both baptized in St. Peter s Episcopal Church on December 31, 1876

14 Early Education Attended Delaware Academy in Delhi 3 years Attended Claverack College (NY) - 2 ½ years (1885 to 1886) Starkey Seminary and College, at Eddytown, NY (1886 to 1887) (Delaware Gazette, 1886, 09-01, p. 3; Delaware Gazette, 1886, 10-20, p. 3; Delaware Gazette 1887, 05-04, p. 3)

15 Craft Skills At the 1884 Delaware County Fair, Ella May received premium marks for the following craft items: a shelf lambrequin, table spread, bureau cover, and 2 splashers (Delaware Republican, 9/12/1884) At the 1885 Delaware County Fair, she received best awards for an embroidered table spread, 2 embroidered sofa pillows, a corner lambrequin, 2 chair cushion covers, and a crocheted skirt (Delaware Gazette, 9/16/1885)

16 Thespian 1885 (January) Ella May assumed the role of Kate Riley in play called Reward put on by the England Post, No. 142 of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), the local chapter of the civil war veterans of which her father was a member. (Delaware Gazette, 1/7/1885, p. 5) 1889 (January) Ella May played the role of Phoebe Ann Hopkins, wife of main character Uncle Rube. Play also put on by the England Post. (Hobart Independent, 1/10/1889)

17 Musician 1889, May. Studied piano under Professor Milo E. Deyo, a concert pianist, in Poughkeepsie, NY (Hobart Independent, 5/9/1889) 1890, March, Pianist for the play, Esther the Queen, at Grant s Opera Hall in Hobart. (Hobart Independent, 2/27/1890)

18 Travels to other States prior to Marriage 1888 Traveled with her Aunt Frances to New York City and another trip to Pennsylvania Extended southern trip with her father Spent winter in De Land, Florida with her father * Rockford Illinois with her Aunt * Chicago, Illinois * Kansas * Same trip

19 Nursing School Elmira Hospital / Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital Clipping from the Middletown Daily News, May 18, 1892, p. 7

20 From Ella May Clark to Eleanor Clarke Slagle Married Robert Ellsworth Slagle of Chicago on April 19, 1894 in St. Peter s Episcopal Church in Hobart, New York Rob, as she called him, worked for the Pullman Company in Chicago After the wedding they moved to Chicago

21 Wedding Day April 19, 1894

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24 William J. Clarke, Father John D. Clarke, Brother

25 Wedding Announcement Chicago Daily Tribune April 20, 1894, P. 2

26 Wedding Gown

27 Hometowns and Travels during Marriage Lived in Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City Robert Slagle s work for the Pullman Company required these relocations as well as traveling for his work The couple made several trips back to New York State to visit Eleanor s family and friends

28 Family Events Eleanor s brother and sister-in-law had one son, John Duncan Clarke, in John Duncan contracted infantile paralysis (polio) in 1911, which affect the use of his right arm In 1916, William Happ, second husband of Eleanor s mother, despondent over being laid off from work, committed suicide John Duncan Clarke had a daughter, Joanna, with his wife, Catherine Joanna was the main beneficiary of Mrs. Slagle s will Joanna donated her grandfather s papers (in 1972) and family photos (in 1974) to the New York State Historical Association (now the Fenimore Art Museum Research Library)

29 Marital Status Trail of archival newspaper personals and the 1910 Census suggest the couple split up in 1910 The personals indicated the couple (Mr. & Mrs. R. E. Slagle) traveled together until circa After that Eleanor (Mrs. Eleanor C. Slagle) alone spent several weeks visiting family and friends The 1910 Census indicates Robert was living with his sister in Idaho/ A photograph of Rob appears in an Idaho newspaper with his brother-in-law in 1910.

30 Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy

31 Survey at Newberry State Hospital (Upper Peninsula State Hospital, Newberry, MI)

32 Survey at Central Islip State Hospital, Long Island, NY 1912 Three month survey and organization of reeducational classes Funded by special funds from the Russell Sage Foundation

33 Baltimore Days Adolf Meyer requested Slagle to come work at the newly opened Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic in Baltimore as Director of Occupational Therapy While in Baltimore, she became a colleague and friend of Dr. William Rush Dunton, Jr. of the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital in Towson, Maryland

34 Return to Chicago Started Community workshop in Chicago for the Illinois Society for Mental Hygiene for borderline mental cases and orthopedic cripples, renamed the Henry B. Favill School of Occupations on October 24, 1917 Also lectured at Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy Note: The American Red Cross Chicago Chapter started a training program in 1917 in which Slagle participated. The Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy established a training school for occupational therapists in The Henry B. Favill School, the Illinois Society for Mental Hygiene started a training program in 1919 under the direction of the Illinois Department of Public Welfare.

35 Divorce Divorce was granted to E. Clarke Slagle on July 3, 1914 on the grounds of desertion Divorce hearing was held in Chicago, Illinois

36 Professional Activities Mrs. Eleanor C. Slagle while in New York was invited by Professor Butterick, who is connected with the Rockefeller Institute, to address a meeting in one of the large auditoriums before a class of girls, along the line of her work, which embraces civics and philanthropy. (Journal and Republican and Lowville Times, 1911, 10/12 p. 6)

37 Professional Activities Mrs. Eleanor C. Slagle is attending the International Congress of Public Health and Demography, which is being held in Washington this week. (Journal and Republican and Lowville Times, 1912, 09/26, p. 2) American Medico-Psychological Association conference: Miss Eleanor Clark Slagle read a paper on The Application of Occupation as a Therapeutic Measure. (Baltimore Sun, 1914, 05/31, p. 4)

38 Professional Activities 1916 At the convention for Societies of Mental Hygiene and the American Medico-Psychological Association, Mrs. Eleanor Slagle, director of occupational department of the Illinois Society for Mental Hygiene, sketched entertainingly the plans for work of an occupational department of a society for mental hygiene. (Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA), 1916, 04/05, p. 5)

39 Professional Activities Mrs. Eleanor Slagle to Give Talk on Mental Hygiene at the mid-winter meeting at the Northern New York Federation of Women s Clubs (Watertown Daily Times (NY), 1917, 01/16, p. 17) National Society Formed Here at Meeting: Among the notables present was Mrs. Eleanor Clark Slagle, Director of the Occupational Experiment Station of Illinois Society of Mental Hygiene (Clifton Springs Press, 1917, 03/22, p.1)

40 First Publication 1914 Slagle, E.C. (1914). History of the development of occupation for the insane. Maryland Psychiatric Quarterly, 4(1), All other publications were published after the founding meeting in 1917.

41 Thank You! Contact Information: Kathlyn L. Reed