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East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 8-2019 The Rural Health Physician Narrative: A New Historic Analysis of Appalachian Representation in Twentieth-Century Rural Physician Narratives Ashley Smith East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Appalachian Studies Commons Recommended Citation Smith, Ashley, "The Rural Health Physician Narrative: A New Historic Analysis of Appalachian Representation in Twentieth-Century Rural Physician Narratives" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3604. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3604 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Rural Health Physician Narrative: A New Historic Analysis of Appalachian Representation in Twentieth-Century Rural Physician Narratives _____________________ A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of Appalachian Studies East Tennessee State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Appalachian Studies _____________________ by Ashley Leashea Smith August 2019 _____________________ Dr. Rebecca Adkins Fletcher, Chair Dr. Ronald Roach Dr. Marie Tedesco Keywords: Physician narratives, Appalachian literature, Appalachian stereotypes, rural health ABSTRACT The Rural Health Physician Narrative: A New Historic Analysis of Appalachian Representation in Twentieth-Century Rural Physician Narratives by Ashley Leashea Smith The rural health physician narrative is one of the most understudied genres in non-fictional Appalachian literature. Physician narratives are significant in the historical, social, and political contexts of twentieth-century Appalachian representation. These accounts provide insight into the social contexts in which physicians lived as they wrote about healthcare and Appalachian communities. New Historicism is an analytical tool used to better understand the complexity surrounding Appalachian representation, particularly in terms of the politics of representation, gender, and race that influenced these narratives in the twentieth century. I engage in close readings of narratives written by or about rural health physicians who practiced in Appalachian communities during the early and mid-twentieth century. The physicians include Drs. Mary Martin Sloop, Gaine Cannon, A.W. Roberts, and Anne A. Wasson. I provide a nuanced discussion of the emergence and reiteration of Appalachian stereotypes in physician narratives and consider the lessons they provide for current physicians. 2 Copyright 2019 by Ashley Leashea Smith All Rights Reserved 3 DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the loving memory of my grandfather, Larry Drinnon, and to the memory of my dear friend and mentor, Mark McGinley. Let us always walk the line for our loved ones. May the love we have for them always be. 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee members (Dr. Rebecca Fletcher, Dr. Ronald Roach, and Dr. Marie Tedesco) for their help and moral support throughout my work with them. I would also like to thank Martha Whaley for acting as my chief editor. I express my gratitude to Courtney Rhoades and Amelia Charles for providing me company and for their help in proofreading my work. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family for supporting and encouraging me throughout this process. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... 2 DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................... 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 8 Overcoming Binaries in Discussions of Representation ...................................... 9 Scholarship on Appalachian Representation ....................................................... 13 Regional Representation ...................................................................................... 14 Representation of Reformers ............................................................................... 17 Medicine and Healthcare: 1880-1930 .................................................................. 20 Methodology and Organization ........................................................................... 27 Researcher Bias .................................................................................................... 28 Section One: Uplift Narratives ............................................................................. 29 Section Two: Private Accounts ............................................................................ 31 2. MARY MARTIN SLOOP: MIRACLE IN THE HILLS ................................................ 33 Overview .............................................................................................................. 33 Social and Historical Contexts ............................................................................. 37 Political Dynamics ............................................................................................... 43 Target Audience ................................................................................................... 57 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 59 3. GAINE CANNON: MOUNTAIN DOCTOR ................................................................ 61 Overview .............................................................................................................. 61 Social and Historical Contexts ............................................................................. 65 6 Political Dynamics ............................................................................................... 72 Target Audience ................................................................................................... 89 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 92 4. A.W. ROBERTS AND ANNE A. WASSON ............................................................... 95 Part I: A.W. Roberts: Physician’s Daily Memorandum ...................................... 95 Overview .............................................................................................................. 95 Social and Historical Contexts ............................................................................. 96 Political Dynamics ............................................................................................... 102 Target Audience ................................................................................................... 108 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 109 Part II: Anne A. Wasson: Tincture of Thyme ....................................................... 111 Overview .............................................................................................................. 111 Social and Historical Contexts ............................................................................. 114 Political Dynamics ............................................................................................... 120 Target Audience ................................................................................................... 125 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 126 5. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 129 Reflections ........................................................................................................... 131 Importance of Narratives .................................................................................... 136 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 137 WORKS CITED .................................................................................................................... 140 VITA ..................................................................................................................................... 149 7 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Physicians play an important role in U.S. society because they are educated in medicine, health, and caring for others. Education and specialized knowledge put physicians in a position of power inside and outside of the regions in which they practice. Because the medical field is associated with science, individuals often forget that physicians also seek creative means in sharing their stories of medical practice. Doctors often play active roles in portraying the social atmosphere of the communities in which they practice through literary outlets. Health care professionals who have practiced in Appalachia have documented their experiences through unpublished and published narratives.

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